For those who think that chaos and rioting due to a collapse in ones currency system is lunacy I ask you to take a look at Venezuela. The 7th largest economy in the world with more oil reserves than Saudi Arabia is now in economic turmoil with inflation through the roof. President Maduro has definitely proven himself to be a dictator; and to think his prior occupation was a bus driver! Venezuelans are now eating zoo animals and pets to simply stay alive while trying to fight the current regime through protest - many of which have become violent with lives lost.
This MUST be an eye opener to all of you to prepare!!! Prepare the best way you can. Here is a list of items that you will definitely need.
*Food - Store as much as you can but at minimum, 3-4 months worth
*Water - Once the treatment plants stop treating water it will become undrinkable with HIGH risks of deadly bacteria. I believe its 4 gallons a week per person. Aside from water make sure to get filters such as life straws or gravity filters as well as purifying drops or tablets. For those who can't bug out I recommend getting yourself a BOB or something similar to fill your bathtub with water while its still clean. They hold 100 gallons and have a built in pump
*Seeds - Buy as many organic NON-GMO seeds that you can. They are inexpensive and usually come in the thousands. I can't stress enough the importance of owning seeds; not just to continue feeding yourself but as a bartering item as well.
*Guns - I don't care if you like them or hate them, when humanity stoops to its lowest because of basic needs such as food and water they will do whatever they have to in order to survive. Unfortunately when the collapse happens it may end up being a situation of "survival of the fittest" and it truly pains me to think of it like that but you MUST protect yourself and your family. You can go here http://www.denvergunsandammo.com/ and here https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ for your needs....
*First Aid - Spend the money on good kits that are chaulk full of goodies. They also make good bartering items as well. You can also find sterilized surgical threads as well as staples for serious injuries. I have personally put medicinal herbs (seeds) with my first aid kit so I know that these herbs are medicinal in nature and will always be available. Start learning old ways when it comes to plants or at the very least get a detailed book that you can pack.
*Bug-Out - Staying in the city is NOT an option but for some leaving is impossible. Have a plan in place with your family ESPECIALLY if you work far from home or schools. I purchased one of these https://www.amazon.com/Gorilla-Carts-Garden-Removable-Capacity/dp/B01BECQBZ0/ref=lp_553936_1_7?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1495134585&sr=1-7 and built a roof to it from supplies I got right from home depot. about $120 total but it allows me to carry upwards of 300lbs of extra supplies. Remember using a vehicle may not be an option.
*Basic Supplies - We are talking parrafin wax coated cotton balls for wicks, flint and magnesium strikers, weather proof matches, lighters, a good compass, atlas, map of your state and the surrounding states.
*Radios- I recommend getting radios or if you have the money a satellite phone kept in a faraday pouch. If communications go down you don't want to be assed out!
I don't mean to sound like an alarmist folks but the writing is on the walls here. The collapse is coming and its coming soon.....The last thing you want to do is find yourself in a situation where you have to rely on the government, or even worst do things you would never imagine doing.
All good basic info! Here's some more for folks interested in prepping.
It's important to also learn how to use the stuff. Simply owning tools doesn't make one proficient with them.
Magnesium fire starters are easy enough to use but they're not all made equally. Please practice with it and make sure you're ready to use it when the time comes.
The same goes for fire arms. You don't need to be a tacticool Rambo but you need to get used to handling and shooting weapons. Bigger isn't necessarily better either. In a SHTF situation if I had to choose between a .45 pistol or a .22 rifle I'd probably take the .22 because I know I can easily take down small game all day long and carry much much more ammo with me.
Seeds are very very important. If at all possible begin gardening now. Learn what grows well in your area, learn what produces well and is worth your time and effort. Learn when to plant and get a feel for how long it'll take to produce and how much water it needs. Potatoes are easy, calorie dense, and pretty stealthy. Growing food is a long term strategy and depending where you are it's likely to get raided and/or draw attention to you. Watermelons are delicious but squash is far more prolific. Green beans grow well for most. Lettuces can be good and grow fast but they're susceptible to bugs and heat/drought. Tomatoes can do well, cherry varieties usually will produce the most weight. Corn is great in some areas but where I'm at it makes no sense at all, which is too bad because I love corn.
If you get a radio then learn to use it! Get your stations pre-programmed, learn how to hit a repeater, keep your batteries charged up. If on the day you need it you've never taken it out of the box and the batteries are all dead then it's pretty much useless.
You may also want to consider buying some small denomination silver as both a hedge against the inflating dollar, but also for trade currency.
@alittlebitofme those are all great examples and breakdowns of what I wrote. I recommend the Bear Grylls fire starter. I have made hundreds of cotton balls coated in 100% petroleum jelly. I would also recommend learning the primitive methods of fire making and urge everyone to head on over to youtube and subscribe to Primitive Technologies. The man is amazing and can show you the simple processes for some of the most critical skills we need.
And I can't agree more with you in respects to learning how to use a firearm. For those who think its a movie and that you can just pick one up, fire it and hit all your targets are in for a rude awakening! Find your local gun range and check if they offer a rental program (most do) and go shoot a few rounds. I personally started with a S&W MP Shield 9 and that gun has become my baby! I also own an AR 15 fully modded. Take the time to learn how to take your gun(s) apart, clean them and understand how they work. When SHTF your firearm will be your most precious means of self defense. I would also add a set of good knives both hand to hand and tactical. They never run out of bullets and a sword or hunting knife could mean life or death.
Learning how to start planting is also critical and one must keep in mind that each type of food has its own growing habits and of course, a certain amount of time before harvest. Make sure your seeds vault contains organic corn, organic wheat if possible and hemp. I mention hemp because if bugging out becomes an extended ordeal then hemp provides a plethora of uses. Start studying how to use hemp to its fullest potential. I grow several of my seeds right inside my apartment. Learn how to do the work of the bees and how to pollinate.....
I have three Beofang radios with all the presets programmed which is quite easy.
All in all the information provided by the commenter is invaluable. Food, Water, Fire Arms, Seeds, Radios, Precious Metals...Folks, silver right now sits at $16 an ounce....Experts say it may shoot to $1200 an ounce..Its a no brainer...they will have to correct themselves once the Fiat system crashes....
Great info. We're really just scratching the surface here, but these are all definitely good starting points to help people. Fortunately most of this stuff is relatively cheap, easy, and attainable for most people. And it's all pretty fun to top it off and you'll find these sorts of skills and tools can be worked into your present lifestyle.