You say enough food and water. Let's not foreget the toilet paper.

Lord Foxdrake - you're right; I'd rather be dead than try to live through a nuclear attack--especially the way these "survivalists" have their lives envisioned. For me, it's about quality of life, not quantity. No one can imagine the unimaginable torture of radiation poisoning.

On the bright side all their spending is good for the economy!

When is the next Mayan Prediction? Sounds like a good investment opportunity. 100,000 wackos ..... $5000 per self-help kit ..... 300% margin ....... hmmmmmm :)

If your survival kit includes a gas mask, you've gone too far.

based on the captions.... if the people in these pictures are correct and there is a disaster...they're gonna have to rename this country... the united state of Utah. them f-ers are prepared

personally i don't see the point in hording food... im gonna go cannibal... people...the other...other white meat!

People been prepping for many years..It's just as time has gone by, they have lost their ways. You have your extreme preppers as with anything in today's life.

You have those who are prepping for a Zombie Apocalypse..Though it's more of a scapegoat reason.

You have those who feel a that a Gov. collapse will be approaching and a possible civil is coming..Our country has been more divided than ever correct?

Then you have those who are prepping if there was ever an EMP attack. If such attack ever happen, it is currently the biggest thing that our Country is not prepare for and is very real. Just think to your self, can you live with out ANY Electricity IF that were to ever happen? Think of the massive chaos that would happen if there was an EMP attack.

Last you have a natural devastation prepper where those like to be ready in case Mother Nature decided to take some rage out. Think if some of those during the Sandy Hurricane were prepared that they be able to live easier with out waiting for FEMA?

Many preppers have only one thing in mind..To protect their family and to survive off the grid if anything were to happen. That is their first and foremost priority..If they know other preppers, they will work with each other, AFTER they know their family is first safe.

But look at us back in the cold war when people were building bunkers..Is it really any different? Back then it was the norm and today it is the extreme..why? Ok maybe you or I won't do it and the thought of a Nuc War happen is much less than before, but there are some who don't want to take that chance.

Also someone who may classified a person as a Prepper will be in fact a Survivalist..Two different people.

Here is how one looks at it from another article I was reading...

"Being a prepper means being ready for a disaster situation that would cause the world as you know it to end, Burns said. But this does not mean an apocalyptic situation. In fact, the American Preppers Network doesn’t allow discussion of the apocalypse or conspiracy theories.

The end of the world as you know it (or TEOTWAWKI) could be everything from a natural disaster — like the wildfires in Utah that Burns and other fellow preppers in the area helped to stymie in various capacities this fall — to personal tragedies, like when Burn’s daughter, 2-years-old at the time, was diagnosed with leukemia.

Just three and a half years ago, the father of eight children said this is when the world as he knew it ended. He and his wife went from at one moment thinking their daughter just had the flu to wondering if she could die within 24 hours.

Once they found out the type of leukemia she had was a less threatening, treatable kind, the Burns’ lost everything to help her. He had a successful business and was investing in another. They had a farm house in a nice area with land and fancy cars.

“For two and a half years, we lived off all the preps we set aside,” Burns said. “Had I not been prepared, I would not have been able to care for her at the level she needed.

“We lost a lot of stuff — house, farm, vehicles — but we didn’t lose our daughter.”"

Hmmm... the way I see it, if the world is going to end... as predicted, then there is no reason to dig holes, hoard food... buy ammo and MRE's or prancing around and taking pictures with plastic bags on your head... THE FRIGGEN' WORLD IS GOING TO END, AND WHAT PART OF THAT DO THEY NOT UNDERSTAND?

Sorry... I just had to get that out there. HAPPY HOLIDAY'S!

Obviously, Burns needed health insurance. Why didn't he have it? i can guess.

Survivalists prepare for Mayan apocalypse, nuclear war or any disaster

JERKS

Obviously, Burns needed health insurance. Why didn't he have it? i can guess.

