In short:
- This wildfire season in Europe has started earlier and with more intensity than usual.
- Seattle could be hit by a 42-foot tsunami wave within three minutes of an earthquake.
- Jackery is offering up to 30% off portable batteries and solar panels during Prime Day (July 12–13).
Food prices are falling, but they remain near record highs. The Ukraine war has led to the worst food crisis since the 1960s.
According to the FAO, food prices dropped for the third consecutive month in June, but they still hover near March’s record high. Prices fell due to better crop conditions, increased Russian exports (possibly aided by stolen grain), and seasonal availability from the northern hemisphere harvest.
Another image shows:
Brazil imported record amounts of potassium chloride from Canada in the first half of the year, signaling that farmers will have plenty of fertilizer to nourish crops, boost yields, and expand farmland. In 2022, Brazil is expected to harvest a record 9 million tonnes of wheat.
Increasing extreme weather, high gas prices, global inflation, and the ongoing pandemic have created the worst food crisis since the 1960s. In countries like Somalia, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Yemen, and Afghanistan, nearly 1 million people are facing starvation. According to the World Food Program, price increases since March have pushed 47 million more people into acute food insecurity, bringing the total to 345 million. Fifty million of them are on the verge of famine. High inflation is also affecting poorer people in wealthy nations. Moscow has expressed willingness to negotiate over grain exports, but it's unclear when or if these talks will result in anything meaningful.
Middle East and African countries are tapping into EU wheat supplies for the early part of the new season. Over 1 million tonnes of German new-crop wheat have already been sold to Iran and Africa. France is expected to replace Algeria’s poor harvest and export to Morocco.
A rise in fertilizer costs is threatening rice production in parts of Asia at a time when demand is increasing, posing a threat to food security.
Economy, labor market, and supply chain:
- Abbott baby formula plant reopened after flooding and began producing EleCare. Similac production has not yet resumed.
- Sri Lanka’s economic crisis triggered protests that culminated in the storming of the president’s house. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa will resign on July 13.
- China’s economy is in decline due to its zero-Covid policies. The Omicron variant and its subvariant BA.5 are making it harder to control the virus.
- Deloitte analysts believe the end of the semiconductor shortage is near. Chip companies have increased capital spending, and new factories are coming online.
- US labor shortages could provide opportunities for ex-prisoners. Many are excluded from the workforce due to felony convictions, costing the economy billions.
According to a new report, a tsunami would cover Seattle’s shoreline under 20 feet (6 meters) of water within 3 minutes.
If a magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Puget Sound, a tsunami would inundate Seattle’s shoreline with more than 20 feet (6 meters) of water, reaching parts of Bainbridge Island, Elliott Bay, and Alki Point within three minutes. A 42-foot (13-meter) wave could hit the Seattle Great Wheel downtown and reach Lumen Field and T-Mobile Park. This is farther and faster than expected.
What should you do if an earthquake-tsunami strikes? According to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources:
- If the ground is shaking, take cover first somewhere safe.
- When the ground stops moving, particularly if it’s a larger quake, head immediately to higher ground and/or inland from the shoreline.
- If you are near water and you see that water moving back towards the open ocean: run!
- Here are more tips on both earthquakes and tsunamis from us, and a bunch of related blog and forum posts.
Some things you can do to prepare in advance:
- Sign up for earthquake and tsunami warnings. The MyShake app now covers Washington, California, and Oregon.
- Familiarize yourself with natural warning signs of a tsunami.
- Know official tsunami routes and be prepared to bug out at a moment’s notice.
- Check out our prioritized bug-out bag and IFAK lists.
- Use this checklist for beginners to get started on two weeks of water, food, and other necessities.
For a good tsunami-related movie, *The Impossible* (2012) is based on a first-hand account of the 2004 Thailand Tsunami. It’s a real story that shows how messy and dangerous the aftermath of a tsunami can be.
Wildfires, drought, and wet bulb temperatures:
Over 3,000 firefighters are fighting hundreds of wildfires in Portugal as temperatures reach 43°C (109°F). Portugal declared a ‘state of contingency’ from July 11–15. The country banned farm equipment use and fireworks, and restricted public access to forests at risk. Compared to 2021, which was marked by catastrophic fires worldwide, this fire season in Europe started earlier and with more intensity than usual.
Alaska is experiencing another historic wildfire season due to warm springs, low snowpack, and unusual thunderstorm activity. Early in July, there were 2 million acres burned—more than twice the size of a typical Alaska fire season. Smoke is the most common impact on humans. Wildfires are also burning in California, Colorado, Oregon, Utah, and Arizona. Fires reached a grove of ancient sequoia trees in Yosemite National Park. A 4-foot-tall sprinkler system is protecting the trees from damaging flames.
There’s been an increase in extreme heat and humidity, measured as “wet-bulb temperature.†A recent study shows that this combination gets dangerous faster than previously thought—around 31°C (88°F). That would equal 31°C at 100% humidity or 38°C (100°F) at 60% humidity. Even those with AC might be affected by high energy costs and power outages. Low-cost alternatives, such as swamp coolers, don’t work with wet-bulb temperatures above 21°C (70°F).
Jackery Prime Day deals (July 12–13): 20–30% off portable batteries and solar panels
Jackery gave us a heads-up about their planned Prime Day sales. We had reviewed the Jackery Explorer 240 and found it a solid power station, so if you’re looking to get a power station or solar panel, anything from Jackery should be a solid choice.
Some notable sales:
- Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 500 – 30% off
- Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 – 30% off (likely valid only as Deal of the Day for 36 hours)
- Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel – 30% off (Deal of the Day for 36 hours)
- Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Pro (with two 200W solar panels) – 25% off
Here are some tips on how to shop for preps online without getting scammed on Prime Day, as well as how to shop for preps without going over budget or buying fantasy gear.
The rest:
- NYC released a PSA about what to do in the event of a nuclear attack. Officials said the risk is very low, but it’s important for New Yorkers to know the steps to stay safe.
- A swimmer got infected with a brain-eating amoeba after swimming in Lake of Three Fires in Taylor County, Iowa. *Naegleria fowleri* is present in warm freshwater across the US, but infection is rare. Here’s how to protect yourself.
- The FDA will consider an application for the first birth control pill to be sold without a prescription.
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