(End of the American Dream)—On some level, most people can feel what is coming. That is why sales of emergency food are at record levels, shows about survival are among the most popular on television, and Mark Zuckerberg is building a “self-sustaining doomsday bunker” in Hawaii. Millions of us realize that we are on the brink of an extremely chaotic chapter in human history. Of course the past several years have already been pretty wild, but I believe that the years immediately in front of us will take things to an entirely new level.
A few years ago, “World War III” wasn’t even on the horizon, but now conflicts are erupting all over the planet and the mainstream media is using apocalyptic language to describe what we are facing.
For example, the following comes from an article posted on Yahoo News entitled “As war creeps closer to Armageddon, the end of days doesn’t seem so far away”…
From Megiddo’s hilltop, there is a great view of the West Bank, no more than two miles away.
To the north, the rockets of Hezbollah – in total about 160,000 of them – are pointed in this direction while in the south, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are fighting raging gun battles with Hamas in a war that’s almost four months long.
Israel is on edge. Standing in Megiddo, right in the middle of the country and now home to a vast archaeological site, there is a sense of foreboding that pervades the region.
To see an article on Yahoo News using the word “Armageddon” really got my attention. When Israel moves into southern Lebanon to push Hezbollah north of the Litani River, things will get really crazy in the Middle East.
And it is being reported that IDF units in the north have been engaging in “rigorous training” in preparation for the approaching confrontation…
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) engaged in rigorous training in the northern reserve paratrooper brigade to boost readiness along the northern border.
The exercises, part of ongoing efforts to enhance operational preparedness, involved the Northern Parachute Brigade (226), a crucial unit within the ‘Hempetz’ (146) formation.
Soldiers faced challenging winter conditions, including rain and fog, as they practiced tactics for in densely populated areas. The training covered various units, from smaller squads to larger battalion teams, integrating different forces like tanks, infantry, engineering, and artillery.
On the other side of the globe, the Chinese have stepped up their “campaign of intimidation” against Taiwan…
The People’s Republic has increased its campaign of intimidation in the weeks after this month’s presidential elections, which saw the election of pro-US Lai Ching-te.
Beijing has sent spy balloons into Taiwanese airspace almost daily both before and right after the vote in a move geopolitical analysts suggest is an attempt to weaken calls for the island’s independence.
War is going to cause so much death and destruction over the next few years.
And it will make our rapidly growing global food crisis even worse.
According to the UN, we are now facing a “perfect storm” which has created “a hunger crisis of unprecedented proportions”…
Conflict, economic shocks, climate change and soaring prices for food and fertilizer are all combining in a perfect storm to create a hunger crisis of unprecedented proportions. Right now, in some of the hungriest places around the world, there just isn’t enough food to feed the population.
Most Americans don’t realize this, but we are in the midst of the worst global food crisis in modern history right now.
And according to the EU, the number of people around the world dealing with acute food insecurity in 2023 jumped 10 percent higher than 2022’s record level…
The global food crisis is affecting millions of people around the world.
In 2023, record levels of acute food insecurity persist due to protracted food crises and new shocks. In 48 countries, 238 million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity – 10% more than in 2022.
Of course this is just the beginning.
As global food supplies get even tighter, we will eventually see severe famines all over the planet.
During the past few years, the pestilences that have spread like wildfire around the world have also been a major theme.
A few days ago, I wrote about the crazy explosion of measles cases that we are seeing in Europe and elsewhere.
In this article, I wanted to mention the rapid spread of the bird flu in the state of California.
In just the past two months, bird flu outbreaks have resulted in the destruction of more than 1 million chickens and turkeys in that state alone…
A year after the bird flu led to record egg prices and widespread shortages, the disease known as highly pathogenic avian influenza is wreaking havoc in California, which escaped the earlier wave of outbreaks that devastated poultry farms in the Midwest.
The highly contagious virus has ravaged Sonoma County, where officials have declared a state of emergency. During the past two months, nearly a dozen commercial farms have had to destroy more than 1 million birds to control the outbreak, dealing an economic blow to farmers, workers and their customers.
Overall, more than 82 million chickens and turkeys have been wiped out in the United States since the beginning of the bird flu pandemic.
So if you have been wondering why poultry costs a lot more than it once did, now you know.
The past few years have also been a time of great natural disasters.
In fact, it is being reported that the number of billion dollar natural disasters in 2023 was the highest ever recorded…
Environmental catastrophes and natural disasters should be a concern for workers, especially after these incidents cost the global economy US$380 billion in 2023, according to a report from Aon.
That figure is 22% above the 21st century average.
Overall, there were 398 notable disaster events in 2023. And the 66-billion-dollar economic loss events last year is the highest on record, surpassing the annual average of 42.
Needless to say, what we have experienced so far is just a preview of coming attractions.
Much bigger and much more destructive natural disasters are on the way.
If you live on the west coast, the east coast, or in the New Madrid fault zone, you will want to be on high alert for any unusual shaking from this point forward.
We are about to enter one of the most pivotal times in all of human history.
And so many of us can feel that disaster is almost upon us.
I would encourage you to get prepared while you still can, because this is not a game.
Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
