Author of Be Ready for Anything and Bloom Where You’re Planted online course
Prepping is no longer just a thing us “crazy Americans” do. The popularity of stocking up and being prepared for future events is spreading across the globe as people everywhere are losing faith that the way things are now are the way things will always be. Now that folks in the United Kingdom are facing Brexit, or the exit of the UK from the European Union, a lot of people there are currently debating whether they should be stocking up.
If there’s one thing that’s absolutely true, it’s the fact that human beings, in general, don’t want to expect that something bad may be about to happen. This is the reason that a lot of folks are hesitant to stock up ahead of time before that bad event occurs. This is the reason you see bare shelves right before a looming disaster. This is the reason you see people fighting over that last case of water at the store.
Why are people prepping for Brexit?
Here’s what’s threatening the way of life in the UK right now.
Nevine Mann is not readying herself for the threat of nuclear war, flooding or civil disorder in this part of Cornwall, in scenic southwest England. No, the specter that keeps her on edge is Brexit.
Ms. Mann, 36, has joined the country’s band of “Brexit preppers,” people who fear chaos in March, when Britain will leave the European Union, and who are stockpiling supplies.
For more than 18 months, Britain has been trying to negotiate a deal with the European Union, without which the country could face gridlock at ports, trucks stuck on highways with their loads of food spoiling, empty grocery and pharmacy shelves, energy scarcity and factories shutting down. Britain imports around one-third of its food from the European Union, and businesses rely on complex supply chains that could break down if checks are imposed on the thousands of trucks that cross the English Channel each day.
This being Britain, people are not retreating to underground bunkers, as America’s “Doomsday preppers” do, and Britons are more likely to hoard toilet paper than weaponry. But with time running out and negotiations at a delicate point, some Britons are preparing for a crisis that could upend their way of life.
“People are talking about World War II and rationing,” said Ms. Mann, a former midwife. “People have also been talking about the blackouts in the 1970s, and how power was rationed.”
“This has the potential of being a combination of the two,” she said.
The government of Prime Minister Theresa May dismisses such talk, but its own ministers have published contingency plans for an exit on March 29 without a deal, and for the first time since the end of rationing in the 1950s, Britain has a minister responsible for food supplies. More ominously, the government has advertised job openings in emergency planning. (source)
There’s a lot of uncertainty about what will actually happen if an agreement can’t be reached.
I belong to a group that is trying to help people get stocked up for Brexit in the UK. The issue is that many of the things that are in the British food supply are imported from Europe. The chemicals to treat their municipal water supply? Imported from Europe. When they leave the European Union shortly, it’s possible – even likely – that there will be shortages and issues.
It’s a friendly, helpful group full of kind people who are dealing with something practically unheard of in a nation that doesn’t really have much in the way of natural disasters.
At least once a day, someone joins who says something along the lines of, “I’m trying to decide if I actually need to stockpile things before this event.”
Now, any American prepper would guffaw at the very idea of this question…but non-preppers would find it completely reasonable. So that’s why I wanted to write this article about why you should not wait for a crisis to get stocked up. While it’s written with folk facing the Brexit in mind, it’s also applicable to anyone, anywhere.
I’m a firm believer in being stocked up even when there’s nothing but clear skies on the horizon.
You’ll get things at a better price when you shop ahead of a crisis.
When it looks like a crisis of some sort is headed your way, you can often expect prices to escalate before and after it occurs. In the case of Brexit, it’s extremely likely that people will see an uptick in food prices, if not before then definitely after. Currently, things that are imported from Europe cross easily into the country but afterward, there will be delays and extra costs. This will cost money and that cost will definitely be passed on to the customer.
And there’s also the threat of price gouging.
We’ve seen here in America people gouging prices after a disaster. In Houston, after Hurricane Harvey, there were reports of people asking $20 for a gallon of gasoline and $99 for a case of water. Shortly before Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, flights off the island were as much as $3200.
And yes, it’s against the law. But a lot of people are willing to risk it to make some quick cash.
When the supply greatly outstrips the demand this is what happens. It isn’t ethical but that doesn’t make a difference. It’s reality.
There are anti-competition laws in the UK that forbid outright price gouging but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Please don’t put your faith in people obeying the law when there’s money to be made. Lots of people will charge the high prices and hope not to get caught. And, if the costs of getting the goods increase dramatically, it’s not illegal to pass that on to the customers.
If the bad thing occurs, you won’t be competing for scarce resources.
