We’re more than halfway through the first month of 2019. It’s a pretty good time to check on your New Year’s resolutions. Have you been sticking to the plan or did you just have another cheat day? Stop wallowing. You can start all over but this time, you really need to stay true to your goals.
When it comes to your prepping goals, however, time is of the essence. You can never really predict when a disaster or an emergency will occur. Something may happen between now and the next New Year’s eve. Hopefully, that will not be the case so we’re knocking on wood and letting go of the bad juju. The point is for you to start prepping right now so you won’t end up full of regrets later on if something does happen. If you still need a little motivation to do so, below are five good reasons why you should be prepping.
The Great Depression
History has a knack for repeating itself. And when your country’s history involves something like the Great Depression, you should at least be wary of what an event like this brings to the table.
Nothing.
That’s what many people brought to their tables during this horrific period. From 1929 to 1939, many Americans were out of jobs and didn’t have the money to buy food for their family. Wall Street was in complete chaos. Bank runs swept the country. People were unemployed, homeless, and hungry.
If you can picture this scenario in your mind, you can see how difficult it was for these people. That should be enough reason for you to start thinking of your family and start prepping.
The economy is a prickly thing. Job security will always be an issue along with inflation. It’s best you know how to fend for yourself if things aren’t going your way.
Start off by putting money aside for emergencies like the second coming of the Great Depression. Money set aside will also give you something to keep things together in case you lose your job.
Aside from your savings, you should also think about investing. You can’t solely depend on one source of income. Most Americans take more than two jobs just to make ends meet. Investing in a legitimate money earner may be better so you won’t exhaust yourself to the point that you’re living just to work and not working to live.
The Big One and Other Potential Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are another good reason why you should be prepping. In the last decade, we’ve seen the destruction brought about by hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis. If there’s one lesson everyone should have learned from these disasters is that we all need to be prepared for them.
There are people in the scientific community who believe that the Earth is ripe for a major earthquake. They can’t exactly pinpoint when this will happen but they believe it will happen. Of course, we want them to be wrong but their years of experience in the field is something that should be considered.
That said, you should be prepping for the Big One. If you live in an earthquake-prone region, consider moving. If you’re planning to build your dream home, make it earthquake-proof. Stock up on food, water, and supplies. Prepare earthquake emergency kits for everyone in your family. Devise and practice an evacuation plan and prepare a bug out shelter in case your home is rendered unlivable.
In prepping, you’re not preparing for one single catastrophic event. While you should be ready for the Big One, you should also be wary of other natural disasters as well as man-made emergencies.
Nuclear Attack
Speaking of man-made catastrophes, there is this lingering fear of a nuclear war. North Korea led by Supreme leader Kim Jong Un has been playing with nuclear warheads. It’s not only them in fact. Other countries, including the United States, have their own nuclear arsenal. Unless everyone gets rid of their nuclear missiles, in an orderly and proper manner that is, there will always be the threat of World War III hanging over our heads.
There are some bright signs as of late. Kim and Donald Trump have toned down their war of words and are, in fact, working to find a peaceful solution with their upcoming nuclear summit. North Korea has also been in talks with South Korea so that’s another good sign.
Do Some Research
Of course, as great as these new developments are, preppers still know the value of prepping in case things suddenly go on a downward spiral. To prepare for a nuclear attack, you should know how a nuclear bomb works. If a warhead explodes near you, the best thing you can do is duck and cover. You then have to find shelter to shield yourself from the radiation brought about by the nuclear fallout. Wait things out until authorities say it’s safe to go out.
Fill Up Your Prepper Pantry
Preparing for the effects of a nuclear attack is similar to how you prepare for other scenarios. You need to stock up on food, water, and other supplies since the chaos brought about by the attack will make it difficult to go out and buy stuff. And since things will likely get chaotic, you should be prepared to defend your home, your family, and your supplies.
Build A Bunker
Another way to prepare for a nuclear attack is to build a bunker. Authorities suggest hiding inside a concrete building during a nuclear attack. It would be better if your nuclear shelter is underground and surrounded by thick concrete and actually comfortable. Remember, you’ll be staying there for quite a while. Make sure you have ample supplies in your bunker. You’ll need lots of food, water, medicines, medicinal supplies, hygiene kits, masks or respirators, and stuff for entertainment. It’s also important to have the means to communicate with the outside world once you get inside your bunker.
