Articles · Infrastructure
Everything about Supply Interruption
11 articles across NWS
Disruption to the supply chains that deliver food, fuel, and essential goods. Most communities carry only a few days of inventory at any given time.
Disaster History
Case studies and disaster history
Baby Formula Shortage 2022: Four Companies, One Plant, No Backup - Infants Rationed
In February 2022, the FDA shut down Abbott Nutrition's plant in Sturgis, Michigan after bacterial contamination was found. The plant produced 20% of the US baby formula supply - and was the only sourc
The COVID-19 Supply Chain Collapse (2020): When Just-in-Time Manufacturing Ran Out of Time
On March 12, 2020, toilet paper sales surged 734% in a single day. Within weeks, PPE for healthcare workers was unavailable nationwide. 97% of companies reported supply chain disruptions. The COVID-19
The 1973 Oil Embargo: The Day an Energy Dependency Became a Weapon
On October 19, 1973, Arab members of OPEC cut off oil exports to the United States. Gas lines stretched city blocks. Speed limits dropped to 55 mph. Oil prices more than doubled. America had built its
Supply Chain Disruption: What COVID-19 Taught Us About Empty Shelves
The 2020–22 supply chain collapse exposed how little margin the modern food and goods system has. Learn what happened, what fails first, and how households can reduce their exposure.
The Ever Given, 2021: One Ship. Six Days. $9 Billion a Day.
On March 23, 2021, a 400-meter container ship ran aground in the Suez Canal during a sandstorm. 12% of global trade - $9 billion per day - was blocked. 370 ships backed up at both ends. Maersk reroute
Tōhoku 2011: The Earthquake That Shut Down Global Manufacturing
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan. Toyota's global production fell 78% in a single month. GM halted production at US plants. The disaster revealed tha
Preparedness
Preparedness and self-reliance
Pantry and Storage Cooking
Building a working pantry from shelf-stable staples. What to stock, how much, rotation, FIFO, and cooking real meals from stored food.
Food During Disruptions
How to feed your household when supply chains break. The 72-hour grocery timeline, FEMA two-week recommendations, freezer thresholds, food safety during outages, and the case for building both storage and production.
Supply Interruption Preparedness: Food, Fuel & Essential Goods Shortages
Supply chain disruptions affect food, fuel, medications, and essential goods. Learn how to build household resilience against shortages before they happen.
Field Notes
Field notes and commentary
Grocery Supply Chains After a Storm
Store shelves don't refill overnight. Here's why grocery restocking takes time after a storm, and what a steady home pantry actually protects you from.
The 2020 Supply Chain Shock: What Empty Shelves Actually Taught Us
Grocery shelves emptied in April 2020 not because supply failed but because demand surged. The lesson was not to hoard. The lesson was that the store being open tomorrow is not a reliable assumption.