Request for Information (RFI) – Weekly SITREP

I am going to make this a weekly post so that we can use this as a place to make any reports on unusual activity or localized hotspots of trouble. We did this a few times during COVID (here, here, here, and here) but I figured that, as our conditions continue to degrade around the country, it would be useful to bring this back as a regularly recurring topic of discussion.

Post your reports in the comments below.

REPORT DATE

General Location: New Jersey

Food Price / Shortages: None, though egg prices are slowly starting to creep back up and olive oil prices remain twice as costly as they did pre pandemic

Fuel Prices / Shortages: Between $2.92 and $3.09 for regular

Unusual Military Movement: None. Blackhawks and Kiowas doing patrols along known routes

Civil Unrest / Crime: Petty crime is on the rise. Northern NJ criminal crews are venturing south and stealing cars, catalytic converters, and breaking into unlocked vehicles.

Interesting Local News / Events: Had a ton of flooding in coastal areas from the last two storms. Lost power for about 1 minute and had a street lamp come down from the storm.

Public Service Interruptions: None.

Changes in Patterns of Life: None.

Any additional observations or comments: People seem extremely wound up like a spring. General unease with the immediate future.

By PatriotmanPublished On: January 10, 2024Categories: RFI2 Comments

About the Author: Patriotman

Patriotman currently ekes out a survivalist lifestyle in a suburban northeastern state as best as he can. He has varied experience in political science, public policy, biological sciences, and higher education. Proudly Catholic and an Eagle Scout, he has no military experience and thus offers a relatable perspective for the average suburban prepper who is preparing for troubled times on the horizon with less than ideal teams and in less than ideal locations. Brushbeater Store Page: http://bit.ly/BrushbeaterStore

2 Comments

mike January 10, 2024 at 14:53

General Location: Upper New England

Food Price / Shortages: Elevated/None

Fuel Prices / Shortages: Elevated/None

Unusual Military Movement: None

Civil Unrest / Crime:

Property crime and civil infractions go on at high levels for the area. Lowlife types are shoplifting, stealing, and breaking into houses. Hit and run accidents happen multiple times a day. Traffic stops are turning up large numbers of drunk/drugged drivers, unregistered cars, and people operating with expired or revoked licenses.

Interesting Local News / Events:

Widespread power outages and flooding throughout New England from the storm. High tide coincided with the storm’s peak on the Maine coast. The winds drove the ocean into the bays like a hurricane will do an caused massive coastal flooding.

The Maine Legislature rejected a motion to investigate SoS Bellows for impeachment over her Trump ballot caper. The vote was rather close. For her part, Bellows is requesting the State Supreme Court rule on her action instead of waiting for SCOTUS. Likely she expects them to take her position on the matter, which will allow her to print the ballots without Trump. There will then be no time to add Trump back in regardless of what the SCOTUS rules. The tactic is now being picked up in Massachusetts.

Portland Maine continues to remove illegal homeless camp sites in the city. There is a massive rat infestation in the park where the largest one was removed last week.

Public Service Interruptions: 1000’s of storm power outages and multiple flooded road closures.

Changes in Patterns of Life: None.

Any additional observations or comments: None
Samuel Culper January 10, 2024 at 22:57

General Location:

Triad, North Carolina (Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High Point)

Food Price / Shortages:

No shortages to report in my AO. I do notice some empty shelves towards closing time but stocked shelves at opening time. I feel that is just how they stock the food shelves and not a shortage. Food prices are still up in the grocery stores. Some items are coming down a few percentage points, but prices are still high like everything else. As usual some food items go up a little as well. I will say that the prices seem to have stabilized. I’m not seeing any radical sticker shocks when I go to the store. The discount food store Aldi’s seems to mark their prices down the quickest, compared to other stores.

Fuel Prices / Shortages:

Gasoline has been stable over the last few months. $2.80 to $3.15 depending on where you go. Some stations are offering a good discount if a person uses a store branded discount/rewards card. No shortages to report.

Unusual Military Movement:

Nothing to report.

Civil Unrest / Crime:

Crime seems to be at normal levels and not higher or lower. I did hear of a protest at a government building, but there were not any arrests or incidents. Note, there are numerous colleges in my AO and there have been protests in the past and most are peaceful without issues. So a peaceful protest in this area is not considered big news. I have noticed a good number of private vehicles with expired registration. Some expired a year or more. I have heard but not confirmed that the Greensboro Police don’t initiate traffic stops just on expired registration.

Interesting Local News / Events:

Biggest local news is a heavy day and night of rain storms with wide spread flooding. I think it broke some records. I heard of some roads being washed out and rivers cresting. Lots of posted pics of roads and yards flooded. Reports of some property damage and trees falling. I didn’t hear of any flood related deaths (That is good)

Changes in Patterns of Life: Besides the flooded roads no changes in life. It keeps going on mundane and boring at times.

Any additional observations or comments: None