The recent weather events on the east coast should be a wake up call to any of you out there that may have thought about prepping but haven’t yet pulled the trigger.
As the storms rolled in, the grocery store shelves cleared out. Usually, groceries stores can predict their traffic flows and sales, and they stock their shelves and hold inventory based on these estimates. But when a far-from-equilibrium event occurs, the grocery store’s forecasting model falls apart. Instead of the normal traffic pattern, the store may get hit with 10 or 100 times the regular traffic.
The result is akin to a run on the banks.
This is a Fairfax, VA Wegmans grocery store circa the last few days:
Hat tip Patrick for sending this story, pictures and the following comment our way:
“One more piece of evidence showing why it’s good to have a week or two (AT LEAST) of food & water on hand at all times. And 72-hours worth in your vehicle too if possible. This kind of craziness should make it clear just how bad things could get in no time at all if a REAL, ACTUAL emergency ever happened.”
Any number of events can lead to the exact same scenario depicted above. When Hurricane Ike hit the Houston area in 2008, this is what it looked like at Krogers, Randalls, Super Target. In addition, all gas stations were out of gas, electrical power was down for over 90% of the city for well over a week and in our case nearly three weeks, and the city’s water filtration systems failed for two weeks.
Do you really want to be the guy (or gal) that rolls up into the store 8 hours after a major disaster or emergency has been announced and have to come home to your family without any food?
Shameless plug based on fear news: If you do not have a reserve food supply, we’d recommend you check out The Ready Store for a host of great deals on a variety of reserve food supplies like Meals Ready To Eat, Freeze Dried Foods, or Emergency Food Bars.
Disclosure: This web site directly benefits from your purchase of the products recommended above via an affiliate partnership. However, I would not recommend this store or those products had I not personally tried them. I own a supply of all of the products mentioned and linked to above.
P.S.: Be sure to also pick up a 5 to 10 gallon water supply per person in your household – bare minimum. The 5-gallon jugs available at most grocery stores, Home Depot or Ozarka have a two year shelf life, so you can just stick them in the garage and forget about them until you need them.
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Great visual reminders!
My life and how I saw things changed in an instant 10 years ago. I always was somewhat prepared having some extra food and supplies (I have always been an outdoorsman, hunting, fishing, camping, etc) but I got serious about prepping after a snowstorm here in Michigan.Â
We needed a new snow shovel as ours broke a couple days earlier. A big storm was coming so we ran up to the local big chain grocery/everything store (Meijer) to get a shovel and some milk, etc. What we saw upon arrivng was nothing short of shocking. The parking lot was completely full, every register (about 30 of them) was open and everyone had a line to the back of the store (the size of a a super walmart). We were not there in panic mode, but most everyone else was, it was eye opening to say the least.Â
Ever since then I have been prepping for the worse case scenario in earnest because I saw how people were acting over a run of the mill midwest snowstorm, I could only imagine how it would have been in a real emergency.
I live in the DC area (Northern VA). While I don’t have stockpiles of food in five gallon containers, our pantry is always well stocked and we rotate foods. Luckily our power didn’t go out, but if it did we’d get along fine since we have a fireplace, a gas range and water heater, a propane grill, a couple of camp stoves with fuel, and a large supple of candles, flashlights and batteries, etc. If we had to have some electricity, I could run a power cord in from one of our vehicles using a 400W inverter. Or we could just go someplace else in either of our 4WD vehicles if we needed to. I did run by the store for some milk and fresh fruit before the storm(s) hit, but we really didn’t need to do anything special to prepare for it since we always prepared.
GOOD FOR YOU Suburban Survivalist !! I am right there with you Brother ! I do have a small generator of 2500 watts , but the problem is always how long can you run it with the gas you have on hand .  And in a suburban enviroment you will be asked by some of your neighbors to let them “Borrow” it . This happened to my brother in Maine one year when an ice storm took down power lines ! His friends and neighbors heard the generator running and he was constantly being asked to let then use it !
AB71    Since you are here in Metro Phoenix with me, think about getting a solar generator that can run on sunshine, or even natural gas. Right now I am thinking about my power needs for the mine and I am thinking wind and solar. Since I also expect to drill a well, I am thinking about a hydrogen generator too. Also, maybe there’s a way to tap that composter …………… 🙂
I looked into it Z , But I am on a fixed income and just about all my money is spent when I get it . The 2.5K Generator I have had for years and it has served me well in the past up in Alaska . Speaking of Generators , Many people are somewhat shy of using one because of the hassle and expence of installing a cut-out junction box so you can power your house . well heres a little known fact , First and most importantly disconnect power to the  incoming line to your house . usually at the circut box . next set up the generator outside of the house next to an out side power recpticle (Plug -in) make a double male jumper cable plug one end into the gen. the other intom the power box . The resulting back feed will power the house . A WORD OF CAUTION Do not do this until you have disconnected your house from the main incomming line . 2. DON’T OVERLOAD  the line with too much demand ! run only a few things , the fridge ,  the tv or radio , a light or two . NOT THE STOVE ! it takes too much power to run if yours is electric the incoming line can over heat and catch fire . Not Good . but in an emergency it can be done with proper precautions .
We had a similar situation in Germany. We never had such a cold winter during the last 30 years with so many snow before.
Hey Airborne71, that’s awesome advice! I have a generator and went through the proper installation process a few years back with the outside junction box and generator transfer switch. Wasn’t that big of a deal since I’m handy with electric, but it did take some planning since you’re only allowed 6-10 breakers (depending on model) to choose from when powering circuits in your house.
I also have 350 watt solar generator feeding another transfer switch which I can use to power 6 different circuits in the home. Of course, this isn’t a lot of power but when the grid goes down any power is better than nothing.
And on the dark gloomy days I have a pedal-powered station from an old stationary bike feeding the same battery array that the solar array feeds. Yes I know I’m a alternative power junkie.
Not much wind where I live though, so that’s out unfortunately.