New year, new chances to step up! 2025 is calling and asking one question: are you ready for the unexpected? Because let’s face it: Modern life is convenient…until it’s not. One power outage, disaster, or unexpected event can change everything. That’s why there’s no better time to sharpen your survival skills than right now.

Honing these survival skills isn’t just for wilderness wanderers or doomsday preppers anymore. They’re for anyone who values independence, confidence, and resourcefulness. This year, let’s trade panic for preparation. Here’s where to start.

New Year, New You: Survival Skills to Master in 2025

It’s easy to think you’re prepared for the unexpected… until it happens. In 2025, survival skills will be the critical difference between thriving in chaos and struggling to keep up. If you’re serious about self-reliance, this is your year to shine. Here are the top survival skills you need to master this year:

1. Fire Building Without Matches

Knowing how to start a fire with flint, steel, or even a bow drill could save you, your night, and your life. Fire provides warmth, cooks food, and keeps predators at bay. This foundational skill is the perfect place to start your survival journey.

2. Water Purification Basics

Everyone knows you can’t survive long without water. But drinking from a stream without purifying it first? That’s a recipe for trouble. Learn how to boil water, use a filtration system, or even craft a DIY solar still so you can hydrate safely. Each method has its merits and understanding which to use in different scenarios could make all the difference.

3. Navigation Without GPS

We’ve all become a little too reliant on our phones. What if you lose signal along the way? Never gonna happen if you’ve got a compass and a topographical map. Once you learn to read the land, you’ll never get lost again. Plus, it’s always oddly satisfying to navigate old-school style while everyone else is fumbling with their gadgets.

4. Knot Tying

Whether you’re securing gear, setting traps, or hanging a tarp, knot-tying is one of the standard but most versatile skills you can learn. Start with the basics—square knots, bowlines, and clove hitches—and build from there. Over time, you’ll learn more advanced knot-tying techniques, such as creating a makeshift clothesline to securing a load on your truck.

5. Shelter Building

Being stuck in the wilderness without a tent is something you never want to go through. Knowing how to construct a lean-to or debris shelter using branches and leaves can protect you from the elements. Hone this skill by practicing in your backyard or at a local park. You’ll be surprised how quickly you develop an eye for suitable materials.

6. Foraging for Wild Edibles

Nature’s pantry is closer than you think. Learn to identify safe-to-eat plants like cattails, dandelions, and blackberries. However, always double-check with a reliable guide because guessing isn’t worth risking your life. Once you gain confidence and knowledge, practice this skill by supplementing the food gathered for your meals.

7. Basic First Aid

When accidents happen, it’s good to know you’ve got the skills to handle them. Knowing how to respond to an emergency quickly can ease pain, prevent infection, and even save a life. Enrolling in a first aid course is one of the smartest survival investments you can make.

8. Cooking Over an Open Flame

Leave microwave meals behind! Cooking over a fire is not just an essential survival skill but also a fantastic way to level up your camping experience. Start with simple recipes like bannock bread or foil-packed meals. You’ll soon appreciate the art of cooking in the wild.

9. Vehicle Maintenance 101

Being stranded on the side of the road isn’t fun. Learning to change a tire, jumpstart a battery, or fix a leaky radiator hose ensures you won’t be caught off guard. Plus, these skills save you valuable time and money!

10. Bartering Skills

During uncertain times, cash isn’t that reliable anymore. Bartering, or the act of exchanging goods or services without money, could become a key survival tactic. Learn this skill as early as now and practice this at local swap meets or farmer’s markets. There, you can trade surplus items or services for something you need.

11. Self-Defense Techniques

No one likes to think about dangerous situations, but they’re inevitable. What you can do now is take a self-defense class to learn how to protect yourself and your loved ones. Even basic skills like blocking, striking, and situational awareness can give you an edge during critical situations.

12. Signal Building

When communication systems fail, knowing how to manually signal for help is an essential survival skill. Learn to use mirrors or fire to give out your location. Or, you can learn simple flagging techniques to alert rescuers. These methods are simple but incredibly effective during emergencies.

A Year-Long Plan for Success

Tackling all 12 skills at once would be overwhelming. Instead, break it down month by month. Focus on one new skill each month, starting with fire building and water purification. By pacing yourself, you’ll avoid burnout and also gain mastery of each skill before moving on.

Practical Tips to Stay Motivated

• Practice regularly: Skills are like muscles—they need exercise to stay sharp.
• Track your progress: Keep a journal of the skills you’ve learned and what’s next.
• Involve others: Grab a friend or family member to join you in the challenge.

Starting fresh in 2025 means preparing for anything. Whether you’re out in the wild or weathering a storm at home, these skills give you an edge. So grab a notebook, set some reminders, and make this your most self-reliant year yet. After all, a prepared mind is a peaceful one.