Health insurance pays for medical treatment. Even then, because some cancer treatments are experimental, not all are covered. What health insurance doesnt pay for is a parents lost time from work, travel expenses, and in home care once the child is home. I understand you want to be snarky, but please, use some common sense. You are much less likely to be mistaken for an idiot that way.

Expand on your post, please.

It's not really a sickness - it's human nature to want to survive. However, one must acknowledge that we can't survive everything. Some people have a problem with that, and they do whatever they can to deny the fact that there are some things we cannot live through. I see it as a form of control issue. Kinda like a hoarder. Hoarders aren't really sick, they're just control freaks. There's plenty of those everywhere you look...

I see it as a form of control issue.

It's one thing to prepare for a plague, nuclear war, economic collapse, or whatever. These are extremely unlikely but real possibilities. It's another thing to invent a disaster with zero foundation in reality, such as special dates, and prepare for that.

Oh and seriously, one of the guys in that picture has a cell phone in his prepper pack. Idiot. Any large scale disaster and that is just going to be useless weight.

Unregistered User... so how do you survive "the end of the world"... please expound?

Fool! It's the butterflies! Nobody suspects the butterflies!

The butterflies and bees are diversions. It's the beetles and those building under gound bunkers are falling right into their trap.

you fools its the mocking birds

If there is a doomsday, I really don't think I want to be a survivor with these guys.

Don't think know

You say that now. Just wait until the bee zombies start running around the streets of your local downtown with axes after they get done looking at the image of the beast like Josh Powel, or the bee zombies in Syria trying to overthrow Bashar Assad's rightful rule.

Ooh, dude. Take your meds.

Hmm I think you to go back to the Psychiatric ward my friend.

Hmm I think you to go back to the Psychiatric ward my friend.

Unfortunately the zombies running free outside the gates are much more fun. Zombies outside have guns and run around and create mass carnage. It's exciting!

Ooh, dude. Take your meds.

I will run spiritual circles around you my friend with my infinite knowledge.

Ever wonder why in the movie Stargate the device that is used to transport people across galaxies has chevrons on it. And what the connection is between those chevrons on that device, that angled stripes on military uniforms are called chevrons, and why there is an oil company called Chevron?

When you figure that out come back and talk to me.

Cmon, put up your dukes!! :) Cmon what is the connection between the chevrons!? If you can tell me that you will be an expert in reality! And being able to distinguish between what is sane and insane.

I'll give you a hint. The oil came from a catastrophic worldwide event that destroyed most life on earth. The event that happened 5 to 7,000 years ago happened for the same reason why we have armed conflicts throughout history.

You obviously are a mentally challenged liberal!

Gia... Are you reading these posts? I don't think so...

LG-267159 - She was referring to the photos not the comments...

I believe it's not just survivalists. I seem to remember that it is the duty of Mormons to be sure they have a certain amount of food, etc. stored. Probably comes from their pioneer ancestry and being hungry a lot.

@marydoe

You are close..To my understanding it is part of their religion. They have food centers across the country and anyone can go to them. It doesn't even have to be for say prepping. But preppers use them..why? Because they are cheap!! Just look up LDS Price List. For example you can get over 30 lbs of Black Beans (Dry) for $27..They are in cans and they will be good for 30 years. You can also buy bulk of 25 lbs for $17 and seal them up your self.

The ideal of the Mormons is to teach to be self sufficient. If anything were to happen they have food for those that may be in the need. I have friends who go to the LDS center once a year and they aren't Mormons. They do food rotation and they can get a years supply of food that won't spoil for the cost of one week shopping at the grocery store.

Now depending where you live, there are some who may be ignorant and say you must join their church or won't help unless you are part of their church. Where I live, they don't care and have been the most friendliest people I have ever met. Most of the people there were older couples just helping out anyone that happen to be there. Because they know this happens, each location is run by a different member of the church and every year it is rotated out with a new person. At least that's what I been told. This is so if there is an issue, a new one can come and change that.

