I am not saying what you should do, but this is what I am doing, the rest is up to you.
There are many things that I have covered in previous articles (which I will republish very soon), but today I am going to write about some recent steps I have taken that most will be able to do that are very achievable in a short space of time.
With the current situation that we warned people about (over 18 months ago), there is almost certain food shortages, how bad these will be it is not certain. But if past events is anything to go by, if people are going to attack eachother in Ikea on black-friday or in Tesco's over toilet paper shortage in the good times; then how do you think it will be in the bad times?
Two popular ways of storing food are buying pasta, beans, rice and lentils in bulk; whereas some prefer the long term storage meals that are sold on survival websites. Neither are the wrong answer, and most people like myself will buy both.
But isn't it these actions that cause shortages?
NO! - This is untrue! And the hypocrasy actually comes from the government and corporate media in my opinion. When the government does it, they call it "stockpiling", and when you or me do it, they call it "hoarding".
The fact is responsible people should always be buying 10% extra on each shop of long term storage food, and rotate what they have on their shelves, and in the event that there are issues with our fragile just in time delivery network, you should have at least enough staples to get you through a few months without having to avoid fighting over scraps in Tesco or Walmart or degrade yourself to begging at the local food bank.
I am not going to go on with this anymore, but the following points should be helpful:
You can survive weeks without food but only days without water! This is something that is often overlooked as it is taken for granted, especially in the west. If there is a breakdown in infrastructure, then things we take for granted can really take us by surprise.
If there are issues with water then you don't want to be in the position where you are drinking water that may cause you sickness, remember, it may be a long wait to see a doctor. Having clean water will be a priority for sure. And with the governments announced plans to increase fluoride levels in the water, (not in my cup of tea thanks), then I would recommend filters that remove it completely or at-least reduce it to a minimal level.
I would recommend one of the following:
Berkey Water Filters - These are the Rolls Royce of water filters, they are made from stainless steel, and will give you clean water for years without having to change the filters. They are expensive, but worth every penny! They are hard to get hold of at the moment, being made in the USA, the covid hysteria has made it hard to get these at times, so for people in the UK or Europe it may be better to get my next recommendation.
British Berkefeld - These are almost identical in appearance to the USA made Berkey filters, and I like them just as much. One advantage to buying these for people in the UK is the filters are made by Doulton, which is a UK company, so it is probably a better option for people in the UK and EU. Also, the filters for Berkey and Berkefeld are interchangeable, so you can always use one over the other if you're stuck for choice. Both have filter options that remove fluoride and you can literally pour a bucket of pond water through these and it will come out as clean as any bottled water, they really are remarkable; and with no moving parts will not go wrong. I got mine on eBay brand new in a box for only £120!
DIY Option - I wouldn't recommend this, as the savings will likely not be worth the time and hassle, but if you cannot get hold of either filter, you could make your own with food grade tubs and some drilling. Searching on YouTube for 'DIY water filter' will give you a handful of tutorials to chose from, then you will only need to buy the ceramic filters. Again this is not advisable unless you have no option, the quality of Berkefeld or Berkeys is really great value for money.
PS - Don't cheapskate on a Brita or some other kettle size filter, they will only cost a lot more in the long run and they're useless after a few uses, you can put over 10,000 litres (10 tonnes) of water through mine, and using a cloth to clean the filters gave it another new lease of life (look at videos for this).
This is certainly a complex topic that could go on for hours of discussion and still not have all the solutions for everyone. So I will go over the steps I have taken and prioritise in order of importance and cost (cheapest first) as many people are panicking with time and money not being on their side!
With a combination of fuel shortages and fuel price increases, most would agree this is not good with winter coming soon. I will start this with some perspective, as I feel mindset is key here. Central heating is a new thing, my grand-parents grew up without it; and I am not saying that makes it okay to go without it, but if you have to deal with this situation, it is critical to STAY CALM!.
In the army, 'You are only cold because you're brain is telling you you're cold', was a regular comment. This may not seem helpful, but for preparedness I made sure that I had a good selection of heavy fleeces, long-johns, tracksuits, puffer-jackets, sleeping bags and blankets. This may seem obvious to many now, but you will be surprised at how many people are cold indoors when wearing a T-Shirt and turn the heating up is the go-to answer. There is no value in taking that approach if there is an energy crisis, even if you have millions in the bank, you cant buy gas or oil if it is not there to buy!