FAQs

1. Do I need fancy gear? No! Start with basics and build as you go.
2. How long does it take to learn these? Focus on one skill a month for steady progress.
3. Are these family-friendly? Absolutely! Kids can join in many of these activities.
4. What’s the most critical skill? Fire-starting tops the list. It’s essential in most survival situations.
5. Can I learn these indoors? Some, like first aid and navigation, work well indoors.
6. How do I stay motivated? Set small goals and track your progress.
7. Do I need to live in the wilderness? Not at all! Many skills apply to urban survival.
8. What’s the hardest skill? Trapping takes time and patience but is highly rewarding.
9. Should I practice alone? It’s better to learn with others for safety and fun.
10. Where can I find resources? Check out survival books, online videos, or local workshops.

Want to take your survival skills even further? Explore our website for step-by-step guides, pro tips, and everything you need to be ready for 2025. Don’t just survive—thrive! Click here to start sharpening your edge today.

A lot of really weird things have been happening over the past few days.  I don’t know what all of it means, but what has been taking place is so unusual that it should definitely be getting our attention.  For example, on New Year’s Eve lightning struck four of the most iconic buildings in the United States.  If lightning had hit just one of those buildings, it could have easily been dismissed as a coincidence, but that isn’t what we witnessed.  I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about this, because what just occurred in Washington D.C. and New York City is very strange indeed.

On the evening of December 31st, a spectacular bolt of lightning that hit the U.S. Capitol was captured on video…

By itself, such a lightning strike would be truly extraordinary.

But almost simultaneously, a bolt of lightning also hit the Washington Monument…

I was stunned when I first learned that the U.S. Capitol and the Washington Monument had both been hit by lightning on New Year’s Eve.

But that was not the end of the story.

It turns out that the Empire State Building was also struck by lightning on the same evening…

What are the odds of three iconic buildings getting hit on the exact same night?

And what are the odds of that happening on New Year’s Eve?

On top of everything else, One World Trade Center was also struck by lightning on New Year’s Eve.  I am not able to embed this one, but you can see video of that lightning strike here.

Have you ever heard of anything like this ever happening before?

Four of our most iconic landmarks were all struck by lightning on New Year’s Eve, and hardly anyone is even talking about it.

What is wrong with us?

Of course shortly thereafter we witnessed horrific terror attacks in New Orleans and Las Vegas.  Americans tend not to pay much attention to terrorism until it happens on our soil, but now everyone is paying attention.  Hopefully our law enforcement authorities will have some solid answers for us soon, because there are still so many unanswered questions about those attacks.

Unfortunately, many believe that those attacks were just the beginning.

In fact, one former CIA officer is claiming that there are over a thousand “sleepers” inside the United States right now that are preparing more attacks…

A former CIA officer named Sarah Adams was interviewed on the Shawn Ryan podcast just two weeks ago, and warned that there are more than a thousand al-Qaeda sleepers in the United States right now who are planning major attacks on the homeland.

She clearly implicates Biden’s open southern border as the entry point for these potential terrorists and suggests that they have developed new tactics and bombs that can evade detection through traditional means.

For years, millions of people have been pouring over our wide open borders.

For years, people like me have been warning that this is a very serious threat to our national security.

At this point, the damage has been done, and we have all sorts of nuts inside this country that could potentially do all sorts of damage.

Now Donald Trump’s inauguration is coming up on January 20th, and those that are closely associated with Trump have been getting targeted…

A surge in bomb threats and swatting incidents against lawmakers since the election underscores the deep political divide in the U.S. and has lawmakers from both parties calling for more protection.

Members of Congress and President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration have been on the receiving end of a rash of false alarms about pipe bombs or dangerous swatting stunts, in which a fake emergency call sends heavily armed police to a target’s residence.

A swatting incident against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, led to a woman dying in a car crash with an officer responding to the incident.

Being a prominent politician in this day and age is a very dangerous job.

We should be praying for their safety.

There is one last thing that I wanted to mention before I end this article.

On New Year’s Day, the San Francisco area was shaken by a magnitude 4.7 earthquake…

Northern California residents started off the new year with a rumble, as 4.7-magnitude earthquake struck the region Wednesday night. The tremor came at around 6.34pm Pacific time, with an epicenter about 70 miles north of San Francisco, the United States Geological Survey reported.

Thankfully, the earthquake was not large enough to do much damage, but local residents clearly felt it…

‘I did feel it actually,’ one X user wrote. ‘It was a rolling earthquake, lasted a few seconds.

‘Usually the earthquakes around here are jolts, not rolling, so it was kind of cool to feel the floor roll under my feet.’

Another X user added that it was ‘pretty intense for a 4.7.

‘It was a shallow earthquake too, so that makes [it[ feel stronger, but [is] usually more locally felt.’

Interestingly, this was a magnitude 4.7 earthquake, and Donald Trump is going to be the 47th president of the United States.

But I suppose that most people will also dismiss that fact as just another “coincidence”.

There sure have been a lot of “coincidences” lately, eh?

I am going to keep writing about the stuff that others are not writing about.

2024 was certainly a crazy year, but I believe that 2025 is going to be even more chaotic.

Hopefully all of the shaking that is coming in 2025 will wake a lot more people up, because right now most of the population is still sleeping.