If there’s one thing I know, it’s that ahead of an emergency, right before it happens, everyone dashes to the store and buys up supplies in a frenzy. And they get downright angry when supplies are limited. Everyone has seen bare shelves before a winter storm or hurricane.
Now imagine what the shelves will look like if suddenly it’s announced that certain important supplies will not be available for six months. Try to picture the panic as everyone in your city rushes to the store nearest to them to get as much as they can of those supplies.
It’s absolutely a fact that people who are panicking behave badly. Here’s just one example of people fighting over the last case of water. You may look at this and think, “Oh, I don’t live in an area where people act like that.” Trust me when I tell you we all live in an area like that when food is in short supply. All of us.
You know how people behave on Black Friday to get things they don’t really need? How do you think those same people will behave when the supplies in the store are the difference between them eating or starving? Because clearly, they are out there. We have them on video. And it isn’t just an American phenomenon. The video below is from the UK in 2018.
And that’s for things like televisions. Not because people are worried about running out of food.
When the announcement comes that food or water is about to be in short supply, you want to be safely at home with your family, not out in the stores, frantically competing for limited resources.
Your safety will not be compromised by you being out there after it happens trying to find supplies.
The incidents mentioned above are all about people merely shopping or trying to stock up before an event. If it’s that bad before anything has happened, can you imagine what it will be like after it happens?
Actually, you don’t have to imagine. All you have to do is look back at the New York City area after Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012. Not only was there flooding and a lengthy power outage, but there were also fuel shortages and a lot of folks didn’t have food or water on hand.
At gas stations, there were lines that took anywhere from 45 minutes to three hours and if you were lucky, there was still fuel when you reached the pumps. Fights and unruliness broke out as some people tried to cut the line. Alan Marwan worked at a Sunoco station in Prospect Heights.
Word had quickly spread about the shortage and by Wednesday afternoon, Marwan said cars were pouring out of the parking lot, one line going down Grand Avenue, the other going down Atlantic. “People were cutting in line, yelling at each other, running up to me with money while their cars were still in the street,” he said, predicting the madness will start back up again as soon as he gets more gas. And when that happens, Marwan expects the police to be on hand to help. (source)
Even after FEMA arrived to provide relief with free gasoline, the violence continued.
The frenzy for gas, fueled by long lines and shuttered stations, reached a fever pitch Saturday even as a massive tanker full of relief sailed into the harbor.
The interminable delay stretched to 16 hours at one Bay Ridge gas station, where would-be customers sat helplessly. Not even the promise of $10 in free FEMA gas calmed tensions in one tense 12-block queue along Bedford Ave. in Brooklyn, where tempers flared as desperate drivers tried to jump to the front…
…The already-edgy crowd erupted when one man tried to cut the FEMA line with a 2-gallon gas can — and it took six police officers to restrain him from getting his precious fuel. The gas hog was eventually cuffed and taken away, as much for his own safety as anything.
“It’s not good getting into fights over little things like this,” said local resident Sandra Dyer after watching several near fistfights. “People get killed over things like this.” (source)
It wasn’t just about fuel, though.
The fuel lines were nothing compared to the frenzy for food and water. After only 72 hours, people were desperately rummaging through garbage for food.
SHTFplan reported on some of the posts on Twitter about the situation.
Via Twitter:
- I was in chaos tonite tryin to get groceries…lines for shuttle buses, only to get to the no food left & closing early (link)
- I’m not sure what has shocked me more, all the communities around me destroyed, or the 5 hour lines for gas and food. (link)
- Haven’t slept or ate well in a few days. Hope things start getting better around here soon (link)
- These days a lot of people are impatient because they’re used to fast things. Fast food, fast internet, fast lines and fast shipping etc. (link)
- Glad Obama is off to Vegas after his 90 minute visit. Gas lines are miles long.. Running out of food and water. Great Job (link)
- Went to the Grocery store and lines were crazy but nail salon was empty so I’ve got a new gel manicure and some Korean junk food (link)
- So f*cking devastated right now. Smell burning houses. People fighting for food. Pitch darkness. I may spend the night in rockaway to help (link)
And here was the line for food that was being distributed by FEMA.
Please don’t think this is something that can only happen in the United States. Desperate people are desperate people, no matter where they are on this planet. The good news is that you can avoid all this by stocking up before what threatens to be a potentially disruptive event.
You’ll be prepared for other emergencies that come along.
Stuff happens.
Whatever event you’re considering stocking up to prepare for, please know that it isn’t the only event that could occur. No matter where you live, there are things like storms, unexpected power outages, contamination of the water supply, and interruptions of transportation that could mean a temporary disruption of the supply line.
