Economy The Federal Reserve will raise interest rates by half a point, the biggest rate hike since the 2000s. The Fed tries to keep inflation at about 2%, but post-pandemic spending and government stimulus caused inflation to hit 8.5% this past March. By raising interest rates, the cost of loans, credit cards, mortgages, etc will go
May 1-7 is National Hurricane Preparedness Week If you’re preparing for a hurricane that’s days away: Hurricane watches are issued 48 hours before Hurricane warnings are more serious, issued 36 hours before Plan on bugging in while the grid is down for at least 15 days Do not rely on filling your bathtub for water:
Ukraine war Russia stopped sending natural gas to Poland and Bulgaria. Bulgaria said that it has enough gas for the time being, and Poland had already started taking steps to wean off Russian gas, so this move might not cause the level of disruption it intended. In case of Russian gas disruptions, some countries have
Pediatric hepatitis outbreak first death One child died from the mysterious liver damage illness that has Europe and the US worried. The source of the disease is still unknown, but adenovirus was present in at least 74 out of 169 patients. Before hospitalization, many children experienced abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and jaundice. For a list
The CDC issued a nationwide alert about a mysterious cluster of dangerous hepatitis and adenovirus infections in children. The alert does not concern the public at the moment, but it seems something to keep an eye on. The WHO had sounded the alarm just a few days ago: CDC nationwide health alert: A cluster of children
Ukraine war Russia has begun the campaign for Donbas, marking a significant shift in the war. Here the battlefield moved from mostly urban to open-field, and it will require different weapons and strategies. Latest updates and maps. The Ukrainian resistance has appeared to have adopted the ‘Wolverines’ monicker from Red Dawn and is spray painting
Economy and supply chain Inflation hit its highest level in 40 years. The S&P 500 will drop 11% by the end of 2022 due to inflation shock. A lot of previous recessions have been preceded by inflation spikes, like in the late ’60s, early ’70s, and 2008. OPEC cut its forecast for world oil demand
Editor’s note: updated to include extra links to the “climate-resilient places” section. See more links and great discussions in the comments. War in Ukraine Russia allegedly used chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops. Ukraine is now investigating 4,500 alleged war crimes: ⚡️⚡️Azov regiment: Russia used poisonous substance against Ukrainian troops in Mariupol. The substance has been
Ukraine war There have been 95 potential war crimes documented in Ukraine so far. The UN suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council and Greece will ask the International Criminal Court to investigate alleged war crimes in Mariupol. Eastern Ukrainian cities are under evacuation orders and more refugees are leaving Ukraine. Krakow, Poland grew 20%
Ukraine war Ukrainians took back Kiyv and surrounding towns such as Bucha and Irpin. The mayor of Kyiv has told the residents who fled the conflict in the city not to return for “at least another week”. Putin is likely shifting focus to the east (separatist territories) and south (strategically-located port cities such as Odesa
April is FEMA’s National Financial Capability Month FEMA’s link with some decent info. On TP, start here: Why personal finance is critical for preppers and tips on money management Advance: Rainy day funds and how much cash to have on hand Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, and blockchain for preppers Gold, silver, and other precious metals for sane preppers
Economy and supply chain Gas prices in the US have declined from an average of $4.33 to $4.24 per gallon, but they are still 18% higher than last month and 48% more than a year ago. Georgia, Maryland, and Connecticut are cutting taxes on gas. Georgia is cutting 29 cents a gallon until the end
One month of war in Ukraine Ukraine is holding off Russia. Strategic neighborhoods of Kyiv are back under Ukrainian control, while battle still rages in the port city of Mariupol. Mariupol is a strategic target that would allow Russian forces to create a corridor between Crimea and Donbas, as well as impact Ukraine’s economy. Some
Ukraine 10 million people have fled Ukraine during these first few weeks: Mariupol, a port city with a population the size of Miami, is being leveled. Extreme weather There were deadly wildfires in Texas last week. Over 60 square miles have burned and hundreds of families have been displaced. High winds and dry conditions are
Ukraine Ukraine has joined the European power grid, decoupling its own grid from Russia. This will help the besieged country keep the juice flowing and prevent Russian sabotage from taking down their power. The US will work with Slovakia to send more air defense systems to Ukraine. The US Secretary of State says sanctions will