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

Get prepared for what is ahead by visiting some of our sponsors…

The Jase Case is more than an emergency medication supply. The right meds the moment you need them: https://shorturl.at/gMpOj

Protect your home and vehicle with EMP Shield: https://shorturl.at/Hh2oz

Ready Hour Emergency Food: https://shorturl.at/RB6ul

My Patriot Supply: https://shorturl.at/GhppY

InstaFire: https://shorturl.at/brRN1

AlexaPure: https://shorturl.at/CH23z

Operation Blackout: https://eflow.americablackout.com/2964TZB/7XDN2/

Exodus Effect: https://trk.exodusrevealed.com/2964TZB/225JFQ/

Final Famine: https://trk.finaleagainstfamine.com/2964TZB/BP658/

Genesis Code: https://trk.discovergenesiscode.com/2964TZB/M2GJW/

Final Blackout: https://trk.borderdatareport.com/2964TZB/2N721M/

Last Blackout: https://trk.last-blackout.com/2964TZB/2J2CRS/

The post On New Year’s Eve, Lightning Struck The U.S. Capitol, The Washington Monument, The Empire State Building And One World Trade Center appeared first on The Economic Collapse.

 

Throughout human history, epidemics like the Black Plague and cholera have inflicted devastating losses on societies, shaping not just the physical but also the psychological responses to disease.

Fear, often a survival mechanism, can paradoxically exacerbate vulnerability to diseases by impairing the immune system and altering behavioral responses. This interplay of biology, psychology, and sociology offers a fascinating lens through which to examine how emotions, particularly fear, may have influenced disease outcomes historically and even today.

 

Fear and the Immune System

There is some science to this. Research has begun to uncover the ways in which fear and high-stress levels impact human health, mainly through the immune system. Here’s the thing: chronic fear activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, resulting in prolonged release of cortisol and other stress hormones.

While these hormones are essential in acute fight-or-flight responses, their long-term elevation suppresses immune function, reducing the body’s ability to fend off infections (Sapolsky, 2004). Studies have demonstrated that high levels of stress lead to decreased production of lymphocytes and impair the activity of natural killer cells, both of which are critical in combating pathogens (Glaser & Kiecolt-Glaser, 2005).

During historical pandemics, widespread fear likely compounded susceptibility to disease by creating a population-wide physiological environment primed for infection.

In medieval Europe, for instance, the terror of the Black Plague… an epidemic that claimed an estimated 25 million lives… may have weakened the collective immune defenses of already malnourished and highly stressed populations. Similarly, during cholera outbreaks in the 19th century, fear and panic spread faster than the disease itself, potentially exacerbating mortality rates in many communities.

 

Historical Accounts of Fear and Disease Outcomes

Historical records provide anecdotal evidence of the relationship between fear and susceptibility to disease. Again, during outbreaks of the Black Plague, some accounts describe individuals succumbing to illness shortly after witnessing the death of a loved one or experiencing intense fear of infection. We still see this phenomenon today, very much alive and well.

The French physician Nostradamus, who lived during the plague, advised against fear and emphasized emotional resilience, recognizing (perhaps intuitively) the potential harm of panic on health outcomes.

As stated above, cholera outbreaks provide a particularly striking historical example of how psychological states influenced societal reactions to disease. Some Native American tribes, faced with devastating cholera outbreaks, exhibited unique behaviors that may reflect a cultural understanding of fear’s role in health.

According to many anecdotal reports, certain Indian tribes lost middle-aged adults to cholera… who were more prone to worry. However, the disease seemed to spare the children and the elderly, who were perceived as less psychologically burdened by fear. Although these reports remain speculative and rooted in oral histories, they highlight the belief that mental states, including fear, could directly influence survival.

 

Cultural Responses to Disease: Fear as a Double-Edged Sword

Cultural responses to pandemics often reflect the pervasive impact of fear. In some cases, fear mobilized communities to adopt public health measures such as quarantine and improved sanitation.

However, fear has also led to scapegoating and social ostracization, weakening cultural cohesion and individual resilience. During the Black Plague, for example, widespread terror resulted in the suspicion and even persecution of some groups, creating a social environment of distrust and heightened anxiety, making matters even worse.

Interestingly, the idea that emotional states influence health has been central to many traditional medical systems. Ancient Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, for instance, both emphasize the importance of mental equilibrium for physical health, suggesting that the interplay between fear and disease has long been observed, even if not fully understood in scientific terms.

 

Pathogens and Psychological Manipulation

Some pathogens may actively exploit fear and stress to enhance their transmission. For instance, rabies, which causes severe neurological symptoms, induces agitation and aggression in its host, increasing the likelihood of the virus spreading through bites.

While this is an extreme example of pathogen-driven behavior modification, it raises intriguing questions about how host or pathogen-induced psychological states can affect disease dynamics.

Fear itself can also indirectly amplify disease spread by altering human behavior. During cholera outbreaks, panic led to mass migrations and overcrowding in uninfected areas, inadvertently facilitating the disease’s transmission. Similarly, fear-based behavior during the COVID-19 “plandemic” seemed to reduce natural immune response and act as a pathogenic driver.

