Dear Reverend,
There’s all this talk on social media about how we should stock up and be prepared for the power grid to go down for 90 days. How am I supposed to get enough food and water for three months when I have a hard time just paying rent? Even if I could afford it, where would I put it all in my tiny apartment? What do I do?
Notta Prepper (man, 32)
Dear Notta Prepper,
The Pentagon announced the “FORTRESS America” initiative at the end of September. Long story short, it’s a plan to make major U.S. military bases capable of being self-sufficient for 90 days without relying on power from the civilian grid.
Social media content creators removed all the context from that announcement and started the rumor that the military was warning civilians to be ready for an extremely long blackout. Nothing beats scaring people for clicks and engagement.
The chances of being holed up for three months with no food or power are pretty slim. However, when you live in Vermont, it’s not a bad idea to have some things on hand in case you have to hunker down for a few days of bad weather or a power outage.
The basics are pretty obvious — food, water, light, warmth — but you can find lots of lists of emergency supplies online. Two good resources (that aren’t trying to sell you something) are ready.gov and redcross.org.
You don’t need to spend a ton of money or buy everything all at once. When you can, pick up a couple of inexpensive items and tuck them away. The next thing you know, you’ll have a nice little security stash.
As far as space goes, get creative. I bet you can store supplies under your bed or on the floor of your closet. If you have mason jars or bottles with good lids in your cupboards, fill them with water. They take up as much room full as they do empty. (Just remember to change the water occasionally.)
Every so often, a rumor like this catches fire. The most important thing to remember is: Don’t panic. Step away from social media, check reliable news sources, and keep on truckin’.
Good luck and God bless,
The Reverend
This article appears in November 4 • 2026.
