The Prepper Myth: What Happens When Everyone Hives Off

It's a thought experiment often conjured during times of uncertainty: what if everyone becomes a prepper, hoarding food, water, and medicine as if a global disaster is just around the corner? This article explores the realities of such a scenario, focusing on the impact on stores and the duration before supplies run out completely.

What is a Prepper?

A prepper is someone who prepares for possible emergencies or disasters by stockpiling food, water, and other essential supplies. This preparedness is often motivated by the desire to be self-sufficient in case of unexpected events. However, very few people actually become preppers due to a combination of factors including lack of mindset, financial constraints, and limited storage space.

Prepper Mindset and Financial Constraints

Many people do not have the mindset to prepare for the long-term. Preparing for a disaster requires a foresight that not everyone possesses. Additionally, buying and storing large quantities of supplies can be prohibitively expensive for the average person. Reliable sources like the Red Cross recommend maintaining a 3-day supply, which is a small but practical amount considering the average home's storage capacity.

Real-World Preparations

Real-life preparations often fall far short of the deluxe prepper scenario. For instance, the Red Cross recommends a daily consumption of 1 gallon of water per person for drinking, food prep, and personal cleanliness. This is a minimal amount that can still stretch the limits of storage space. When faced with a sudden scarcity, such as the recent toilet paper and canned goods shortage, stores are typically able to supply more from their parent companies. Small stores even prioritize their regular customers, ensuring that they are not cleaned out by hordes of new customers.

Corporate Interests and Market Dynamics

Companies that produce, distribute, and sell essentials like food, bottled water, and OTC medicine would love for everyone to be a prepper. The increased demand would lead to higher sales and potentially contribute to a jump-start in a sluggish economy. However, market dynamics play a significant role in the availability of supplies. When supplies are exhausted, they are replenished over time, albeit with varying speeds depending on the product and distribution channels.

Impact on Supplies and Distribution

The recent experience with toilet paper and canned goods demonstrates the rapid depletion and subsequent restocking process. In our area, the situation with toilet paper and canned goods was resolved within a single day. The next shortage will likely be infant formula, which will likely cause significant disruption as governments struggle to intervene. The government's attempts to correct shortages often have unintended consequences, such as causing them in the first place due to regulatory changes.

The conclusion is that while the scenario of everyone becoming a prepper is an interesting thought, the reality is much different. Limited storage space, financial constraints, and market dynamics ensure that such a scenario would be short-lived. In any case, the best approach is to maintain a small emergency supply that can sustain you for a few days in case of emergencies.