 

Modern Implications: Lessons from History and Science

Understanding the role of fear in disease susceptibility offers valuable insights for managing contemporary pandemics. Public health campaigns that emphasize a “get vaccinated or die” mentality often have an inverse effect and destroy credibility in the public health apparatus on many societal levels. The bottom line is that fear-based messaging often backfires, heightening stress and reducing compliance with health directives.

Emerging fields like psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) explore the connections between psychological states and immune function, shedding light on the mechanisms through which fear affects health. Research in PNI supports the idea that interventions aimed at reducing stress—such as mindfulness, social support, and community resilience—can enhance immune responses and improve disease outcomes.

 

Plague Panics and Modern Anxieties

The interplay between fear and disease is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon that spans biology, psychology, and history. While fear is an adaptive response to threats… chronic or excessive fear can suppress the immune system and… increase susceptibility to disease.

These historical accounts, such as the Native American response to cholera and the societal panic during the Black Plague, underscore the profound influence of fear on disease dynamics. Modern science corroborates these observations, demonstrating that psychological states significantly impact immune function.

By understanding and addressing the role of fear in health, we can insulate ourselves from fear, whether it’s from enemies within or from enemies from any outside source.

Here are some Bible passages to dwell on… passages that can help in times of trouble:

Below are ten Bible passages that address fear, offering comfort, reassurance, and guidance on how to trust God amid anxiety and uncertainty. Each passage can be read and meditated upon to find strength, courage, and peace:

1. Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This promise reminds believers that they never face their fears alone—God’s presence and support are unwavering.

2. Psalm 23:4 – “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
The image of a shepherd guiding His sheep through perilous places illustrates God’s protective guidance.

3. Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
God’s command to Joshua applies to all who follow Him, promising divine companionship and encouragement.

4. Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?”
With God as a fortress, there is no enemy too overwhelming.

5. Psalm 56:3–4 – “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”
Turning to God’s faithfulness transforms fear into confidence.

6. 2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
God’s Spirit empowers believers to respond to fear with courage, love, and a sound mind.

7. Philippians 4:6–7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Prayer transforms anxiety into a supernatural peace that defies human comprehension.

8. Matthew 6:34 – “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Focusing on the present, rather than the unknown future, helps dispel fear.

9. John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Jesus offers a peace that’s different from any worldly assurance, soothing fear and worry.

10. 1 John 4:18 – “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
God’s perfect love, when fully embraced, crowds out fear and replaces it with trust and security.

The lessons of history and advances in science remind us that managing fear is as crucial as managing pathogens in the fight against epidemics. Bottom line: Trust in the Lord and don’t look to the right or left!

 

The post How Fear Fuels Disease: A Historical and Scientific Perspective appeared first on Off The Grid News.

The U.S. government is currently constructing the most colossal monument in the history of the world.  It is a monument of debt, and we will forever be remembered as the nation that piled up far more debt than anyone else ever did.  For decades, this generation has been recklessly spending the money of future generations of Americans.  Most people seem to think that we are totally getting away with this swindle, but the truth is that the party is almost over.  Our national debt has already surpassed the 36 trillion dollar mark, and according to usdebtclock.org at our current rate of spending our national debt will surpass the 51 trillion dollar mark four years from now.

We are a spoiled, bloated, greedy nation that has run up a debt so big that words simply do not do it justice.

We have got to stop spending so much money, but we just can’t help ourselves.

In January, Donald Trump will be faced with some very difficult decisions regarding our debt as soon as he is inaugurated…

It’s going to be an urgent issue for Trump as soon as he takes office. The federal government will resume the cap on its borrowing authority on Jan. 1, as the U.S. sits on a national debt of more than $36 trillion, though the Treasury Department can buy time for a number of months with so-called extraordinary measures. The fiscal time bomb illustrates the struggle Trump and Republican leaders face heading into 2025, as they consider whether to court Democrats who will want concessions or their own conservatives who are known for rigidly sticking to their demands to cut funding.

If Trump decides that it is time to cut spending, that will make our short-term economic problems even worse.

But if he decides to keep spending money at current levels that would be suicidal.

Most Americans have no idea how difficult it is to spend a trillion dollars.

If you spend one dollar every single second, you could spend a million dollars in just twelve days.

If you spend one dollar every single second, you could spend a billion dollars in 32 years.

But at that same rate, it would  take you more than 31,000 years to spend a trillion dollars.

Let me give you another illustration.

If you were alive 2000 years ago and you started spending one million dollars every single day when Christ was born, you still would not have spent one trillion dollars by now.

That is how large one trillion dollars is.

But the United States is not one trillion dollars in debt.

The United States is 36 trillion dollars in debt.

And as I discussed the other day, we will never pay that debt off.

A trillion $10 bills, if they were taped end to end, would wrap around the globe more than 380 times.  That amount of money would still not be enough to pay off one-third of the U.S. national debt.

But if you are determined to do something, the government wants you to know that you can help.

If you can believe it, the government is actually taking online donations that will be used to help pay off the national debt.

Or at least that is what they are claiming.

If you were able to donate one dollar every single second to help pay off the national debt, it would take you hundreds of thousands of years to come up with enough money to pay it off.

Are you starting to get the picture?

We are in so much trouble.

