Derrick James has been planning how to survive the end of the world since he was a child and has boiled down that knowledge to bitesize handy tips as tensions flare in the Middle East once again
A doomsday prepper has revealed the one survival tip Brits “need to do right now” to best prepare for World War 3 as fears of a global conflict sky rocket.
Derrick James, 51, insists it’s important to “clear any debts”, “prioritise your financials” and have a stash of cash as he believes the price of every day goods such as oil will become a lot more expensive if it all kicks off.
He also suggests making sure you have an updated passport and documentation in case you need to flee suddenly. And he urges Brits to have a food supply that can last at least three months.
Derrick from rural Maine in the US, said: “I’ve seen so many scenarios similar to this and eventually the threat will go away. But I believe the current affairs in the US and the Middle East will take months to pass and there will be a massive economic hit.
“Oil prices will rise as well as the cost of every day living – so it’s important you have all your finances covered as soon as possible. It’s the foundation you need. Perhaps even stock up on petrol too.
“My advice is to take a deep breath, come up with a plan that you can stick to, and don’t stress yourself out. We are living in a fragile society and things could unravel very quickly.”
Derrick says “people leave money as an after thought” when it comes to preparing for war but it’s the “starting point”. He insists that people will often prioritise water and food – which “isn’t bad” – but you need “enough money to pay for the supplies.”
Commenting on the affairs between the US, Israeli and Iran, he said “global supply chains will collapse quickly” and “everything will become more expensive.”
It comes following a report from fiscal analyst Kent Smetters, director of the widely used Penn Wharton Budget Model, that says the war could cost the US economy as much as $210 billion.
In a war scenario, Derrick believes trade routes will close, and suggests people should stock up on gasoline and foods like rice, beans, canned meats and ready-to-eat meals.
Derrick said: “A lot of preppers will suggest starting with water and say you can live three months without food, but three days without water – which is true.
“However, I’m a strong advocate for making sure all your short-term debts are paid – like credit cards – and you have a comfortable emergency fund. It will keep you stable.
“Anytime you get a food crisis, food is harder to come by. If you have food for 30 to 90 days, you can weather any storm that comes your way.”
Also on Derrick’s list of survival tips, he says it is imperative to invest in communication gear, to make sure you can keep up to date with the latest news alerts.
He says investing in hand-cranked radios, ham radios, and walkie-talkies is a must, as mobile phoen masts and the internet could go down.
Derrick said: “The most straightforward thing to do in an emergency is to buy a hand-cranked radio – something that doesn’t rely on a battery or a power grid. You can crank them up to get power, they have lights on them, and you can use them as a power source.
“Being able to have access to an evacuation order is important, whether it is a natural disaster or a war. Virtually every person has a cell phone. I still see cell phones as an important survival tool. I suggest people have the means to power those when the grid goes down.”
Derrick believes it’s important to make sure your passport and other documentation are up to date. He said if you ever need to flee, you need to make sure that all your paperwork is in order before embassies shut down.
Derrick said: “More people are pursuing a second passport if it is available to them, a lot of countries now offer them in terms of heritage. This won’t be an option for some people, but it is a growing topic in the prepping community.
“I’m in Maine, if something happens I’m closer to Canada, it would be faster to go to Canada than to get to any other state.”
The final top tip from Derrick is to make sure you have a stash of cash to use. In a crisis, some banks may close and limit access to your accounts.
Derrick said: “You need to protect your finances and make sure you have cash on hand. You need to diversify into things like silver, gold, and even crypto can be good if it is stored offline.
“If another country is part of your plan B, make sure you have currencies in those countries. A global war could mean that banks freeze, and ATMs go dark, and the dollar collapses.”
Derrick’s top tips to survive a war:
1 – Build an emergency fund and pay-off any debts
2- Build a 90-day emergency food supply
3 – Stock water and have water filters
4 – Invest in communication gear like a hand-cranked radio
5 – Address fuel and energy needs
6 – Have a bag packed ready in case you need to flee
7 – Make sure passports and documents are up to date
8 – Protect your finances and make sure you have cash
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