(End of the American Dream)—If the ground under your feet is moving “up to 10 inches a week”, that might be a sign that it is time to relocate. What is currently taking place in Rancho Palos Verdes is perhaps the most extreme example of the geophysical instability that is plaguing much of the state of California at this point. Rancho Palos Verdes is about 30 miles away from downtown Los Angeles, and the constant “land movement” in that community is busting gas lines, causing homes to sink, and creating enormous cracks in the roads. If you were to walk through Rancho Palos Verdes right now, you would see that it currently looks like something out of a science fiction movie.
The ground has been moving in that area for quite some time, but in recent months the rate of movement has accelerated significantly.
On Monday, authorities announced that another 105 homes would have their power cut off because emergency repairs are required…
More than 100 additional homes in Rancho Palos Verdes will have their power cut because of worsening landslides in the area, city officials said Monday.
This time, 105 of the 270 homes in the Seaview neighborhood will see the lights turned off as of 7 p.m. Monday, officials said. The shifting earth puts electrical equipment at risk and could spark a wildfire among other dangers if power lines are electrified, officials said.
The day before that, authorities shut off the power to 140 other homes…
This is the second power shut-off in as many days in the area, a peninsula about 30 miles south of downtown Los Angeles famous for its sea breezes, gorgeous views, and expensive homes. On Sunday, officials shut off power to 140 homes in the Portuguese Bend area of Rancho Palos Verdes, about a mile up the coast. In that case, officials also issued an evacuation warning, meaning residents had to prepare to leave should they be ordered to do so.
What we are witnessing is absolutely insane.
This is one of the most beautiful areas of the entire state, but the constant geophysical instability is making it extremely difficult for people to live there.
According to city council member David Bradley, the ground is now moving “up to 10 inches a week”…
“The movement has accelerated dramatically over the last 12 months, where some areas are moving up to 10 inches a week,” said city council member David Bradley. “You can almost see the ground move.”
How can you ever feel secure if the ground all around you is constantly moving?
On Tuesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom finally declared a state of emergency…
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency on Tuesday for the city of Rancho Palos Verdes amid the ongoing land movement threatening hundreds of homes.
The proclamation, issued early Tuesday afternoon, comes as the city works frantically to mitigate the damage from the slow-motion natural disaster, which has displaced many residents and caused officials to shut off electricity indefinitely to hundreds of homes in the community.
The truth is that a state of emergency should have been declared a long time ago.
The entire community is slowly but surely being pushed into the ocean.
As I discussed in a previous article, a “stunning new stretch of shoreline” has been created because so much of the ground in Rancho Palos Verdes has been dumped into the ocean…
Even still, months after the movement began, earth continues to shift, creating an unexpected and stunning new stretch of shoreline near Rancho Palos Verdes.
“Somebody said, ‘Oh, you know there’s a new beach.’ It’s not really a beach yet,” said city geologist Mike Phipps. “A beach typically has sand on it. This is just literally landslide debris, a lot of rocks being pushed up and out of the surf.”
It didn’t take years for this to happen.
According to CBS News, there is an “astonishing” difference when viewing photographs of the shoreline “pre-2024 and six months later”…
A few month’s difference is astonishing when viewing side-by-side photos of the shoreline pre-2024 and six months later, with a few hundred feet of new rocky shore that formed as the land continues to move, piling up under the water’s edge.
“What’s happening is, the ground is rising up and coming up, right through the ocean and lifting it up out of the ocean,” Phipps said.
So why is all of this important?
In 2024, there has been a tremendous amount of seismic activity all over the “Ring of Fire” which runs roughly along the perimeter of the Pacific Ocean.
Of course the entire California coastline sits directly along the “Ring of Fire”.
In just the last 7 days, there have been more than 900 earthquakes in California and Nevada.
Thankfully, “the Big One” has not materialized yet, but scientists assure us that it is eventually coming…
The infamous but elusive possibility of a devastatingly large earthquake known as “The Big One” always comes to mind when a significant quake strikes in California.
But there’s actually several devastating quakes that will eventually hit the state.
The USGS estimates that within the next three decades, there’s about a 46% chance an earthquake of magnitude 7 will hit in the Los Angeles area, and a 51% chance it will happen in the Bay Area.
The chances of a 7.5 magnitude quake are 31% in the Los Angeles area and 20% in the San Francisco area in the next 30 years.
We could see a magnitude 7 earthquake hit the state tomorrow.
And that would certainly cause a tremendous amount of damage.
But the great California earthquake that I have been warning about will literally change the geography of the state when it suddenly strikes.
The clock is ticking, and there have been plenty of warnings.
Unfortunately, “the Big One” has become a punchline to most of the people currently living in the state, but they won’t be joking when that fateful day finally arrives.
Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.