We could have lived within our means and left America in tremendous shape for the generations that follow us.

But that is not what we did.

Instead, we have saddled our children and grandchildren with the greatest mountain of debt in the history of the world.

What we have done to future generations of Americans is beyond criminal.  One day, if they get the chance, they will look back and curse this generation for what we have done to them.  We spent tens of trillions of dollars that belonged to them, and we have stuck them with the bill for our wild excesses.  We have taken the greatest economic machine that humanity has ever seen and we have driven it straight off a cliff.

And yet we are so proud of ourselves.

We think that we are so special and that we have all the answers.

Of course the truth is that we should be deeply ashamed of ourselves.  Over and over again we kept sending the same clowns back to Washington D.C. and they just kept on spending our money like they were playing a really twisted game of Monopoly.

So now we are going to pay the price.

All of us.

Apparently the Chinese wanted to see how much of a joke the U.S. Treasury has become, because they hacked into it a few weeks ago…

A state-sponsored actor in China hacked the U.S. Treasury Department, gaining access to the workstations of government employees and unclassified documents, the Biden administration said on Monday.

The announcement comes after revelations in recent months that China had penetrated deep into U.S. telecommunications systems, gaining access to the phone conversations and text messages of U.S. officials and others.

According to Reuters, this was a “major incident”…

The hackers compromised a third-party cybersecurity service provider and were able to access unclassified documents, the letter said, calling it a “major incident.”

According to the letter, hackers “gained access to a key used by the vendor to secure a cloud-based service used to remotely provide technical support for Treasury Departmental Offices (DO) end users. With access to the stolen key, the threat actor was able override the service’s security, remotely access certain Treasury DO user workstations, and access certain unclassified documents maintained by those users.”

Of course you don’t have to be a hacker to find out the big secret that the U.S. Treasury is trying to hide.

The big secret is that we are broke.

We are drowning in an ocean of red ink, and we can barely pay our bills.

Something has got to change, because if we stay on the path that we are currently on we will be 51 trillion dollars in debt four years from today.

Michael’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.

About the Author: Michael Snyder’s new book entitled “Why” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com. He has also written eight other books that are available on Amazon.com including “Chaos”, “End Times”, “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”.  When you purchase any of Michael’s books you help to support the work that he is doing.  You can also get his articles by email as soon as he publishes them by subscribing to his Substack newsletter.  Michael has published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and he always freely and happily allows others to republish those articles on their own websites.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, we strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

Get prepared for what is ahead by visiting some of our sponsors…

The Jase Case is more than an emergency medication supply. The right meds the moment you need them: https://shorturl.at/gMpOj

Protect your home and vehicle with EMP Shield: https://shorturl.at/Hh2oz

Ready Hour Emergency Food: https://shorturl.at/RB6ul

My Patriot Supply: https://shorturl.at/GhppY

InstaFire: https://shorturl.at/brRN1

AlexaPure: https://shorturl.at/CH23z

Operation Blackout: https://eflow.americablackout.com/2964TZB/7XDN2/

Exodus Effect: https://trk.exodusrevealed.com/2964TZB/225JFQ/

Final Famine: https://trk.finaleagainstfamine.com/2964TZB/BP658/

Genesis Code: https://trk.discovergenesiscode.com/2964TZB/M2GJW/

Final Blackout: https://trk.borderdatareport.com/2964TZB/2N721M/

Last Blackout: https://trk.last-blackout.com/2964TZB/2J2CRS/

The post Unless Something Changes, 4 Years From Now We Will Be 51 Trillion Dollars In Debt appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

Ever wondered… “How Bad Could Things Get Where I Live IF SHTF?”

Today, I’ll give you a clear answer to that critical question ☝️

But first, let’s break down what makes certain counties more or less dangerous during a SHTF event:

• The factor that creates the MOST danger in a SHTF scenario?
• How the data was found, analyzed, and why it matters.
• County vs. State-level data – which is more useful?
• Understanding risk levels – from worst to best.
• How to interpret your county’s results.

The Factor That Creates The MOST Danger In A SHTF Scenario?

Before ANY data is helpful, we must agree on WHAT makes a county dangerous in a SHTF scenario…

Because the number of potential dangers is nearly endless and highly dependent on geographic location, right?

For example:

IF we’re talking about natural disasters, there are all sorts of regional concerns, such as:

• The Atlantic & Gulf Coasts have Hurricanes.
• The Midwest & South have Tornados.
• The West has Droughts, Wildfires & Earthquakes.
• Yellowstone is overdue for a Super volcano.
• The Pacific Coast has Mudslides and is due for a massive Tsunami.
• Heatwaves, Blizzards, Avalanches, Etc.

Not to mention “man-made” disasters as well, such as:

• Widespread Riots
• Civil Unrest | War
• Mass Starvation
• Financial Collapse
• Nuclear War | Fallout
• Nuclear Fallout
• EMPs Strikes
• Super AI

The truth is:

There are always threats no matter where you live!

Risk is a fact of life.

Some locations have one type of threat, others have another.

But it’s also true that some areas carry more or less risk, right?

So “RISK” is NOT something you can remove entirely.