As crazy as this sounds, last year in late October for a couple of nights, I turned off the heating and opened the windows in my home to recreate a cold winters night! Using the layers I had available, I was confident that even if I had no way of keeping the boiler or electric heaters running, my family and I would be able to keep warm enough without too much suffering.
This is related to heating, but in my opinion, also a separate concern as less people will be able to utilise solid fuel, unless they live in a rural area or have the right home.
Solid Fuel / Log Burner - If you have the right home i.e. you have the correct flu, have a chimney or the right building structure to fit one, you would be wise to look into one for more off-grid independence. For £350 I was able to buy a beautiful log burner on eBay, which was brand new, with fittings and also had a back-boiler that I was able to plumb into the existing central heating system for next to nothing.
Again, I may seem like someone who is super organised. The mad thing is, I had this fire fitted but had no wood or coal the day I fitted it. I have plenty of friends in the building trade and local people who could get me free off cuts of wood to burn, but out of curiosity I got my hands on a load of newspapers and packaging and burnt it. Now that's not the best fuel and it will likely annoy your neighbours, but if you're freezing that will be the last thing on your mind. One thing we will not run out of in this supply chain crisis for a while will be paper and cardboard packaging :-).
And for people who cannot get away with a log burner or afford one, get a ROCKET STOVE!
Please look into rocket stoves, there are ways you can make them out of old junk or building materials or there are ones you can buy on eBay for less than £20! These will always come in handy, especially if you have a patio, you can always make yourself a hot meal, brew or just heat some water for a wash. These are a great thing to have, and make sure you have some fuel tablets and a pack of lighters etc.
This is an area which is very tricky and will take some research on your own part, however, I will outline the steps I had taken and these maybe good tips for you. If you own your own roof, then I would recommend getting solar panels, but OFF GRID or Hybrid Solar System, don't waste your time with the ones that most home owners have.
People think that solar panels give you independence, the fact is most people who have solar panels are plugged into the grid, the electric they generate, flows back to the grid and they get a rebate from their energy provider. If the grid goes down they are in no better position than their neighbours, they too have no power.
However, with a good off grid solar system, using batteries (you can find many people who have re-purposed lorry batteries on YouTube if on a budget) and an inverter. If you get a hybrid inverter you can get the best of both worlds.
You will need to do your homework on how bigger system you need and do a few calculations, but with some good deals on eBay I was able to be electricity independent for under £5,000 and not only was being able to say up yours to Scottish Power priceless, it actually gives a good ROI!
This is a controversial topic, especially in Europe. There are many people who panic and often ask what they will do if there is unrest when most people are very restricted in their ability to protect themselves!
I will do another post on this as its a very broad topic and covers so many areas, a full discussion of security is hard to cover, but I think most of these points should be considered at the bare minimum!
If there are disruptions to fuel, energy, food and money or a combination of more than one or all of these it will be inevitable that disruptions will also effect emergency services as-well, the majority of people will remain outcome-dependent, replying on the Police for their personal safety. This is terribly irresponsible in my opinion the police will be even more inundated with problems and response times will be even worse than before!
There is also the additional problem of people being more desperate and only looking out for themselves. Do not fear though, worrying is not a valid solution and like other points covered, these suggestions should keep you safe enough through troubled times.
Remember, you don't need to outrun the lion, you only need to outrun the other person and this may seem selfish, but if you are a pragmatist you will understand that if you have a solid plan, it will be people that are unprepared that will be picked off, not people who are organised!
In this day and age, most people live very sedentary lives, many blame processed foods for people being weaker today, but the way I see it, someone who does manual labour usually eats the same food as an office worker. We are not designed to sit in-front of a computer screen all day, and doing so will leave you looking like Mr Burns from the Simpsons before you're 50 if you're not careful.
Try and get in the habit of developing an exercise routine for 30 min a day, start small if need-be, but you will be amazed at how much muscle mass you can accumulate in a short space of time of you are consistent! Not only will you be able to defend your self and your family better, you will have developed a better mental attitude and remember, physical and mental strength has proven to go hand-in-hand. There are numerous people on YouTube that give great advice on this. In my experience, this is an area that should not be overlooked!
