Editor's Commentary: The folks behind Epic Economist are content specialists. They know how to craft headlines and find sources to back their claims, especially as they pertains to economic downturns. They are NOT survival specialists. Moreover, I really wish they'd get a real person to narrate their videos rather than using an artificial voice emulator.
I'm posting this despite it's minor flaws for two reasons. First and foremost, the list of 15 items below is pretty good. It's not written by survival experts... which can be a very good thing. Lists like these, when written by survival experts, can often include items that are priceless to THEM and not necessarily the average American who gets stuck in a crap-hits-the-fan situation.
They also often put too much focus on bugout items rather than items necessary for bugging in. Paracord, for example, is truly priceless and necessary when out in the wild for an extended period of time but it does little to help if you're holing up in your apartment. With that said, here's the article they wrote that goes with the video. I added the actual list of items at the bottom; Epic Economist loves to make you watch the video without actually listing the items so I'll save you the trouble if you're in a hurry...
(Epic Economist)—These are scary times. Geopolitical tensions are rising all around the globe, and no one knows for sure what can happen next. The United States is in a very tough spot as other nations pressure our elected officials to take action to solve problems that are erupting in many parts of the planet.
From exporting more food, oil, and energy supplies to providing humanitarian aid to countries in need, America is at the center of many situations that are unfolding right now, and it seems like the entire world is watching us.
We've been sending our agricultural supplies, fuels, and other resources to our allies abroad to prevent current crises from escalating further. But that has been draining our domestic reserves and leaving us in a very dangerous position. Farmers have lost millions of acres of crops this year, and stores will have fewer supplies than they did a year ago to sell to American consumers in the months ahead. Retailers have also canceled the purchase of several products after sales started to collapse, and their inventories are leaner than ever before.
Meanwhile, inflation isn't cooling as fast as it was supposed to, and we're feeling the pain in our wallets. This difficult scenario can be rapidly aggravated if any sort of extreme weather event disrupts the distribution of power to our homes and food to supermarkets. But if you're a regular on our channel, you probably know that there are plenty of other things that can go wrong in the next few months as well. And it won't take much to throw our supply chains in disarray again.
On top of that, uur domestic power grid is vulnerable to cyberattacks, extreme weather, and energy supply shortages, and the risks become even higher during the winter. Blackouts and power outages can surprise us at any moment, that's why it is important to keep extra batteries around to power up our devices in such a scenario.
Every winter, some regions across the U.S. experience power outages that can last for days, and every year people who didn't have the chance to prepare in advance get frustrated not to find this cheap product at the stores right when they need it the most. But you don't have to be one of them. Check which types of batteries your devices require, get some extras, and keep them at hand. Now you can still find great deals at dollar stores and sales at big-box retailers but things could be dramatically different in a few months.
Similarly, with flu season getting closer, more people will be looking for sanitary wipes, a product that never goes out of demand. We can use it for personal hygiene, household cleaning, sterilizing surfaces, and also for first aid purposes, that's why it's so popular.
This cheap item will be even more in demand in the months ahead, and we can expect some bare shelves at grocery and retail stores. An important thing to know if you're going to stock up on sanitary wipes for the longer term is that if they dry out, you can add a little water and some rubbing alcohol to refresh them almost like new again. Like so, you don't lose your money in case the cleaning liquid evaporates, and you also don't have to rush to the store in crippling winter weather to purchase some more. For that reason, we decided to list some inexpensive emergency supplies you should get before the next crisis hits.
Batteries
Emergency Blankets
Chapstick
Sanitary Wipes
Flashlights and Lanterns
Toilet Paper
Over-the-Counter Medications
Non-Perishable Food
Manual Can Opener
First Aid Supplies
Candles, Lighters, and Matches
Trash Bags
Rubber Gloves
Hygiene Products
Self-Defense Gear
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15 Cheap Survival Items That Will Become Priceless in the Months Ahead