Archive for month: May, 2023

(Natural News)
You might already be familiar with common disaster scenarios that you need to prepare for, such as natural disasters or societal collapse. One of the most serious disaster scenarios involves an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack.

Such an attack could destroy most of your electronics and also take out the electrical grid. Because countries like the U.S. use electricity for almost everything, you can expect society, the infrastructure and the supply chain to come to a shocking halt after an EMP attack.

If you’re worried about where you’re going to get more survival supplies after such a disaster, you should start stocking up on supplies that can also be used for bartering after SHTF. (h/t to UrbanSurvivalSite.com)

Preparing for an EMP attack can also help you prepare for less serious events, like a long-term power outage or any event that requires you to bug in or stay at home until it is safe to travel again.

According to the report of the EMP Commission, somewhere between 60 and 90 percent of these people will die of starvation after an EMP attack, within a year. People will also be desperate for equipment and various supplies, so learning how to barter efficiently will also be key to your survival.

If you’re not sure which items to stock up on before SHTF, take a look at the detailed list below:

Even if you don’t drink, you should stock up on alcohol because many people will be looking for alcohol after a disaster.

You might even benefit from having an occasional drink, such as after a very stressful situation like an EMP attack.

For effective bartering, it may be better to trade with alcohol in small bottles. This could be more expensive but when it’s time to barter, you’re still trading a bottle.

Those desperate enough for a drink will increase the value of that smaller bottle in their minds. (Related: Prepper essentials: 50 Emergency items to stock up on before disaster strikes.)

After an EMP attack, small electronics like handheld devices might continue to work.

But these devices will need batteries, most likely AA and AAA sizes. You should also stock up on lithium ion batteries and button cells (watch batteries).

According to battery manufacturers, alkaline batteries can be stored for up to 10 years. This means that you can safely stockpile batteries, without worrying about them going bad. Just make sure to rotate your supplies after trading.

After SHTF, some people might start looking for cigarettes to help them deal with their stress.

If you have space in your stockroom or pantry, get cut tobacco and rolling papers since they will last much longer than cigarettes. And even if some smokers prefer their favorite brands, they might be willing to barter for other brands after SHTF.

Factory-made cigarettes don’t store as well as raw tobacco, mostly due to the additives that they contain.

According to data, caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. Data also revealed that a whopping 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine regularly.

After an EMP attack, many people will still crave a cup of coffee, so stock up on instant coffee, coffee beans or ground coffee for bartering.

If space is limited, stock up on whole coffee beans since coffee starts to age once it is ground. Ground coffee loses flavor and becomes stale faster than whole coffee beans.

Don’t forget to stock up on a manual coffee grinder if you are getting coffee beans. If possible, buy a big grinder so you can grind half a pound within minutes.

When facing a large-scale disaster event like an EMP attack, you may have to go back to using fire for heating and cooking.

This could be a problem for non-preppers who didn’t think to stock up on fuel and alternative ways of cooking and heating their home, so make sure you stock up on firestarters for bartering.

Buy matches for trading and other items you can use to start a fire properly, like tinder, flint and steel, or a ferro rod and striker.

First aid supplies

Medicines and first aid supplies will be in demand after SHTF.

After an EMP attack, many people might suffer major and minor injuries and anyone who didn’t prepare will need first aid supplies to treat wounds.

Treating those injuries could also become a constant problem, especially if medical facilities are overrun after a devastating EMP attack.

Stock up on the following first aid supplies before SHTF:

Cars might not be running after an EMP attack, but people will still need gasoline for other tools and uses.

Gasoline can be used for starting fires and running chainsaws. However, gasoline doesn’t store well, although it stores better in metal gas cans compared to plastic containers.

People will also need other flammable fuels and materials such as kerosene, propane, mineral oil and wood. Wood might be particularly useful, although some people will be able to cut their own firewood.

Some of these fuels may not be all that practical to store, but after SHTF there may be someone else who will need whatever extra you can add to your stockpile.

Medicine will be one of the first things that will run out after a disaster like an EMP attack, so stock up on whatever you can legally get your hands on. It will be almost impossible to create a general stockpile of prescription medicines unless you are a pharmacist, but you can stockpile over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for trade.

Common items like antihistamines, medicine for diarrhea and pain relievers will all be popular after a disaster.

Herbal medicines are also a great alternative to OTC meds, so start learning about medicinal herbs or plant some in your home garden today.

Personal hygiene products

People will also need various personal hygiene products to keep themselves clean in a post-SHTF world.

