Survival essentials: Prep now before shortages get worse due to the supply chain crisis

10/14/2021 / By Zoey Sky

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news, then you’ve already heard about the supply chain crisis plaguing the world since the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic first started spreading.

To prepare your family for possible food shortages, stock up supplies now before the stores run out of items you may need in your survival stockpile. (h/t to ApartmentPrepper.com)

Global shipping issues likely to persist, warns port authority

Griff Lynch, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, says almost 80,000 shipping containers are stacked and the backlog of containers is 50 percent more than usual at their port as of Oct. 10.

These shipping containers still need ships to transport them to their final destination or trucks that will haul them to warehouses, which are also already crammed with containers. Amid the “Great Supply Chain Disruption,” ports are running out of places to store containers at one of the largest ports in America.

As the Savannah port struggles to get rid of the backlog, Lynch has been forced to make ships wait at sea for more than nine days. More than 20 ships stuck in the queue have been anchored up to 17 miles off the coast in the Atlantic.

But the shortages aren’t just because of a lack of storage space in ports. Because of various overlapping issues, the problem isn’t just because of goods that are scarce. Products are also stuck in the wrong places and often separated from where they are supposed to be due to many “constantly shifting barriers.”

The shortage of finished goods at retailers are linked to the many containers either stacked on ships stranded at sea or stuck on the riverbanks. Supplies getting stuck in warehouses also reflect the shortages of truck drivers needed to carry goods to their next destinations.

How to prep for food shortages

What do stranded ships ferrying containers have to do with preppers? A lot, apparently.

Since mainstream media isn’t being transparent about this ongoing issue, you need to make sure that you’re prepared for the worst-case scenario. The year is nearing its end and shortages are still ongoing, suggesting that things keep getting worse instead of better. (Related: Food shortages are widespread and have gotten worse during the pandemic.)

Don’t panic and prepare for the next shortage. Make a list of things you need for your stockpile and get more of these items as soon as you can.

Here are some tips that will help you prepare before SHTF:

Wait for sales. Check grocery fliers in the mail or look for coupons online. Always stock up when shops are offering discounts and use your coupons to save more money.
Always take inventory of your most used items, like hygiene supplies, or canned food, and resupply when things are on sale.
Be flexible when restocking your supplies. Different brands or generic products are cheaper and just as good as more expensive brands or your preferred brand of items.
Shop early for holiday or birthday gifts. If you can’t think of a specific occasion when items are on sale, buy something while things are in stock. If you wait too long, it may not be available later.
If you need to replace old electronics or an appliance, you might have to buy it soon. Make sure you save money whenever you can so you always have emergency funds for miscellaneous expenses.
If your car needs new parts or repairs, set up an appointment with your service center as soon as you can. When things get worse you don’t want to wait too long for appointments and car parts.