Next Twelve Months - What Preppers Should Prepare For

[JohnyMac]

I asked two AI sites (CHAPGPT & GROK) in January to prioritize a list of 20 headlines in the news. Last week I asked AI to reprioritize the same list to see what has changed. You can check out the January predictions and the revised end of May predictions by going HERE if you are interested.

A UP subscriber asked me to ask the following question of the two AI sites, "You might ask it what prepper should be most concerned about and the best course of action." I did and below is what GROK wrote.

Based on the reassessed 2025 predictions and their probabilities, preppers should prioritize preparations for the most likely scenarios while maintaining flexibility for lower-probability but high-impact events. The focus should be on practical, adaptable strategies that address disruptions in immigration policy, potential civil unrest, economic uncertainties, and localized infrastructure issues. Below, I outline the top priorities for preppers over the next 12 months (through May 2026), ranked by urgency and aligned with the probabilities from the updated list. Each priority includes actionable steps and rationales tied to the predicted events.

Top Priorities for Preppers (May 2025 - May 2026)

> Prepare for Social and Political Unrest (Probability: 50% for Protests, 65% for J6 Pardons)
Rationale: The likelihood of a second round of "mostly peaceful protests" (50%) in U.S. cities, driven by opposition to Trump's policies (e.g., deportations, budget cuts), combined with potential flashpoints from J6 pardons (65%), suggests heightened social tension. Protests could disrupt urban areas, and polarized reactions may escalate localized conflicts.

Actionable Steps:
- Urban Preppers: Develop an evacuation plan for temporary relocation during protests or riots. Identify safe routes and rally points outside city centers. 

- All Preppers: Stockpile 1-2 months of food, water, and medical supplies to avoid reliance on disrupted urban supply chains. Aim for non-perishable foods (e.g., rice, beans, canned goods) and a water filter. 

- Self-Defense: Ensure familiarity with local self-defense laws and consider non-lethal options (e.g., pepper spray) for personal protection. If firearms are part of your plan, prioritize training and secure storage. 

- Community Networking: Build relationships with neighbors or local prepper groups for mutual support during unrest. Share resources like communication plans (e.g., two-way radios).

> Secure Financial and Economic Resilience (Probability: 10% for U.S. Economy Collapse, 10% for Supply Chain Collapse)
Rationale: While a full U.S. economic or supply chain collapse is unlikely (10% each), policies like tariffs, deportations (70-85%), and global trade tensions (e.g., China's economic issues at 15%) could cause price spikes, shortages, or localized disruptions. Preppers should prioritize financial stability and self-sufficiency to weather economic volatility.
Actionable Steps:
- Diversify Assets: Reduce reliance on cash by investing in tangible assets like precious metals (gold/silver coins) or barterable goods (e.g., hygiene products, batteries). Keep 1-3 months of cash on hand for emergencies. 

- Stockpile Essentials: Build a 3-6 month supply of critical goods (food, toiletries, medications) to hedge against supply chain hiccups. Focus on high-demand items like baby formula or over-the-counter drugs. 

- Learn Skills: Develop self-sufficiency skills like gardening, canning, or basic repairs to reduce dependence on external systems. Start a small garden for fresh produce. 

- Budget Planning: Cut non-essential expenses and build an emergency fund to cover 6 months of living costs in case of job loss or inflation spikes.

> Strengthen Home and Infrastructure Resilience (Probability: 20% for Grid Outages, 20% for Internet Outages)
Rationale: While widespread "roving" grid or internet outages are less likely (20% each), localized disruptions from aging infrastructure, cyberattacks, or extreme weather remain plausible. Preppers should focus on off-grid capabilities to maintain power, communication, and water access during short-term outages.
Actionable Steps: 
- Power Backup: Invest in a solar generator or gas-powered generator with enough capacity for essentials (e.g., fridge, lights). Store fuel safely (e.g., 20-30 gallons with stabilizer) or pair with solar panels. 

- Water Security: Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day for 2 weeks (e.g., 28 gallons for a family of 2). Use water storage barrels or containers, and include purification tablets or a portable filter. 

- Communication: Acquire a battery-powered AM/FM radio for news updates and a set of two-way radios for family communication if internet or cell service fails. 

- Home Fortification: Reinforce home security with deadbolts, window locks, or motion-sensor lights to deter opportunistic crime during outages.

> Monitor Immigration and Policy-Related Disruptions (Probability: 85% for Immigration Reduction, 70% for Deportations)
Rationale: Aggressive immigration policies (85% for reduction to pre-2020 levels, 70% for 50% deportations) may lead to localized unrest, labor shortages, or economic shifts (e.g., in agriculture or construction). Preppers should anticipate indirect effects like price increases or community tensions while staying informed about policy changes.
Actionable Steps: 
- Stay Informed: Follow credible news sources and local government updates to track deportation operations or policy shifts that could affect your area. Avoid relying solely on social media to prevent misinformation. 

- Local Awareness: Monitor community dynamics, especially in areas with high immigrant populations, for signs of tension or protests. Avoid confrontations and maintain neutrality. 

- Food Security: Stockpile affordable staples (e.g., rice, pasta) to offset potential food price hikes from labor shortages in agriculture. Consider joining a local co-op for bulk purchases. 

- Document Preparedness: Ensure personal documents (passports, IDs, property titles) are secure and accessible in case of bureaucratic or legal challenges tied to policy shifts.