But that’s not to say you can’t manage it… You can.

And there’s 1 major factor that will take any risk and multiply it.

This ‘multiplier’ can take an emergency and blow it up into a tragedy of epic proportions…

Any guess what this “1 THING” might be?

Population Density

A local, regional, or national disaster becomes worse with MORE people.

High-density urban areas carry a significant risk multiplier should the world go sideways.

Heck, even folks several hours away from major urban areas are not safe.

Why? Because it doesn’t matter WHAT the emergency is…

If food or water supplies are cut off, and folks begin to starve, we’re only about 3 to 5 days from complete chaos.

Our modern world functions relatively well when there’s “enough.”

Sure, there are examples of areas where this might not be true.

• Where “law and order” have broken down, people get shot daily.
• Where drugs, crime, murders, and prostitution run unchecked.

But if mass starvation erupts in an urban area (as well as its Metro) – it’ll become a massive Tsunami of human conflict.

I’m talking complete lawlessness – mass lootings, riots, murders, theft, rape, pillaging, etc.

Modern society remains “civil” as long as there’s enough water and calories to go around.

I’m not saying it’s always pretty.

There are currently WAY too many folks who go to bed hungry.

But what if THAT situation spreads to EVERY home in an entire city, region, or nationwide…

Well…We can all agree the further you are from such a mass of desperate humans, the safer, right?

You see, this is why I began looking at my local data.

I wanted to determine if I was in a “Danger Zone” or not…

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How The Data Was Found, Analyzed & Why It Matters

I pulled the “State” level information with my first attempt to look at population densities.

State Data

At first, I thought this might be helpful.

I figured it would show me where the worst “Danger Zones” are.

And so, I quickly found each States estimated population (based on US Census Data):

And while looking at Raw Population data by State is interesting…it was nearly worthless to tell me what I really wanted to know.

I mean, with State Population data, you’re NOT comparing Apples to Apples.

Comparing Texas to Rhode Island’s is less than helpful at the Statewide level.

Those two States’ Land Masses are not even in the same category.

So how do we “equalize” these vastly differing States to get a number that’s useful?

You take the Raw Population and divide THAT number by the Land Mass (square acres).

Now you have:

How many people there are PER square mile in each State.

This was better.

This information was somewhat helpful.

Now I could compare vastly different-sized States and see which had more people packed into them.

For example:

We all know New Jersey is a small State and is very cramped, right? And the data rings true.

New Jersey has ~1,158 people per square mile.

Great, but how does THAT compare to…Florida (another State with LOTS of people)?

Florida has ~414 people per square mile.

That means Jersey is roughly 3X more dense than Florida.

So, if you live in Florida, you’re much safer from SHTF risk than Jersey…

But not so fast…

Florida is a reasonably large State, right?

But are the people living there evenly spread across the entire State? No way!

We all know most folks squeeze in along the coastlines.

And the lowest part of the middle of the State is all Swampland and National Parks.

Since New Jersey is a relatively small State, its average density seems reasonable.

Sure, some areas will be higher than the 1,259 and others lower, but the differences between the highs and lows will be fairly close.

But this is NOT the same in Florida.

The difference between the cities and the rural swamp locations are miles apart.

It’s like comparing the Sun to the Moon.

So now we’re back to “square 1,” and the only way to help achieve data that can be helpful is to chop these States up into smaller areas.

And this is where counties come in.

County Level Data

Every State (in the US) is broken up into a bunch of different counties.

This is a way to help folks within a State keep politics and public services more local.

And while no two counties are identical in size, and like States, some counties are enormous while others are tiny, using County data is still way better than State wide data.

And I thought tracking down this data would be a breeze.
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I figured I’d do a quick Google search, click a button, and be done.

But it turns out that finding land mass and population data on a per-county basis is quite elusive.

But with persistence and some good old fashioned (copy/pasting) …I got it done.

With a bit of sleuthing and elbow grease, I could find county population size AND land mass data.

And NOW, finally, I had the Holy Grail of US population density data.

I could now compare different US Counties nationwide and see which ones had the highest and lowest densities.

I did the math (in an Excel spreadsheet) and then sorted from highest to lowest.

Viola. Crazy useful data.

I finally had the “Danger Zone County” info I wanted at my fingertips.

I started pouring over the data, double-checking, and analyzing.

Yup, I enjoy doing this… I’m an Engineer (a.k.a. Engine “NERD.”)

But I quickly noticed some anomalies that didn’t make sense.

I assumed all the highest-density areas would be the superdense US cities (New York, San Fran, Atlanta, Chicago, Etc.)

And while all those Counties were near the top, some were further down the list than anticipated.

While there were a few tiny counties (like Manassas Park City County in Virginia) that were higher on the list than counties near Philadelphia, Tampa, Chicago, St. Louis, and even Atlanta…

What in the world was going on?

So, I dug in some more, and here’s what I found…

Counties come in all different shapes and sizes.

For example:

The most densely populated parts of Atlanta (and its Metro) have a foot in several different counties:

There’s Fulton County, Cobb County, DeKalb County, and Douglas County.

