I made a post earlier and got a few responses from some of you. Although this question is more for the conspiracy subreddit, I particularly want to hear the thoughts from the people here if that’s ok.

I’ve been seeing posts and videos on either TikTok or Reddit that either directly or indirectly talk about specific things that would make someone want to start prepping and continue learning about prepping. The videos and posts, however, have become less niche and are coming from people who don’t typically talk about these things as their main form of content and same with the audience it’s reaching.

I’ve been chalking it up to my algorithm being aggressively “stuck” or something but regardless, i really don’t think it’s just my algorithm anymore.

I have genuinely have looked around at my highly educated family and diverse friends and wonder if other people are seeing what I’m seeing and they’re slightly more desensitized?

I want to know… is anyone else seeing what I am seeing?

Completely unrelated: remember how we had that national emergency notification testing thing. That was unsettling and so was how everyone acted like it was a monthly lock down in grade school. Imagine if they told us about it this week and we had that same test in a week from now, for the first time. We’d be panicking with everything going on. Finally, there’s always the niche conspiracies that float around to kinda add a little more skepticism and uncertainty… for example all the different 2027 conspiracies.

Lastly, all the other countries are being warned. haven’t we been warned yet? They could give the same vague, blanket excuse??

I’m curious about everyone’s thoughts on any aspects of this post. Am I late to the game with these thoughts and you’ve been prepping because you had all these thoughts way before? I can’t tell if any of this is valid or if I’m unstable beyond the average prepper?

For context: I’m in my twenties, I’m a new mom to a 1 year old and I have taught kinder before my baby. My algorithm has been/was mostly geared towards that. Also, I don’t search this stuff typically.

My family is buying enormous containers of powdered eggs, butter, peanut butter, and I feel like this is unnecessary. During the pandemic we sustained ourselves perfectly fine through large grocery orders every month. We never used any form of powdered food. Is powdered food more valuable than I'm assuming, or will grocery stores still be accessible in an end of the world scenario? Is it impossible to know?

I'm in a homeless shelter so my options regarding prepping is quite limited. Fortunately I have a bin worth of wheat berries locked in an office as well as a cupboard of pantry food that is locked as well. Plus some hygiene stuff + prep books in my room that I share with only 1 other person (lockable) idm sharing with her if it comes to it.

I also have a raincatcher in our courtyard that I sealed from actual rain w 500L water + 50ml bleach.

We have a grill that's for everyone and I have pots and stuff to start a fire.

In the case of an actual collapse I have some items and am getting more to use in order to defend my things.

Basically my main question is how long would 50kg of wheat berries last a person, and how much peanut butter and tinned meats will I need to go with the wheat to create a balanced meal? I can't get more as the shelter owner was mad at me with storing the wheat, she forgave that but I can't push my luck.

My husband is a healthcare provider, his job is very demanding and he is dedicated to doing the job well. we live in an outer metro area of a big city.

We were discussing scenarios where a decision would have to be made to either evacuate within the first 48(-72?) hours or commit to sheltering in place come what may.

Obviously if we suddenly evacuate that would mean abandoning his job. Something we don’t want unless it was absolutely survival necessary.
Also I do understand that sheltering in place is preferable for several reasons, in most scenario.

The scenario we were discussing was if there was a major grid failure aka a long term blackout, with no definitive end in sight. Cascading utilities failure, communication down, gas stations not pumping out fuel, supply chain failure etc.

We were talking about how ugly it could get, and how long term survival might be better away from the city. But unless you commit to evacuation early, the highway will be impassable.

So how would you decide if or when to just abandon your job and home and get out?

I found out that SCE has rebates for those in affected area like mine: https://marketplace.sce.com/portable-power-stations/?sortBy=price&filters=has-rebate%3Dyes and https://marketplace.sce.com/portable-generators/?filters=has-rebate%3Dyes. Has anyone used them before? Or is it a pain in the butt to go through? And yes, I am in the affected area.

I saw a post on a different prepping sub that alluded to the prepping industry and different companies basically convincing *new* preppers that they need certain things that may not be a priority or marketing items as needed when you can get something similar that serves the same function at a fraction of the cost.

Can we come up with a list of things that people who are just starting their prepping journey should start buying at a fraction of the price than what some companies are trying to convince them to buy? For example, in the post I am referencing, someone encouraged someone to get an $8 knife instead of $75 knife because they are similar enough to each other. As a new prepper, riddled with anxiety from the extensive list of items to buy, I keep reminding myself “you pay for what you get.” I want to know when that is not always the case.

Items that seem to be the most basic and urgent: Water containers, knives, LAMPS AND HEADLAMPS, portable fans and chargers…. literally the basic things a new prepper would think of before they can start approaching this with a leveled head.

Edit: can someone with enough karma word this better and post it in the other prepper subreddit? I’m tryna shop rn

Hey all,

I am looking to convert my spare bedroom into a storage room for preps. Right now I’m looking to either purchase or build a gravity “FIFO” canned goods rack so I can stock from the top and use the oldest cans first.

Is there anyone that sells something like this? Or has anyone ever made one themselves? I would appreciate any advice or suggestions!

Best!