Bracing for Impact

Two years ago, the world learned how vulnerable the US supply chain was when the pandemic began. In the following months, we saw shelves empty of toilet paper, hand sanitizer, protective gear, cleaning supplies, and more. Everything was still obtainable by those with money and means, but few items had ubiquitous availability. Even now, store stock hasn't entirely rebounded.

So with Russia at Ukraine's throat and China waiting with bated breath to attack Taiwan, it's evident the supply chain faces an even larger, looming threat. In an effort to prepare for such a scenario where all hell breaks loose, I have compiled the list below of essential items with long manufacturing lead times, that tend to come from overseas, and/or will be in high demand following a lock-down.  

Essential to Life Items:

    • At least 50 gallons of water stored on site in opaque food grade plastic.
      • The general rule is 5/gal/day/adult for 3 days.
    • Potassium Iodide tablets
      • If a nuclear strike happens, these will essentially be unobtainable. Once nukes are in play, you don't want to get caught off guard without it. A $9 60ct bottle can cover a whole family and then some. Obviously, it's better these go directly to the people most affected, but since no one needs them right now, stock up.
    • LifeStraws 
      • These cheap $15 straws allow for 1 year worth of clean water for a grown adult. These are manufactured in South Korea.
    • Bleach & other cleaning supplies
      • A water sterilizer and disinfectant. Stick to the unscented basic variety. Two or three gallons should suffice. This is often made in third world tropical countries.
      • Lysol, dishsoap, regular soap, etc. Opt for powdered and nonliquid forms.
    • Toilet paper/paper products
      •  Feminine hygiene products.
      • Typically made in China with a long lead time. Great for bartering.
    • Toilet paper tablets
      • If you don't have the space, these will suffice in a pinch.
    • Latex products & personal protective gear
      • Condoms, exam/cleaning gloves, and adhesive bandages. A lot of latex comes from South America.
    • Rope & Tape
    • Food Storage
      • I highly recommend VittleVaults. These items are made for petfood storage but are the absolute gold standard for storing/sealing in any environment.
        • Trash bags of various sizes
    • Food - freeze dried, canned, or perserved
      • I don't recommend MRE's unless those are the only options. Mountain House has great options and  Augason Farms sells premade meal buckets that can get you through any shortage. 
      • Powdered/dehydrated products
        • Milk
        • Butter
        • Cream
        • Honey
        • Potatoes
        • Cane sugar
      • Raw, unfiltered honey from a local apiary. 
        • Great for bartering, high in calories, and a great shelf life.
      • Grain products/pasta/flour
        • Ukraine produces a lot of the worlds wheat, and these products have already increase dramatically in price. If Russia takes Odesa, this will only intensify. 
        • Buckwheat
        • Barley
        • Oats
      • Rice
        • Buy what you normally eat, but I store 20 lbs of various different types for their unique macro profiles. China is the leading exporter of rice (of course).
      • Complete canned meals & assorted vegetables
        • Ravioli, stew, soup, etc.
        • If not used, don't forget to donate to the local food pantry before they expire.
    • Pharmaceuticals
      • NSAIDs, topical anesthetics, wound disinfectants, etc
        • Vitamins
        • Most of these are made in places like Thailand, India, and China. 
    • Steel products - Tools/knives/pots & pans
      • Long lead time, low volume, overseas production.
    • Fuel - if you can store it properly
      • Kerosene, propane, natural gas, etc are all great to purchase right now. Their price is definitely going to go up. DO NOT STORE NEAR YOUR FOOD OR IN YOUR HOME.
      • Charcoal & cut wood on hand for emergencies.
    • Rifle & Ammunition
      • While in the US, one must act accordingly. When poverty or political violence increases so will crime.
    • Actual, real life books
      • The Ultimate Survival Manual
      • Plant identification
      • Medical texts/anatomy training
      • Chemistry
      • Math
    • Clothes/blankets/towels
    • Tarps
    • Physical maps
    • Pet food
 Nice to Have:
    • Electronics
      • TVs, Computers, smart phones or anything with a microchip in it.
        • Graphics cards especially - the RTX 4090 series will be the last for quite some time.
      •  Battery banks 
        • Lithium will be at a premium as the world shifts to renewable energy, and a lot of it comes from China.
      • A Faraday bag with an old phone stored inside of it (or a new one if you have the money).
      • Hand-held real GPS (not cellular based)
      • Rechargeable walkie-talkies
      • Rechargeable flashlights
    • Hunting bow and arrows
      • Guns are nice, but bullets aren't wholly reusable.
    • Bicycles w/ spare parts
      • Long lead time, almost always foreign made. Lower demand in the US.

 Paranoia Level 3000 without Budget Constraint:

  • Bluetti Solar Power System
    • 110V/220V systems with a 6 kwh array of panels with battery bank
  • StarLink
    • No current wait-list for RV StarLink
  • eBikes, eATV
  • Security cameras
  • Drone(s) for recon/surveillance 
    • DJI m300 RTK if you're Bruce Wayne
  • Gas masks w/ filter refills
  • Camelbaks/waterbladder packs
  • Digital storage for books, movies, and entertainment
  • Pelican cases
  • Water filtration

 Finally

The primary thing anyone can do to increase their readiness right now is to lose weight, practice eating at a caloric deficit, and increase cardiovascular health. Beyond that, knowing where to go in the event of an emergency and having a plan to execute with contingencies is the easiest way to get ahead. Know how to get to your family and friends and rely on each other make up for any shortcomings. 

Take care of each other.

-The Hillbilly Analyst

Location: Joplin, MO, USA

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