Taking a previous Uk incident as an example:
http://www.ocipep.gc.ca/opsprods/other/IA05-001_e.asp
In this case some increased demand for foodstuffs outpaced the supermarket delivery-planning, creating empty shelves, which triggered further and more widespread panic-buying.The second factor influencing shortages was increased demand and panic buying. The uncertainty of how long the fuel protests would disrupt food supplies caused consumers to alter their normal purchasing behaviour and attempt to acquire more goods than usual. The grocery chain Spar noted that its food sales had increased by 300 percent. The sight of empty shelves triggered some consumers to stockpile goods in sufficient volumes to endure a prolonged food supply shortage. Hence, by September 13 panic buying had commenced across Britain, some shops were bare of bread and milk, and a number of supermarkets began rationing food purchases (29).
I think it would take very little disruption to people norms for such a scenario to arise again.
Regulars to these forums will be well aware of the myrid events that could be a catalyst for such disruption.
What should the savy peak oiler do about it?
My suggestion is this:
1) You monitor news outlets closely for the signs that would trigger unease in the general public - say, for example, a few petrol stations closed with "no petrol" signs backing a story about supply problems (the deeper details are less important, this is the gernal public we are talking about)
2) You have planned your own pre-panic-buying shopping trip
3) You go to the supermarket outside regular hours, preferably at night (many supermarkets open 24hrs)
4) You buy a bigger-than-usual "big" shop, including things that make sense for a period of instability (say tinned foods)
Exactly what you buy is down to your personal planning and likely ties in with other plans you have made similar to these http://www.powerswitch.org.uk/portal/in ... &Itemid=49
Your first thought could well be "but THIS is panic-buying!" and you'd largely be right ! In fact what you are doing is trying to pre-empt the kind of disruption food panic buying causes and moving quicker than the rest of the country.
By keeping a close eye on popular news outlets and being prepared to go shopping in teh middle of night you stand a good chance of beating the start of a buying-wave. Most of the public switch off the telly and go to bed and forget about it, and my hunch is that a lot of panic buying happens late in the day when people have talked about it, heard other people saying "the shelves are bare" and have watched the news etc.
This kind of plan has very little downside - the worst that is likely to happen is that you went shopping in the middle of the night and bought twice as many tins of beans as you need for this week. But they'll hardly go to waste will they??
Like so many things PO-related, you have to try and look after you and yours first before thinking about the rest of the country, sad tho that is
What do people think?
