(The Economic Collapse Blog)—If you are planning to relocate in anticipation of the extremely chaotic times that are rapidly approaching, there are four primary factors that I think people should be focusing on. First of all, you will want to go some place where you will be surrounded by like-minded people. Secondly, you will want to avoid locations that have a high population density. Thirdly, you will want to avoid regions that are at high risk of experiencing natural disasters. Lastly, it is important to consider how the area you are considering will fare during a nuclear conflict.
Of course these are not the only factors that need to be considered, because choosing to relocate to another part of the country is a complicated decision. Ultimately, you need to make whatever choice is right for you and your family at the time.
I have written quite a bit about these things over the years, and so my attention was immediately grabbed when I came across an article on StudyFinds.com entitled “The List: Best Places to Live Off-Grid, According to Experts”. The state of Tennessee is ranked number one on their list, and I found that to be quite interesting. Below, I will share some of their reasons for ranking Tennessee first, and following each reason I will give some of my thoughts…
- “abundance of natural resources”
This is very true. Tennessee is tremendously blessed with natural resources, and that is a huge advantage for those that want to live off-grid.
- “with an average rainfall of over 50 inches, homesteaders living off-grid have ample access to legally harvest rainwater”
A lot of states, particularly in the western half of the country, have made it illegal to harvest rain falling from the sky. Thankfully, Tennessee doesn’t have such a law, and plenty of rain falls throughout the year.
- “individuals can apply to live and work on government-owned land for a low cost or even for free”
If you are strapped for cash, this is a great opportunity. Most other states do not have this option.
- “fertile land found in this state provides a growing season of over eight months per year”
This is a really great point. Even most preppers do not have years of food stored up for themselves and their families. During the very difficult times that are ahead, growing your own food will be important, and Tennessee is a great state for doing that.
- “Tennessee stands out as a budget-friendly haven for off-grid enthusiasts”
The coast of living in the state is definitely lower than elsewhere, and that is a huge plus.
Overall, there is so much to like about Tennessee. In my new book, I ranked it number four out of all fifty states.
But of course no location is perfect.
There are definitely some negatives to consider as well. For example, it is being reported that Tennessee is the most stressed state in the entire nation…
At No. 1 for the overall list of the most stressed states in the U.S. is Tennessee, according to Komowa.
The Volunteer State scored very high for the most health stress, coming in third place for the highest level of depression prevalence (24.4%).
15.5% of residents also said “their physical health isn’t good for more than 14 days a month.”
Residents of Tennessee also work more than the average American. The state came in at No. 3 for most hours worked with an average of 42.3 hours a week.
In addition, in my opinion you will want to avoid the western half of the state entirely. It is way too close to the New Madrid fault zone, and Memphis is one of the most dangerous cities in the country.
But I very much like the eastern portion of the state. In particular, virtually anywhere east of Knoxville would be a very nice choice.
Just don’t expect perfection.
You won’t find that anywhere.
Needless to say, you will need to be prepared to expect the unexpected wherever you live.
For example, those living in Utah and Nevada probably never imagined that tumbleweeds would become a significant issue in our day and age, but that is precisely what is happening…
Tumbleweed is sprawling across sidewalks. It is blowing across freeways. It is stacked up — feet high — against homes in Utah and Nevada.
The masses upon masses of prickly tumbleweed are more fallout from severe weather sweeping the Western United States, in which wind gusts over 60 mph destroyed infrastructure, downed trees and power lines, and caused widespread outages and road closures.
Some called it the tumbleweed takeover. Others referred to it as tumblemageddon.
Life is always full of surprises, and that will especially be true during the tumultuous years that are in front of us.
We will never be able to prepare for every possible scenario, but right now millions of Americans are making preparations for what is ahead because they understand that things are about to make a dramatic turn in the wrong direction.
A gold dealer in Beverly Hills says that even the ultra-wealthy are preparing for the worst…
MILLIONAIRES and elites are hoarding gold as part of their doomsday preparations as they look to barter with it, an expert has revealed.
Multiple factors, from cell service outages to the election, have caused an “absolute surge” in gold sales, Jonathan Rose told The U.S. Sun.
Rose, the CEO of Genesis Gold Group in Beverly Hills, California, said he deals with people buying the precious metal for doomsday-prepping purposes every day.
Rose highlighted how doomsday prepping has become popular among millionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg and Sam Altman, along with pro athletes and other elites.
Speaking of Zuckerberg, there has been a tremendous amount of speculation about the massive survivalist compound that he is building in Hawaii.
Those that have been involved in building it have been required to sign very strict nondisclosure agreements…
Everyone who enters the property must sign a strict nondisclosure agreement, according to reports, and workers are sworn to secrecy.
Various media reports make mention of labourers being sacked after sharing selfies from the property on social media – posts that were quickly detected by Zuckerberg’s representatives.
“It’s fight club,” a former contractor told Wired. “We don’t talk about fight club.”
We have reached a stage where even people like Mark Zuckerberg realize that things are about to get really crazy.
The United States is in the process of committing financial suicide, but what we are facing goes far beyond economics.
We are literally facing a “perfect storm” that is being fueled by a whole host of different factors, and global events are on the verge of spiraling completely out of control.
So whether it is Tennessee or somewhere else, I would highly recommend figuring out where you want to be when everything finally hits the fan, because we are quickly running out of time.
Stock up on long-term storage steak cuts through Prepper All-Naturals.
Sound off about this article on The Economic Collapse Blog.
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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.