> Prepare for Geopolitical Spillovers (Probability: 60% for Ukraine-Russia End, 55% for Middle East Peace, 10-15% for China/North Korea Issues)
Rationale: While domestic issues dominate, geopolitical events like a Ukraine-Russia ceasefire (60%), Middle East stabilization (55%), or low-probability escalations (China invasion at 10%, North Korea at 10%) could affect global trade, energy prices, or U.S. involvement. Preppers should focus on mitigating indirect impacts like fuel or import disruptions.
Actionable Steps:
- Fuel Reserves: Store extra fuel for vehicles or generators (e.g., 10-20 gallons, rotated regularly) to handle potential gas price spikes from Middle East or Russia-related disruptions. 

- Global Awareness: Monitor international news for signs of escalation (e.g., China-Taiwan tensions) that could disrupt electronics or medical supply chains. Stock critical imports (e.g., medications) early. 

- Barter System: Prepare for trade disruptions by stockpiling barterable goods (e.g., coffee, sugar, tools) that could be valuable if imports slow. 

- Emergency Plan: Develop a family emergency plan for extreme scenarios (e.g., draft or travel restrictions) with designated meetup points and communication protocols.

Lower-Priority Considerations

> Epstein/Diddy List (25%) or Government Corruption Exposure (40%): These may increase public distrust but have minimal direct impact on preppers. Stay skeptical of unverified claims and focus on tangible threats. 

> Conceal Carry Reciprocity (45%): If passed, this could ease firearm carry for preppers, but it's not a direct threat. Continue firearms training and legal compliance regardless. 

> EU/China Economic Collapse (15% each), U.S. Control of Panama Canal (5%): These are low-probability and less actionable. Maintain general economic resilience but don't over-prepare for these.

General Prepper Guidelines
> Prioritize Versatility: Focus on preparations that cover multiple scenarios (e.g., food stockpiles work for protests, outages, or economic issues). 

> Stay Discreet: Avoid advertising your prepper status to prevent theft or targeting during crises. Use secure storage for supplies. 

> Mental Preparedness: Train for stress management and decision-making under pressure. Practice scenarios with family to build cohesion. 

> Budget Wisely: Allocate resources to high-probability needs first (e.g., food, water) before investing in expensive gear like advanced solar systems.

Timeline and Monitoring

> Next 3 Months (June-August 2025): Focus on stockpiling essentials and securing home infrastructure, as deportation policies and protests may escalate with summer events. 

> Next 6-12 Months (September 2025-May 2026): Monitor economic indicators (e.g., inflation, gas prices) and geopolitical developments (e.g., Ukraine ceasefire talks) to adjust plans. Reassess supplies quarterly.

By focusing on these priorities, preppers can address the most likely disruptions (unrest, economic volatility, infrastructure issues) while maintaining readiness for less probable but impactful events. If you want a tailored plan (e.g., for a specific region or budget), let me know your details, and I can refine the recommendations!

Thoughts?
 

[Jackalope]

   The recommendations regarding the perceived threats are all sound.  Thanks for making the inquiries, Johny.  I?m still leery regarding AI, but the analysis seems reasonable.

[Sir John Honeybucket]

The bottom line is that we are in a time of plenty, so it would be WISE to get what we need NOW. When you go to the grocery store, instead of one can of food, buy two or three and put one in the cup board for meals two on the back shelf pantry.  The great thing about food storage over stock, you eat it.  Here, we emphasize storing meat, then beans and etc.  In nature, fats and high quality proteins are generally short, so storing these make for nourishing meals later. The lowest grade Corned Beef in a can beats the BEST salad, where survival is on the line.  Proteins are your bodies' building blocks and animal fat is fuel. Don't forget to store salt and SPICES.  Find and frequent, your local source of eggs (farms, 4H, Amish) . In my work in the third world, the difference between slop and 'delicacy' was generally a question of spice.

Garden, garden, garden.  Diced peppers, onions, cabbage and garlic in a sauce with mystery meat = super food. "Peasant food" was a survival tool.

- Sir John Honeybucket

[grizz]

The bottom line is that we are in a time of plenty, so it would be WISE to get what we need NOW. When you go to the grocery store, instead of one can of food, buy two or three and put one in the cup board for meals two on the back shelf pantry.  The great thing about food storage over stock, you eat it.  Here, we emphasize storing meat, then beans and etc.  In nature, fats and high quality proteins are generally short, so storing these make for nourishing meals later. The lowest grade Corned Beef in a can beats the BEST salad, where survival is on the line.  Proteins are your bodies' building blocks and animal fat is fuel. Don't forget to store salt and SPICES.  Find and frequent, your local source of eggs (farms, 4H, Amish) . In my work in the third world, the difference between slop and 'delicacy' was generally a question of spice.

Garden, garden, garden.  Diced peppers, onions, cabbage and garlic in a sauce with mystery meat = super food. "Peasant food" was a survival tool.

- Sir John Honeybucket

I made salt this year from ocean water, its pretty easy but time consuming. And the way we did it was too aggressive and we lost more than expected.

[Hope]

What preppers should prepare for? It seems it should be more and more of AI!!! AI seems to be infiltrating every platform! How can we get around that? Did you see this post by Telegram's Durov?

This summer, Telegram users will gain access to the best AI technology on the market. Elon Musk and I have agreed to a 1-year partnership to bring xAI?s chatbot Grok to our billion+ users and integrate it across all Telegram apps. This also strengthens Telegram?s financial position: we will receive $300M in cash and equity from xAI, plus 50% of the revenue from xAI subscriptions sold via Telegram.