Seasoned preppers will tell you to be prepared for everything and anything. At any moment in time, you may have to get out of your comfort zone and fight for your survival. So, why not be prepared for it?
Recently, SHTF scenarios have taken a centre stage in prepping communities. After the pandemic, we all want to be prepared for the next SHTF scenario. How close are we to SHTF?
Well, SHTF situations can hit us at any time. We may hit the fan years or days from now. I dare say, we have never been closer to apocalyptic events. With the advancements in various industries, chances for SHTF have never been higher.
There are a number of potential events that could cause a widespread societal collapse, also known as SHTF. Some people say it’s the end of the world, while others believe it might be a time of great renewal. What will happen, no one really knows for certain.
The only thing we know is that things will change drastically and unpredictably when it happens. There are different signs that show us how close we are to SHTF happening. Getting to know these signs will keep you ahead in your preparations. What are the signs of SHTF? Stay tuned to learn more!
Top Signs of SHTF
The Economy
The economy is a strong indication of how close we are to SHTF. One sign of the economy is unemployment. When people are unemployed, they have more time on their hands to do things that might escalate the event, or be more disruptive in general.
A practical example was the rise in unemployment rates in the Covid-19 pandemic. Employers who could not take their operations online were forced to suspend them till further notice. Many people relied on handouts and grants from their local governments.
The big banks are another sign of the economy. Big banks have been responsible for many financial crises before and they’re one of the key culprits of future events as well.
Oil prices are also a significant indicator of how close we are to SHTF because oil prices have increased substantially. This makes it difficult for some countries to afford oil, which leads them to economic instability.
Social Unrest
One of the signs that society is heading for a collapse is social unrest. There are many different causes for this, but one of them is mass migration. When people are displaced from their homes, they often resort to violence and crime. This shows us how close we are to SHTF. The more desperate people get, the more violent they become.
Another sign could be the lack of public trust in politicians and government institutions. People have less faith in these institutions since various scandals have come out in recent years. They don’t feel like they’re being represented or heard because the political situation has shifted so much over the last few years.
Mass shootings are also an indication that we could be heading for SHTF. Not only do these events cause immense grief, but they also create fear and anger among people who live in countries with large amounts of gun control legislation.
It is best to be far away from places that would lower your chances of survival when SHTF. If you live in places that make it hard to survive when things go south, get out as soon as you notice an SHTF scenario!
The increase in immigration is also a sign that things could be headed toward SHTF as well if immigration continues at this rate without any real policy changes or reforms coming about in the future.
War
The first sign that we’re getting closer to SHTF is war. War will be the number one cause of society’s collapse. People believe that it could be caused by any number of different events, including terrorism, an economic depression, or a natural disaster. It’s easy to imagine how war could cause society’s collapse. The effects of war would be felt worldwide, and it would break down the trust between everyone involved in the conflict.
There are many major conflicts happening right now, so this is something to keep an eye on. If an event like the Syrian Civil War were to escalate or if tensions with North Korea get worse, there’s a possibility that world peace could quickly unravel.
Resource Depletion
This is the most obvious sign that we’re getting closer to SHTF happening. Resources are running out, and it’s happening sooner than we think.
Oil will be depleted in the next 10-20 years. The U.S. Geological Survey states that “world oil production has probably topped out.” Natural gas will be depleted by 2030. Copper reserves should last another 100 years, but other metals like gold and platinum are expected to run out within the next 10-100 years.
Some people say this resource depletion might lead to an economic collapse, which would make life difficult for many people who rely on their income for survival (i.e., everyone).
Oil Wars
OPEC has said that they’re going to increase oil production, suggesting that the price of oil will stay low. The United States is one of the largest producers of oil in the world, but China is also a huge producer.
There are rumors that the two countries are at odds because of trade wars. One rumor is that China might be interfering with US exports by buying US crude oil for their country. If this happens, it might cause another international conflict over government involvement in the control of energy resources.
Food Shortages
We are currently in the middle of a food war. We are running out of food, and with the population growing, we will need more land to grow it on.
Ever since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, we have witnessed scores of empty shelves in retail outlets all over the world. A basic necessity such as food was hard to come by when lockdowns and various restrictions were introduced!
Once you notice large-scale food scarcity, things are pretty much hitting the fan. If you are not prepared, you better get your prepping manual.
The Environment
Environmental degradation is a serious problem. It’s a problem that will only get worse as the population grows and natural resources become more scarce. To make matters worse, climate change is accelerating the process of environmental degradation.
The environment is an integral part of society and changes in it can have a major impact on our society. If we aren’t careful, we might reach a point where the environment becomes so unusable that SHTF happens even without any other event taking place.