But if you have food and other supplies on hand, these events will barely be a blip on your radar. You’ll be far more likely to be comfortable, well-fed, and content regardless of the situation.
Supplies like non-perishable food, flashlights, candles, and water will help you through a wide variety of different disruptions to your everyday life.
And this isn’t even to mention the most common type of emergency, a personal financial problem. If you suffer a loss of income, a huge unexpected expense, or a cost-of-living increase, the supplies you are putting aside right now will help you through that. You’ll be just fine if you have to miss a few trips to the grocery store because you’ll have food already put aside to see you through it.
Your supplies won’t be wasted if you get supplies your family will enjoy.
A prepper adage is to eat what you store and store what you eat. If you follow that rule, you’re not wasting any money by stocking up.
Think about it.
Will you ever not use the toilet paper that is sitting in your closet? Will you ever not eat the food that you’ve put aside? Will you ever stop drinking water?
Stashing away tea, coffee, canned goods, crackers, beans, water, and rice is always a good idea. You’re always going to eat, you’re always going to need personal hygiene supplies, and you’re always going to drink water. You’re not wasting your money by purchasing these things at the best prices you can find and stashing them away for a rainy day.
Focus on the basics.
While I strongly recommend stacking food, water, and health and hygiene supplies to the rafters, I’m not as keen on advising you to purchase expensive high-tech solutions.
Investing thousands in generators and that type of thing may not be as good of an idea or as universally useful. Go low-tech with your preps and plan to live a different lifestyle if things go downhill for a period of time. You have to remember that a generator only runs while you have the fuel to run it, and there’s a limit to how much fuel you’re going to be able to stash away. Here are some ideas for less expensive, low-tech prepping.
Spend your money on the things you know you’ll use and you will be set for anything from Brexit to supply disruptions to winter storms.
How would you advise people facing Brexit to prepare?
This site is loaded with experienced preppers who’ve been at this for a long time. What advice do you have for people who live in a place where prepping isn’t the norm? What should they stock up on? What are some things you think they should know? Please share your advice in the comments below.
Hi Daisy: Brexit is also affecting at least some people in the USA, like us. My husband, who now has dual citizenship, receives half his income in pounds sterling (British currency). The pound has dropped about 18% relative to the dollar. So his British income has dropped by about 18% since Brexit reared its ugly head. I’m glad we stocked up on food and other items before the drop in our income. Actually, we stay stocked up. But this is one instance where it paid off!
Wow! I had no idea, Pat!
There are a whole bunch of British ex-pats. Many live in Spain, many in France (and other places). I think they probably have the same problem with the currency. When you are retired, the last thing you want to see is a drop in your income. My husband came here in 1997, so we could be married and live together (I’m American). In many ways, it would have made more sense for me to move to the UK, but I was an only child, and my mother was then very frail and needed daily help from me (she died shortly thereafter). So my husband came here. And here we are. 🙂 We cannot afford to move to the UK or anywhere, actually. But we’re in a good place. So that is OK. But we can do without any more major hits to our income! My opinion: the UK will not actually leave the EU. A last minute referendum will be held, and this time, the vote will be to stay.
Another very real advantage to being forearmed and setting supplies aside BEFORE a catastrophe, is safety and security of your family. When things are scarce, even if you’re lucky enough to get that last case of water or bag of canned goods, don’t you think that your neighbors and others will notice you loading it into your car or carrying it into your house? You become a target if you’re the only one that has what everyone else needs. By getting extra supplies when they are readily available, nobody will notice and your family will be secure in their home until additional help arrives, or the situation finds a new level. While our friends and family in England and elsewhere are limited regarding the tools that they can use to defend themselves, their property, and their family, they might also wish to explore available options in this regard too. If things get really bad, one can only possess the things that they can defend.
If you encounter so-called ‘price gouging’ during an emergency or disaster Do Not see it as a bad thing operated by unethical people, rather be glad you found a possible life saving option. Please consider reading these two bits and give it some thought: ‘Price Gouging During a Natural Disaster’ By Walter E. Williams October 24, 2018, and, ‘”Price Gouging” Sends Important Signals About Risk’ By Justin Murray September 17, 2018.
An expensive something, is quite possibly better than a free or low priced nothing.
Just remember…it wasn’t raining when Noah began construction on the ark.
