The economy is collapsing around us, and if you aren’t already prepared, it’s time to get with it ASAP, because Wal-Mart is closing 269 stores. If that doesn’t ring loud, clanging warning bells for you, then nothing will convince you of the need to prepare for economic collapse.

If you listened to the State of the Union address (listen for free) last week, you heard President Obama accuse those who criticized the financial situation in the United States of “peddling fiction.” However, with oil prices plummeting, stock markets around the globe tanking, and businesses shutting their doors left and right, it seems that the only peddler of false tales is our fearless leader himself. When the biggest retailer in America is struggling to stay afloat, I call BS (Baloney Sandwiches) on the notion that “our economy is recovering.”

Since last year, Wal-Mart, that ubiquitous symbol of American discount retail and bad taste, has seen its stock value plummet an almost unfathomable $80 billion.

Walmart Is Closing 269 Stores

Today, it was announced that Wal-Mart is closing 269 stores across the globe by the end of January. (Or as they like to call it, they are “sharpening their portfolio.” These stores are the ones in the United States.

#2173: 14331 Count Rd. 99, Headland, AL 1/28/2016 #2524: 5502 Monterey Hwy, San Jose, CA 1/28/2016 #2011: 18 Apple Way, Ashford, AL 1/28/2016 #2949: 151 E 5th St., Long Beach, CA 1/28/2016 #2165: 952 E. Lawrence Harris Hwy, Slocomb, AL 1/28/2016 #5457: 8400 Edgewater Drive, Oakland, CA 1/17/2016 #2186: 407 West Washington St., Abbeville, AL 1/28/2016 #2960: 4101 Crenshaw Blcd., Los Angeles, CA 1/17/2016 #2235: 6361 Hwy 72 East Gurley, AL 1/28/2016 #3507: 2701 Port Covington Drive, Baltimore, MD 1/17/2016 #2260: 87395 US Hwy 278, Snead, AL 1/28/2016 #3496: 5825 W Hope Ave., Milwaukee, WI 1/28/2016 #3769: 3530 Cathedral Caverns Hwy, Grant, AL 1/28/2016 #3779: 10188 Hwy 431 South, New Hope, AL 1/28/2016 Supercenter Date closed to public #2498: 720 N Hwy 71, Mansfield, AR 1/28/2016 #3814 6525 Glacier Hwy, Juneau, AK 2/5/2016 #2578: 3500 Mulberry Hwy 64 W, Mulberry, AR 1/28/2016 #763: 7201 Aaron Aronov Drive, Fairfield, AL 1/28/2016 #2601: 814 W. Main, Charleston, AR 1/28/2016 #4584: 10400 Highland Rd., Hartland, MI 1/28/2016 #2669: 1531 E Hwy 64, Coal Hill, AR 1/28/2016 #4369: 1010 Martin Luther King Pkwy., Durham, NC 1/28/2016 #3819: 8848 N Hwy 59, Van Buren, AR 1/28/2016 #2837: 4350 N Nellis Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 1/17/2016 #3878: 5 Hwy 124 West, Damascus, AR 1/28/2016 #4342: 22209 Rockside Rd., Bedford, OH 1/28/2016 #4217: 154 E Roller, Decatur, AR 1/28/2016 #2606: 721 US Hwy 321 BYP S Unit, Winnsboro, SC 1/28/2016 #3032: 905 S Gentry Blvd, Gentry, AR 1/28/2016 #883: 14091 FM 490, Raymondville, TX 1/28/2016 #3033: 800 1st Ave SE, Gravette, AR 1/28/2016 #5493: 7480 Padre Island Hwy, Brownsville, TX 1/28/2016 #3034: 881 W Buchanan, Prairie Grove, AR 1/28/2016 #5478: 8201 N FM 620, Austin, TX 1/28/2016 #3358: 1113 S.R. 20, Interlachen, FL 1/28/2016 #597: 7075 FM 1960 Rd W, Houston, TX 1/28/2016 #4265: 1209 East Wade St., Trenton, FL 1/28/2016 #3811: 61 Plaza Drive, Kimball, WV 1/28/2016 #4267: 15726 SE Hwy 19 Cross City, FL 1/28/2016 #4228: 560 S. Broad St., Ellaville, GA 1/28/2016 Neighborhood Market Date closed to public #4229: 1041 S US Hwy 1, Alma, GA 1/28/2016 #5783: 117 Audubon Drive, Maumelle, AR 1/17/2016 #4234: 155 West Washington Ave., Ashburn, GA 1/28/2016 #5642: 2408 Lincoln Ave., Altadena, CA 1/28/2016 #4251: 398 Barrow Ave SW, Pelham, GA 1/28/2016 #5688: 6820 Eastern Ave., Bell Gardens, CA 1/28/2016 #4254: 907 Marianna Hwy, Donalsonville, GA 1/28/2016 #3086: 701 W Cesar E Chavez Ave., Los Angeles, CA 1/17/2016 #4261: 290 Albany Ave. West, Pearson, GA 1/28/2016 #5690: 2045 E Highland Ave., San Bernardino, CA 1/28/2016 #4263: 142 S. Valdosta Road, Lakeland, GA 1/28/2016 #4173 12120 Carson St., Hawaiian Gardens, CA 1/28/2016 #3065: 3636 N Broadway St., Chicago, IL 1/17/2016 #5002, 8196 West Bowles Ave., Littleton, CO 1/17/2016 #3039: 225 W Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 1/17/2016 #3021: 2253 S Monaco Pkwy., Denver, CO 1/28/2016 #3369: 900 East Ross Ave., Clearwater, KS 1/28/2016 #2303: 333 N Main St., West Hartford, CT 1/28/2016 #4353: 505 Housatonic St., Burlington, KS 1/28/2016 #5856: 601 N West St. STE 100, Wichita, KS 1/28/2016 #4360: 705 N High School Ave., Columbus, KS 1/28/2016 #5860: 9831 E Harry St., Wichita, KS 1/28/2016 #4361: 1105 East 15th St., Ellsworth, KS 1/28/2016 #5873: 4794 E 13th, Wichita, KS 1/28/2016 #4362: 120 West Rosewood St., Rose Hill, KS 1/28/2016 #3097: 8235 SW Apple Way, Portland, OR 1/17/2016 #4651: 605 Orchard Drive, Hillsboro, KS 1/28/2016 #5995: 17711 Jean Way, Lake Oswego, OR 1/28/2016 #3755: 1445 Old Highway 13, Mamou, LA 1/28/2016 #3306 1220 Gallatin Ave., Nashville, TN 1/28/2016 #4634: 1506 Main St., Colfax, LA 1/28/2016 #3171: 2218 Greenville Ave., Dallas (Greenville), TX 1/28/2016 #3753: 620 North Hwy 26, Lake Arthur, LA 1/28/2016 #3451: 2740 Gessner Rd., Houston, TX 1/28/2016 #3815: 501 West Hwy 90, Iowa, LA 1/28/2016 #5985: 2201 West Southlake Blvd., Southlake, TX 1/28/2016 #3839: 9181 Hwy 67, Clinton, LA 1/28/2016 #4126: 1901 S. Texas Ave., Bryan, TX 1/28/2016 #3849: 920 Avenue G, Kentwood, LA 1/28/2016 #5986: 4268 Legacy Drive, Frisco, TX 1/17/2016 #3879: 1495 Obrie St., Zwolle, LA 1/28/2016 #3030: 3850 N 124th St., Wauwatosa, WI 1/28/2016 #4647: 515 3rd St., Independence, LA 1/28/2016 #3031: N88W15559 Main St., Menomonee Falls, WI 1/28/2016 #4269: 224 E Hwy 76, Anderson, MO 1/28/2016 #5698: S14W22605 Coral Drive, Waukesha, WI 1/28/2016 #4270: 508 N Cliffside Dr., Noel, MO 1/28/2016 #4282: 33597 State Hwy 112, Seligman, MO 1/28/2016 Amigo Date closed to public #4289: 414 N Elm, Clever, MO 1/28/2016 #2343: 7B Calle Munoz Rivera, Villalba, PR 1/28/2016 #3856: 410 2nd St., Belmont, MS 1/28/2016 #2347: Bo Salto Arriba, Utuado, PR 1/28/2016 #3863: 2795 Hwy 371 N, Mantachie, MS 1/28/2016 #2342: PR 14, Parque Industrial, Coamo, PR 1/28/2016 #3865: 420 E Lee St., Sardis, MS 1/28/2016 #3667: 1 Ave Monserrate STE 1, Carolina, PR 1/28/2016 #3866: 28191 Hwy 15, Walnut, MS 1/28/2016 #3684: Carr 180 KM 0 HM 2, Salinas, PR 1/28/2016 #4294: 519 W Veterans Ave., Derma, MS 1/28/2016 #3689: Centro Com Rio Grande State, Rio Grande, PR 1/28/2016 #4296: 7104 Will Robbins Hwy, Nettleton, MS 1/28/2016 #3697: Carr 165 KM 4.7, Toa Alta, PR 1/28/2016 #3211: 509 Dr. Donnie H. Jones Blvd W, Princeton, NC 1/28/2016 #3249: 511 N Mckinley St., Coats, NC 1/28/2016 Sam’s Club Date closed to public #5024: 6043 US Hwy 301 S, Four Oaks, NC 1/28/2016 #4903: 941 Grinnell St., Fall River, MA 1/28/2016 #3257: 112 N Main St., Broadway, NC 1/28/2016 #6648: 1110 Fall River Ave., Seekonk, MA 1/28/2016 #5015: 908 E. 4th Ave., Red Springs, NC 1/28/2016 #6665: 495 Summit Drive, Waterford, MI 1/28/2016 #5017: 7670 Clinton Rd., Stedman, NC 1/28/2016 #6681: 25 Pace Blvd., Warwick, RI 1/28/2016 #7207: 1400 B Broad St., Oriental, NC 1/28/2016 #5138: 702 S. Wall St., Benson, NC 1/28/2016 #2500: 945 Monroe St., Carthage, NC 1/28/2016 #2573: 303 S. Goldsboro St., Pikeville, NC 1/28/2016 #6997: 632 W Swannanoa Ave., Liberty, NC 1/28/2016 #3007: 139 N Hwy 49, Richfield, NC 1/17/2016 #3036: 1593 NC Hwy 86 N, Yanceyville, NC 1/28/2016 #3037: 905 SE 2nd St., Snow Hill, NC 1/28/2016 #3080: 182 NC 102 W, Ayden, NC 1/28/2016 #3121: 189 Hickory Tree Rd., Midway, NC 1/28/2016 #3756: 124 E. Columbia St., Okemah, OK 1/28/2016 #4633: 19250 E Hwy 66, Luther, OK 1/28/2016 #2456: 2310 West Main, Prague, OK 1/28/2016 #2462: 1600 West Hwy 66, Stroud, OK 1/28/2016 #3766: 2324 Seran Drive, Wewoka, OK 1/28/2016 #3767: 812 N Clarence Nash Blvd., Watonga, OK 1/28/2016 #1250: 9032 Hwy 14, Gray Court, SC 1/28/2016 #3798: 7013 S Pine St., Pacolet, SC 1/17/2016 #2375: 4718 Nashville Hwy, Chapel Hill, TN 1/28/2016 #2413: 523 N Military St., Loretto, TN 1/28/2016 #4301: 400 North Main St., Cornersville, TN 1/28/2016 #4306: 934 Hwy 79, Dover, TN 1/28/2016 #2345: 721 Dale Evans Drive, Italy, TX 1/28/2016 #2349: 221 S State Hwy 274, Kemp, TX 1/28/2016 #2363: 504 W Pine St., Edgewood, TX 1/28/2016 #2364: 301 Hwy 69 S, Whitewright, TX 1/28/2016 #2410: 122 Commercial Ave., Anson, TX 1/28/2016 #2461: 1003 Telephone Cir., Merkel, TX 1/28/2016 #2779: 5 N 14th St., Haskell, TX 1/28/2016 #2863: 1010 N Main St., Winters, TX 1/28/2016 #3820: 501 N Main, Godley, TX 1/28/2016 #3822: 416 N Third St., Grandview, TX 1/28/2016 #3832: 420 S US 69, Leonard, TX 1/28/2016 #3834: 428 N Dallas St., Palmer, TX 1/28/2016 #4312: 440 E Pine St., Frankston, TX 1/28/2016 #4316: 1787 US Hwy 259 S, Diana, TX 1/28/2016 #4320: 1005 Texas Avenue E, Waskom, TX 1/28/2016 #4327: 870 Taylor St., Hughes Springs, TX 1/28/2016 #4331: 914 North Main St., Lone Star, TX 1/28/2016 #4338: 504 WL Doc Dodson, Naples, TX 1/28/2016 #4343: 12522 Fm 1840, Dekalb, TX 1/28/2016 #4345: 114 Redwater Boulevard West, Maud, TX 1/28/2016

