Spain blackout exposes limits of prepper readiness

The blackout exposed those who had spent years preparing for the end of the world

The major Iberian blackout revealed an unexpected paradox: several of the deceased were precisely those who had prepared for such a scenario for years. According to counts circulating in forums, a family of three died from fumes from a home generator, while another perished due to candles lit after losing electricity. The fifth victim, a person with severe respiratory issues dependent on electrical equipment, reportedly had an "expiration date." The rest of Spain's population, unfamiliar with survival manuals, simply queued at supermarkets.

The prepper who ran out of margin

José Luis Presas, a prepper who became visible in interviews trinc the blackout, drew significant attention. Presas, who claims to have worked as a mercenary in various conflicts and manages a farm in Segovia along with an apartment in Madrid, presents himself as a survival and tactical shooting instructor. He drinks canteen water even while sitting on his sofa. He goes to the cinema carrying a 36-kilo backpack loaded with tourniquets, knives, lighters, and rope. He drives a Hummer covered in Mad Max stickers.

The community quickly did the math. According to various messages, the company he uses to teach courses, 3KR, was established only a few months ago, and his stays in Bulgaria or Turkey, which he describes as war experience, are not documented. Some argue that his physical fitness does not withstand serious scrutiny and that he covers his body with a jacket during interviews to hide it. Others defend that, regardless of the persona, his knowledge of weapons is solid. The discussion shifted to a more uncomfortable issue: what good is an arsenal if you cannot defend it?

Nine meals between civilization and chaos

The argument running through the entire exchange was logistical fragility. Food production and distribution depend on a chain that works "like clockwork," and it only takes a stoppage for supply to be interrupted. A quote attributed to Henry Lewis—"there are only nine meals between humanity and anarchy"—was repeated as a warning. How do the seven million inhabitants of the Madrid metropolitan area eat without energy?

The blackout's answer was panic buying. Supermarkets emptied within hours. Those who have been preparing for years point out that most of the population would not last a week in a collapse scenario. Veterans recall that in rural Spain, power cuts lasted days and were resolved with candles, gas stoves, well water, and fireplaces. The difference is that back then, there were not fifty million people crowded into cities.

Water, the blind spot of every kit

One of the most repeated messages points to a basic flaw in most preparations: water. Storing food, flashlights, and batteries is relatively simple, but water takes up space and weight. Without it, one cannot survive more than three days. The conclusion is clear: jerrycans are the critical element, above any other gadget.

The other great absence is ammunition. The dominant thesis is that when the law of the jungle prevails, what matters is forming a trusted group—usually the family—and having weapons to defend supplies. Storing canned tuna without being able to protect it is considered an exercise in naivety. And transporting it on foot is a chimera.

The open question

The blackout lasted less time than would have been needed to truly test the preppers. The outages were resolved in hours. There were no riots, food did not run out, and rationing was not necessary. Those who have spent years preparing for collapse watched their grand rehearsal pass by without being able to prove anything. What would have peine if the lights had not returned within six hours?