Monsanto
Who would have taught that one company can cause a global catastrophe? Well, that’s what some people believe Monsanto, described as the “face of evil” and “the evilest company on Earth,” was supposedly doing before it was sold to Bayer. Their arguments are actually pretty valid.
Monsanto started out in 1901 as a chemical company that made its mark as the creator of the controversial sweetener saccharin and later the poison Dioxin, which was used to make the infamous Agent Orange. It’s also behind polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are responsible for polluting the planet and killing babies in wombs. Interestingly, Monsanto knew of the ill effects of PBCs but hid them from the public.
Monsanto was also a purveyor of everything plastic. It created a prototype of the “House of the Future,” which was made of toxic plastic. We all know what plastic means to the planet and every living thing on it, right? Oh, and Monsanto was also involved in the making of the first atomic bomb and is responsible for the decimation of bees.
Its most recent questionable move is its program on genetically modified organisms or GMOs, which many people viewed as “frankenfood.” When Monsanto was at its peak, it claimed that they were trying “to mitigate hunger once and for all.” That is an admirable objective. However, their methods were questionable, to say the least.
The Bayer-Monsanto merger, along with other mergers, is now in control of a huge percentage of seeds and pesticides in the market. That means they can control the prices. Small farmers, who’ve been backed into a corner by the company, will find it even harder to grow crops. As a result, food will be more expensive.
Prepping for Evil Companies
Now, why are we talking about Monsanto when the topic is about prepping? For one thing, the supposed effects of Monsanto’s actions made it more difficult for simple folks to get what they need. Another thing, there are lots of evil companies and personalities (we’re looking at you Pharma Bro) in the world and we must prepare for the repercussions of their actions.
If you’ve read or seen The Lorax, it shows how one company can destroy the planet because of greed. Watched The Terminator lately? It’s about a computer system developed by Cyberdyne Systems called Skynet that went total baddie on humans.
A global catastrophe related to computers rebelling against humans may be a bit far-fetched for now but there’s always the possibility. The more immediate threats are companies that pollute the planet (Philip Morris), risk people’s health (McDonald’s), and are downright mean to employees (Nestle).
Government Shutdown
Another possible man-made catastrophe is in the making. Trump has ordered a government shutdown, which led to thousands of furloughed workers. With no income, whatsoever, these people are now struggling to put food on the table.
Personal disasters such as suddenly losing a job are one good reason why you should be prepping. However, you should be wise when it comes to prepping. Instead of spending your extra cash on elegant survival gear, you should pay off your debts and mortgages first. Once clear of debts, you can think about purchasing a parcel of land for cheap where you can build your homestead or off-grid shelter. As for your supplies and gear, you can get the most important ones first then gradually build up your arsenal.
If the shutdown continues, the problem may escalate and lead to a government collapse or a failed state, which is directly related to an economic collapse. You can be sure that you’ll also be affected even if you don’t work for the government.
Everyone’s fingers are crossed that the problem is finally resolved and the threat of an economic collapse is eliminated. As a prepper, you can’t just make a wish and sit back waiting if it will be granted or not. You should be prepping for the worst.
As with the other reasons stated in this post, the solution is always to stockpile food, water, and other valuable supplies. This should include the needs of infants, the elderly, sick people, pets, and farm animals. If you’re keeping an alien in your barn, you should include it in your prepping plans.
Before the economy goes down, you should clear all your debts including mortgages. You cannot pay them off if you don’t have a job and struggling banks will jump at the chance to liquidate your collateral. Avoid raking up more debts. Take also into consideration that it’s harder nowadays to apply for bankruptcy.
There are tons of other reasons why you should start prepping and none of them should include being able to boast to your neighbors. A true prepper knows the importance of staying low-key. You never tell anyone what you have if you don’t want to be a prime target when things go south.
Check out The Gentleman Pirate to know more about the ins and outs of prepping. You can also purchase books such as Conquering The Coming Collapse to help prepare yourself for such disasters.
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