Of course food & water are some of the first things people think of when it comes to prepping, but I’d advise any new “Brexit Preppers” to also consider stocking up on any life saving medications that are required (as much as you are able-maybe your physicians could write an extra script? Not sure how it works over there) and of course lots of over the counter medications that could be useful. Think about your basic medical problems that crop up (allergies, cuts & scrapes, colds and viruses, fevers, upset stomach etc) and make sure you have items to help with all of those issues on hand.
I’d also recommend stocking up on a years worth of multivitamins for each member of your household, even if you don’t normally take vitamins. If things get a bit wonky with the food supply for a while, vitamins are a bit of cheap insurance to help even things out if you aren’t eating the types of foods you normally do (for example less fresh fruits and vegetables).
And don’t forget your pets!
Greetings from the UK…shame it’s not under such auspicious terms…whatever way I think people voted here (Leave/Remain), the way it is being mismanaged by the government will inevitably lead to, as a minimum, price hikes, and, quite possibly, food shortages.
Am trying to spread the word amongst friends and family (whilst of course still considering Opsec myself) to build at least a small stockpile of food and basic supplies, and, to my surprise, all have taken heed. There is a palpable sense of worry about the fragile supply-chain/just in time delivery system falling apart due to a heavy reliance on importing 40% of our food supply from Europe and the potential collapse, at least intially, of customs and import systems – certainly there will be knock-on effects and there being significant shortages of some basics. Granted, perhaps the vast majority will not prepare at all, but that is unfortunately the status quo here in the UK.
Like in the US and other countries over the pond, we have been branded tinfoil hat wearers, and a particular Brexiteer related term – those who are thinking of stockpiling/prepping are branded as “Project Fear” – as trying to derail somehow the Brexit process. Simply I and many other are hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
I’m set up and good to go anyway as have been prepping for years but am trying subtly to bring others close to me into the fold, Brexit is definitely an eye opener for many, and an unintended positive is that British people are finally waking up to the need to have a preparedness mindset. Will keep you all posted as we go along!! Hopefully won’t need to write a Selco style post a year down the line about having to bug-in in central Cambridge and avoiding maruading gangs…….
I too live in the South West of England, this talk of shortages is just more “project fear” from the remain side, the UK is the 5th largest economy in the world, do they think we will just shrivel up and blow away?
on the other hand it dosent hurt to have some supplies put back.
What about 3rd worlder attacks already going on, stealing & looting instead of just being PAKI rapist gangs?
UK cops & social workers admitted they ignored the gang rapes of over 1400 little white girls in Rotherham alone, what do you think the zerg of humanity will do when the dole/welfare doesn’t give them enough free food?
They certainly wont have a stiff upper lip.
Little Charley Gard had dozens of cops to stop anyone from taking him from the NHS death panel, to another nation were his parents could pay for treatment, but no cops to protect the indigenous white British from parasites imported for profit by (((Parasites)))
This may all come to nothing, or minor hiccups in supply, not affecting lives at all. I hope and pray this is so. Still, cousins divided by a common language, do you really expect Brussels will behave nicely? That they won’t disrupt everything possible to punish you for the crime of leaving? Heck, they could try to be nice and still fail at keeping commerce going. Trusting the bureaucrats of the EU to be both good and competent… that’s almost as bad as trusting the US government.
Get some extra food, pet food and toiletries as you can. Hope for the best, but don’t plan for it. Next, how much will you share with neighbors? If you’re not going to share, perhaps cooking that curry may not be a good idea. Being hungry and smelling food could lead to… issues. You may also want a few decent garbage bags to stash some trash rather than put it out in the bin. If your bin has a bunch of empty tins in it, folks may figure you have more.
Start with beans and rice. Add spices to go with them. (Say 10 pounds of each) After that is in your cart buy 2 of everything you are planning to eat this week and put the second one back (except the lettuce…it doesn’t preserve well)
Buy what you eat, rotate and eat what you buy.
And if you have the funds seriously consider adding a bucket of freeze dried food (about $100 american) so you have something that you only need boil water to prepare….who would suspect a single thing about someone boiling water (for tea?) in England even if they were doing it right in the open? (assuming your neighbors have no food left and are looking to ANYONE to help them. You are less of a target)
if I was in britain right now, I’d be stocking up on food and supplies like 90% alcohol and a trangia stove, buckets for water, freeze dried food, and a good sleeping bag. if you are a camper or backpacker you have most of what you need already. as far as weapons, take an old broomstick and sharpen the end, or cut a groove in the end and add a fixed blade knife. a good slingshot is great for keeping people away or getting small game. use your head, I’d rather sit back and watch stupidity unfold than be in the middle of it.