Stock up on these essential hygiene items:

Preserved food

With the transportation and ordering systems down, stores won’t be able to restock once they sell out their current supply.

While there may be food around, it won’t be as easy to get it where it is needed and local supplies will be all that anyone has available to them.

But these local supplies may not even make it to the stores. And if they do, what will other people do when those stocks are used up?

Unless there are food processing plants nearby that still has a stock of raw foodstuffs to process, even local stocks will run out rather quickly, leaving people without food.

The value of food is based on its necessity for survival. The scarcer the food, the greater its value.

This means the value of food will increase over time, as shortages increase. Monitor the current situation in your area so that you know how much your food is worth.

Stock up on preserved food, or learn how to preserve food at home using fruits and vegetables from your garden so you can barter for other supplies.

Soap may not seem that important, but it can be crucial to your survival after SHTF.

People will need a lot of soap to wash their hands, especially since proper hygiene is key to preventing the spread of diseases.

Toilet paper

Toilet paper is another survival essential that you should stock up on if you plan on bartering after SHTF.

Preppers know that there are other options in a post-EMP world, but none of them are as convenient and comfortable to use as toilet paper.

Water filters and purifiers

Clean water is important for your survival, and if you run out of water after an EMP attack, you will need water filters and purifiers to ensure that the water you harvest from an outside source is safe to use.

Regardless of quality, any water filter will go bad after continued use since its pores will eventually fill with sediment.

One solution is to use filters that are back-flushable. While they are more expensive, they don’t go bad so quickly.

Alternatively, you can use water treatment options like chlorine bleach to chemically purify water.

Whatever you stock up on, get plenty of it and think of your options for long-term use and bartering. Bartering after a disaster can be a risky business, so always transact with a friend or two so you can protect each other if the other person tries anything funny.

Keep your supplies hidden, and don’t tell anyone else that you are a prepper or that you have a stockroom full of bartering goods at home. This ensures that no one tries to steal from you after SHTF. Even if you are bartering with a fellow prepper after an EMP attack, you should go well-armed, with good defenses and with a trusted friend or family member.

Never barter at home and take the necessary precautions to ensure that you’re not followed when you return home after bartering.

Watch the video below for tips on how to hunt for tools for your stockpile at flea markets.

This video is from the .

More related stories:

The world is an uncertain place, and the recent pandemic drove home the vulnerabilities many have. Finding creative ways to relieve yourself without toilet paper is the least of your worries if the grid were to collapse, taking with it communication capabilities and stopping supply chains altogether, not just slowing them down. If the SHTF, how safe are you and your loved ones where you are? Where are the best and worst places to be?

Humans have divorced themselves so completely from the natural world that they forget the role climate and resources play in survival. However, the greatest danger you face might come from the human animal. Here are the most and least dangerous U.S. states in a SHTF scenario.

SHTF Scenarios Defined: How Likely Are They?

First, take a deep breath — it’s unlikely that a global SHTF scenario will result in an apocalyptic collapse of all modern civilization. While it’s fine to prep for such circumstances, you’ll probably experience localized disasters, such as hurricanes.

Others may be more widespread, like pandemics, but not so devastating that all is lost. Nevertheless, the following seven situations are SHTF scenarios for which you should be ready:

Factors to Consider in a SHTF Scenario

Your first consideration in a SHTF scenario is whether to go or stay where you are. How well you prepare helps determine your answer, as supplies reign supreme — a well-stocked storm cellar is a blessing. However, if you haven’t had a chance to become a proper squirrel, you might have to hit the road in search of what you need to survive.

When selecting your escape route, you must consider the following four factors for the journey and ultimate destination.

1. Climate

It’s vital to keep the weather in mind when traveling. When on vacation, you know you can head home if things get too uncomfortable. You don’t have that option in a SHTF scenario — leaving home means staying is more dangerous than going. You’re about to gain a whole new appreciation of unhoused individuals’ daily struggles.

Even with a vehicle to break the elements, you’ll need plenty of blankets and warmers in the winter. If you only have enough cash for one survival tool and know you’ll likely need to travel, a small propane heater can be a lifesaver. Of course, if you’re trekking through the Arizona desert in July, you have the opposite problem — water will become your most pressing need. You’ll need at least a gallon per day, and that’s if you can find shade and travel at night.

There’s also the risk your ride will break down or you’ll encounter an obstacle you can’t bypass, like a severely flooded roadway. Dress in layers and have a well-stocked bugout backpack ready if you must travel by foot.