Further Research - People like Bas Rutten who you will find on YouTube that will also give similar fitness and self defence suggestions after a few videos (one of the advantages to YouTube's horrible algorithms :-)
This is tricky in most places outside the US and Switzerland these days, but I would learn how to use a knife if that is something you are comfortable with. I take no issue with using a knife on an intruder, and it is better be trialled by twelve than carried by six. But that's my own opinion ;-)
One item you can carry anywhere is a flashlight, don't disregard something like this, especially in dark. A shure-fire or similar led flashlight on strobe in the eyes will keep someone away and will give you a massive upper hand, just look up flash lights for self defence on YouTube, you'll be pleasantly surprised!
But I will not go further into weapons, I think this is a personal choice and you should go with whatever feels right for you.
This again, is another broad topic. But with a few inexpensive adjustments, you can really make big improvements. I would first encourage you to put your burglar or home-invader hat on, and ask yourself 'How would I gain entry into my families home if my life depended on it?' And look at the windows, doors, points of entry etc.
If you have wooden sliding sash windows for example, google or search YouTube for videos like 'Improving sash window security' etc.
SUGGESTIONS:
£20 or less seems a cheap price to know your door won't go through!
Look online for YouTube videos at barricade bar
£30 to 40 is what I paid to upgrade my door lock with a London Bar
Google or YouTube Search "Board up a window without screws and nails"
This may seem OTT, but as much as plywood has gone up in price, a few small sheets a skil saw and drill are cheap, they stow away under the sofa and beds without any obstruction.
Maybe a mans best friend is ideal?
Would You Target a House With This Dog? Or go for lower hanging fruit?
Not Only a Deterrent but a good heads-up!
CCTV is Ridiculously cheap, don't be lazy; you can build a great CCTV system very cheaply. I would recommend YouTube tutorials on installing ZoneMinder on an old PC or laptop, connect some PTZ dome cameras to a PoE switch and you'll have a £3,000 + cctv system for under £300! And on your own private network without being on the Amazon/Ring Skynet like system!
Maybe it was years of growing up on a rough estate? :-)
An external letterbox was my last touch!
Considering I have already set up an XMPP server as an alternative to the soyware most people use like Facebook, Twitter and Telegram, I have gone to some trouble to set this up and explain the benefits to this on my Networking page.
My only other suggestions are to keep your landline running (as it's an extra form of communication that runs independently to your local cell tower network). And perhaps look into something like ham radio, you will find countless videos on this by people far more qualified than myself.
I would also recommend you checkout Advice for Businesses page and scroll down to Cryptocurrency - The Best Cashless Solution. I believe projects like Monero, Bitcoin and Pirate Chain will be one of the best tools for freedom we have!
Now many will argue, 'why should I have to go to these lengths? I shouldn't have to do all this!' And you would be right in saying this, but this advice is for people who are looking at the realistic fundamentals of the way the world works.
Why should anyone have to do anything? Would be my answer, but I am faced with the reality that 99% of people have already behaved like zombies and to refer to one of my favourite quotes:
"Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” - Voltaire
If you consider how intolerable the brainwashed masses have been the past year or two, imagine how they will be with empty fridges and crying children?
There are probably a few buzy-bodies who are probably going to say who am I to give health advice, or what qualifies me?
The answer to that is GO AND TAKE YOUR "VACCINE" and whilst you're at it, go and top up on your carbon credits!
I am not telling anyone what to do, I am saying what I do.
Again, if people are worried about how crazy things will get when there are food or fuel shortages, what about when there is a shortage of psychiatric drugs for the numerous people who feel the need to be medicated 24-7?
Well all I can say is get your hands on a copy of Survival Medicine Handbook(tm) it is a guide for those who want to be medically prepared for any disaster where help is NOT on the way. I feel the title and description covers this section, all I can add to that book is I cannot recommend it enough!
This is going to be a very short summary as I feel like I have already written more than I intentionally intended to do this evening and I have a lot more work to do.
But I hope some of these areas can inspire you and help you look in other areas.
Please check out our XMPP network and discuss amongst ourselves ways to support like-minded people.