Zero Hedge isn’t shy about pointing fingers toward the last straw for the struggling retail giant: “Behold: the effect of an across the board minimum wage hike.”

Even if you hate Wal-Mart and the corporate greed it stands for, another 16,000 people will find themselves out of work by month’s end.

The financial crisis is also rippling across Canada. As the Canadian dollar declines in value, the effects are felt as prices for imported goods like food and other necessities skyrocket.

Are you prepared for the impending collapse?

If you haven’t been busy preparing already, there really is no time left to lose. Take these steps immediately.

Is your local store on the list?

I don’t do much shopping at Wal-Mart, because I dislike their corporate ethics. (I know, complete oxymoron. Sometimes I find myself limited by the English language.) However, the loss of these massive stores will cause an immediate crisis in many communities in which they’ve driven all of the Mom and Pop stores out of business. Locals will have no choice but to travel to purchase their necessities, the unemployment lines will swell, and our already thinly stretched social assistance system is likely to reach the breaking point.

Resources for Preparing for Financial Collapse:

Good luck, friends. I hope you’re ready.

Daisy Luther is a freelance writer and editor who lives in a small village in the Pacific Northwestern area of the United States. She is the author ofThe Pantry Primer: How to Build a One Year Food Supply in Three Months. On her website, The Organic Prepper, Daisy writes about healthy prepping, homesteading adventures, and the pursuit of liberty and food freedom. Daisy is a co-founder of the website Nutritional Anarchy, which focuses on resistance through food self-sufficiency. Daisy’s articles are widely republished throughout alternative media. You can follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, and you can email her at daisy@theorganicprepper.ca