And many of these “Atlanta area” Counties extend far away from the city into areas with much lower population densities.

These county shapes and sizes can play into the same issues I saw with the State Level data.

The counties’ size, shape, and layout affected my comparison from being perfect.

Fulton County is a perfect example of this:

It extends way to the northeast AND southwest of the dense urban areas.

Thus, lowering its OVERALL average population density.

So, after more analysis, I discovered these oddities were NOT THAT big of a deal.

Sure, a few counties were hitting a higher density number than expected, and a few major urban areas were slightly lower…

But in general, over the entire list of 3142 counties in the United States, the highest density areas landed near the top, and the lowest were near the bottom.

And the middle ones were… in the middle.

So, overall, this was still extremely useful data, even if it wasn’t perfect.

Now, during this deep dive, I noticed another interesting phenomenon.

Sometimes I’d see some lower population densities in States I knew for a FACT were relatively small AND highly populated.

So, being curious, I had to find out what was going on.

I discovered some areas in the US that may have extremely low populations BUT are slap dab between several major metropolitan areas.

Often these areas are only a 1- or 2-hour drive from major cities (sometimes less).

For example:

Dorchester County, Maryland, has a Density of .090 people per Square Mile.

But Maryland, the State has one of the highest average Population Densities at .992

So, Dorchester County is 11X less dense than the State average.

That’s what I call an anomaly.

Here’s what’s going on…

If you pull up a map of Dorchester County, you’ll see something right away that takes up a large chunk of the area:

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

This Wildlife Refuge is ~ 43.75 square miles – while the entire County is 540 square miles.

So nearly 8% of the area has a population density near ZERO – while the surrounding areas are also very low-density.

This County is a low-density Island surrounded by a sea of high-density cities.

For example:

• From the Eastern Edges of Washington, DC, and Baltimore, MD, are only about 1-hour drive (63 miles away).
• The South Side of Philadelphia only takes under 2 hours at 102 miles.
• Plus, there’s Richmond VI not too far away, as well as Norfolk | Virginia Beach area.
• Atlantic City is within a few days’ walk.
• Heck, THE highest density and largest city (New York City) is only a 3-hour drive and 190 miles away.

So, while Dorchester County “looks” like a safe haven on paper, in reality, I wasn’t comfortable with where it sat on my ‘Danger Zone County List.”

I mean, in my spreadsheet, it’s right next to places like:

• Sebastian County Arkansas
• Barry County Michigan
• Manitowoc County Wisconsin
• Upshur County Texas

Sorry, but just looking at a map, you can tell these are NOT comparable locations.

So, I had to figure out how to level-set these Counties somehow.

Otherwise, while the County data was better that the State data, it still had significant problems.

That’s when I decided to combine the State data with County data.

A Mix 95% County | 5% State

County Data is obviously much better than State data (I already proved that above).

But the State data still provides SOME helpful information.

If a State has a very high average density population (even if it’s all very localized to a few major cities), that means any counties within such States are nearby high urban areas.

This “rule” works better for smaller States and less so for large ones.

But in general, States with a very high population density are at a higher risk (no matter how sparse a County is) than a State with a very low population density.

While an individual County may be very low, if it’s within an hour or two of major cities, people will be forced out of these cities looking for food and water in times of massive chaos.

Of course, if you have 2 counties with similar densities, the one in the State with a lower population density has a lower risk.

So, I decided to use both the State and County data – in a weighted form.

Basically, I gave the Counties data 95% of the weight and the State data 5% of the weight.

By doing this, I had a number that primarily used the hyper-localized County data but used a bit of State data as well.

That way, if two Counties had similar data, but one was in Iowa while the other was in Delaware.

Well… the County in Iowa would likely be safer if all hell broke loose, right?

So that’s how I came up with this data to determine where the actual “Danger Zones” and “Safe Zone” Counties.

Note: You can quickly find a specific county using your devices ‘search functionality’…

• On PC Desktop Use: Control + F
• On Apple Computers Use: Command + F
• On Mobile Devices: Go to browser your settings and look for something like: “Find in page”

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A Discussion On The Level Of Danger (from worst to best)

Now that the Danger Zone County data made more sense.

It was time to break it apart into different groups based on risk.

Out of the 3142 Counties, I didn’t want just to say:

Higher = More Risk | Lower = Less Risk

THAT seems like dumping a ton of data in your lap without much use.

So, I began chunking up the data by Median.

I won’t bore you with statistics and the difference between Average Vs Median.

Look it up if you’re a nerd like me; otherwise, trust me that Median is better for our purposes.

Basically, I cut up the data into several key groups:

• HELL ON EARTH
• IT’S STILL GONNA GET NASTY
• NOT SAFE YET – MUST BE READY
• ON EDGE – REMAIN DILIGENT
• DECENT – CAN RELAX A BIT
• PHEW…SAFE HAVEN

Now, I want to review each category to give additional context.

HELL ON EARTH

If you live in one of these ‘Super Danger Zone Counties’… good luck, my friend; you’ll need it.

If society fails and moral compasses are broken, you will probably get mugged, beaten up, raped, or die.

