RenewableCandy wrote:If each person who reads these articles properly makes a bit more in the way of preps, even simple stuff like installing water-barrels or having a week's food instead of 2 days in the house, then they're doing some good.
If EACH person properly reading the article purchased a water barrel and a weeks food, then I would expect shortages of food and water barrels !
There is that little slack in the system.
In practice of course most will do nothing, only a minority will act, and that will do some good, especialy as each person who prepares may eventually persuade others to do likwise, though not all at once I hope.
Many supermarkets appear to have gone too far in reducing stock levels and have moved from "just in time" to "not in time" deliveries.
In stocking up I regularly buy the entire stock of several products, admitedly perhaps the less popular items.
A recent trip to a major supermarket resulted in me buying their entire stock of
Peanut butter (all 5 jars)
Nestle tinned cream (6 tins)
Cockburns port (both bottles)
Large bars of milk chocolatte (7 bars)
I also purchased more than half the available stock of numerous other lines.
The amounts purchased were not exactly true SHTF hoards, but reasonable purchases for a large family or small business such as a B+B.
At retailers were I am not known, I dont mind doing my best to start a small panic over food supplies.
Better a small panic now than a big one latter !
If any employee or fellow customer comments, I generally reply that I am stocking up "in case of war or terrorist attack"
At retailers were I am or may be known to staff or customers then I keep a lower profile so as not to become known as one who "has a hoard whilst sheeple go short"
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"