2. Availability of Resources

Modern humans head to grocery stores when they need food. However, you probably can’t get there in a SHTF scenario — and attempting it could be dangerous if looting runs rampant. You’re in for an unpleasant awakening if you’ve never experienced genuine hunger.

Fortunately, you can forage even in urban areas. However, it’s safer in the wilds since there’s less risk of pesticides and chemicals. If you don’t have a dime to put toward prepping, at least learn what local plants you can eat in a pinch. You can also hunt to meet your daily caloric needs.

3. Natural Threats

Weather and hunger pose your greatest natural threats. Still, it helps to study the terrain along your escape route. For example, what critters might you encounter if you head to the wilds?

4. Human-made Threats

Your biggest threats in a SHTF scenario may be your fellow humans. Desperation drives people to behavioral extremes, and even the most law-abiding soul will steal a loaf of bread to assuage starvation without caring who else they deprive.

The threats amplify if you’re female or disabled — it’s an unfortunate reality. Another way to prepare if you have no money is to learn how to defend yourself. Although it’s best to attend live training and run through drills with a qualified instructor, there are plenty of free channels on YouTube with techniques you can practice with a partner. If you’re comfortable using a weapon, train with it regularly to make its use intuitive in a pinch.

The Most Dangerous U.S. States in a SHTF Scenario

You may not have had the time, money or resources to stock your home for survival. Perhaps you’re planning on relocating with potential SHTF scenarios in mind. What are the best and worst places to be? Here are the most dangerous U.S. states to be in during a disaster.

1. Major Metro Areas

The first spot on this list isn’t a specific state — it’s more regional than that. Regardless of your state, major metro areas are your worst bets in a SHTF scenario. Consider this: In the past 50 years alone, more Americans have died from gunfire than in all the U.S. wars combined. It’s not an exaggeration to say other humans may pose your biggest survival threat.

There’s also safety in numbers with those you can trust. If you reside in the city, your best prepping bet may be to organize your core posse, coordinating where you will all meet if evacuation becomes necessary.

Stocking your home for supplies is still valuable — it will help you survive SHTF scenarios like job loss, pandemics and regional disasters of limited scope where cleanup efforts take weeks. However, the sheer hordes of people in cities assure there will be plenty who don’t take such measures and will seek what you have if circumstances become dire enough. Prepare to stay, but plan to go.

2. Florida

Florida sees more than its fair share of natural disasters, so it deserves the No. 1 spot on this list outside urban jungles.

3. New York

Parts of New York are quite rural — and gorgeous. The problem is the severe weather extremes in such areas. Sections of the state are tucked between the Great Lakes and Atlantic seaboard, which are among the snowiest regions in the U.S. Even the hardiest survivalist struggles in a blinding blizzard.

3. California

What makes California so dangerous is its population size. It’s the nation’s most populous state, with an economy larger than many small countries. An economic collapse here could lead to severe repercussions, and while there are plenty of helpful folks, there are also more hell-bent on causing chaos and harm.

4. Texas

You might want a firearm for self-defense, but not every user is responsible or humane. Texas has more mass shootings than any other state, and the U.S. leads the world in these events. There are plenty of open spaces, but is it worth the risk? Furthermore, in 2018, Texas had the most motor vehicle fatalities, followed closely by California. You could find your escape route hopelessly deadlocked.

The Least Dangerous States

Where should you go to reduce your risk and increase your survival chances? Here are the four least dangerous states in the U.S. in a SHTF scenario.

1. New Mexico

Two factors make New Mexico the ideal place to be in a SHTF scenario: climate and population. Plenty of wide-open land with no one on it gives you ample areas to boondock until some semblance of normalcy returns. Although the northern part of the state sees extreme cold, driving south for a few hours puts you squarely in the sunshine.

2. Arizona

Arizona is more populous than New Mexico but still offers plenty of wide, open spaces. You’ll also find some of the best boondock camping anywhere if you must flee the Phoenix or Tucson metro areas. You’ll enjoy the perfect climate, as you’re always within a few hours’ drive of comfort.

3. Montana

Extreme cold poses a threat here, but you’ll find plenty of open lands that teem with natural resources. Hunters can survive quite nicely.

4. Utah

The deserts of Utah don’t see as much snow as the mountains. Temperature extremes aren’t too severe in some regions, and abundant campsites and natural resources exist.

Most and Least Dangerous States When SHTF

Although you’re unlikely to experience a SHTF scenario, it pays to prepare. What are the best and worst states to live in during a survival situation?

Forewarned is forearmed. Consider these tips if you’re seeking to relocate or are strategizing what to do if the SHTF.