OR you’ll be forced to do those things to other humans to “stay alive”…

There will be millions and millions of starving people.

IF SHTF, it’s gonna be HELL ON EARTH.

That’s why I RECOMMEND you move away from living in these areas and find somewhere safer.

Even if it’s not the “safest” location, anywhere is almost better than where you are now.

The only recourse you’ve got (IF you ignore my advice and decide to stay) is either:

1. Stockpile a crap ton of food, water, firearms, ammo, and prepper supplies (and be ruthless about using the ammo)
2. Bug out at the first sign of collapse to a location that’s much safer

IT’S STILL GONNA GET NASTY

This category isn’t much better than ‘Hell On Earth,’…

Perhaps you can “ride out the chaos” with enough supplies.

But you’re still more likely than not to become a statistic.

If I were you, I’d be looking to bug out.

I’d plan several routes out of the city, with a vehicle stockpiled with supplies (stagged 20 miles out of town) and a bug-out location in mind.

I wouldn’t plan to “hunker down.”

NOT SAFE YET – MUST BE READY

You’re still in the crosshairs here.

Many of the Counties in this category are suburbs and metros of major cities.

Sure, there’s a bit more distance between neighbors and fewer mouths to feed.

And the bonds between neighbors (and neighborhoods) may be stronger.

Working with other like-minded folks may be possible to carve out some supply sharing and security…

You’re not on the extreme side of things, but there will still be a lot of hungry, desperate folks to deal with.

And you’re likely within walking distance of the inner-city folks who will be forced out and heading your way.

• Some folks will still hunker down and protect what’s theirs.
• Others will run for safer wide-open spaces.

Either can work, but you need to know and plan ahead.

ON EDGE – REMAIN DILIGENT

OK, we’re finally in ‘smaller cities’ or further away from the major ones.

Either way, things are not looking quite as bleak.

Your chances of becoming a statistic are dropping – but you still can’t let down your guard.

You must prepare and plan ahead, or you’ll become one of the fragile, desperate masses.

You can build an actual “boots-on-the-ground” survival coalition here.

There’s more space between houses, or the cities are smaller.

Either way, unless we’re talking existential threat, you have some runway to ride out the chaos…

DECENT – CAN RELAX A BIT

If you live in one of these counties, you’ll probably be OK in all but the worst-case situations.

You’re far enough away from the highest-density areas for the fragile masses to walk to.

So, defending and keeping your stockpiles safe is a much easier task.

Plus, people in small communities take personal responsibility and self-sufficiency more seriously.

This means there will be more trust between neighbors and more bartering possibilities.

Often folks are more religious and have a higher moral compass.

They come together in times of crisis, which can help avoid mass starvation.

PHEW…SAFE HAVEN

If you’re worried about a future widespread, prolonged disaster, and you’re willing to relocate…this is where you should start.

Now, I’m NOT saying there’s ZERO chance of emergencies or chaos in these locations.

There’s no escaping some risk.

However, due to the lower population density, you’re not in a zone where the risk is EXPONENTIAL.

Your most significant risk in these locations is not getting help from State or Federal resources if things go sideways.

For the fragile masses, THAT idea is scary.

But for “The Resilient Few,”… those who are self-sufficient, THAT idea is a dream come true.

• You don’t have to spend much time planning a bug-out (unless you must leave due to a wildfire).
• And you can stockpile a bunch of calories and know it’s safe.
• You can raise farm animals (chickens, goats, rabbits) if you have some land.
• You can grow your own food. You can build an aquaponics system.

How To Interpret Your Results

Now that you have everything you need to use this data and understand what it’s telling you.

In the Danger Zone County Data, you’ll see a County Grade, a State Grade, and a color that represents which risk category you fall into.

Search for your County (or friends, parents, and relatives), and you’ll better understand how dangerous THESE areas are to a SHTF event.

• Perhaps you live in a danger zone county, and THIS is the kick in the pants you needed to finally relocate.
• Or maybe you can’t relocate but are inspired to stockpile more food, water, medicine, GUNS, and AMMO.
• Or perhaps you live in one of the lowest-risk areas, and your stockpiles are ready– Well…with this info, I’m guessing you’re gonna sleep like a baby tonight!

Now, of course, I don’t know YOUR specific details:

• I can’t possibly understand all your goals, fears, and limitations.
• I don’t know your age, if you have kids or anything like that.
• I also don’t know if you have a hidden underground bunker.

So only YOU can decide the best course of action now that you know more about the your population density risks.

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But there is 1 THING I DO KNOW…

Since you’re still reading this, I KNOW YOU CARE.

You care about your safety, your family and your future.

You want to figure out how to survive in a future that’s getting less safe and less secure every minute.

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• Reasonably self-sufficient already OR
• Willing to get serious about it ASAP

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So don’t wait; click here now to check out The Resilient Life.

Until next time:

Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,

“Just In Case” Jack

P.s – I just took this FREE 60-second ‘Readiness Score Quiz’????

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AND… I’ve still got a few gaps in my preps…????

But at least, I’m not part of ‘The Fragile Masses’. ????

Find out where YOU stand by answering a few questions…

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