I've thought of this too. But I don't have the moral will to knowingly sell crap to somebody who probably needs therapy.

I walked into gander mountan looking for some stuff and I happened to pass by the gun section and found out that there is a "Special Zombie Slayer Package" yeah :/

Who are they hurting?

Themselves and everyone around them

HOW?

The key word is not "will" it is are, ask Japan or Russia!

Agreed,

While some (like those depicted in the article) take it to extremes, there is nothing wrong with having a little preparation if everything goes to hell in a hand basket. I personally am not worried about a Nuclear issue, but having grown up in the Carolinas and experienced hurricanes (like Hazel) I know there is a need for both a plan and preparation.

I don't believe in stockpiling guns in ammunition, but I do believe in having a reasonable supply around if society decides to take a turn for the worse. With the world economies as they are, governments around the world that continue to spend like a drunken sailor in a whorehouse, and the fact that we have raised several generations of people that believe corn grows in a green giant can provided by the government stipend, I think there might be some room for everyone to worry a little.

It has been my experience that civilization is a very thin veneer that we CHOOSE to wear. If you place the average person into the wrong situation and apply enough pressure, most of us will both quickly and cheerfully strip off that veneer faster than the dancer on stage at the nudie bar. Necessity, Hunger, and Survival are the most ruthless of our natural instincts and it won't take much for us to revert to the animals from whence we came. We as humans will do whatever it takes to survive at the expense of anyone or anything else. We are not a very kind or attractive species when the going gets tough. I served with the 3rd Marines in Quang Tri and Thua Thien provinces of Vietnam and have seen with my own eyes just what my fellow human creature is capable of doing when the going gets tough or the pressure too great. While I don't stock plie like these folks, I see nothing wrong with some preparation.

I agree, after seeing what those poor folks in Jersey are going through you can't count on the government to help you. Nothing wrong with having extra food and a way to cook it, as far as a Nuclear bomb, I do not want to be part of that, I'll just go with the blast.

My dad is a bit of a survivalist- no bunker or guns (except for hunting rifles). He's in a rural part of southeast MO, and got to see what a major ice storm can do just a few years ago. There were areas without power for weeks. Telephone poles were knocked down by the weight of ice on the lines, roads were covered in thick ice, and some small bridges were damaged. Even the larger towns were without power or clear roads for days. He's probably got months of emergency food built up, and gave me a 5 gallon bucket of dehydrated food (rice, soy bits, veggies). It's good for 20 years and would last my family for a month if need be, and sits out of the way in the corner of a closet. While I live in a much more populated area, it could come in handy if we got hit with a few bad snowstorms in a row.

I absolutely agree that people should be prepared to fend for themselves and their families for a couple of weeks in case of the type of event that will last that long. For a true disaster of the nuclear war/asteroid collision variety, I believe the best thing to stockpile is a few cyanide capsules. There are some things that are much worse than death, and trying to make a life in the aftermath of such a catastrophe sure sounds like one of them.

I must say, however, that stove-in-a-can looks like a pretty good thing to have, especially in case of a winter storm.

It' s Sterno. Easy to find, easy to keep.

Unfortunately mental health is vary expensive. On going treatment is actually out of the ability of most Americans to pay for. Certain "law makers" in government keep doing everything they can to cut social programs. It will take those social programs to pay for mental health on an on going basis.

To give an idea. I have a family member that needs mood modifiers for depression. It costs almost $300 a month just for the 2 meds. Then, for some people you have on going visits to the shrink and other things.

If we want to deal with mentally ill people it will take the entire country to do it effectively. It is ironic that the same type of people that prepare for the end and do in fact need counseling are the same type in government trying to do everything they can to keep mental health treatment from being at least in part payed for by the government.

What they need is a total reality check!

I'm curious about the use of the beanbag chairs after the apocalypse.

How true this is Stevo! Been there, and was happy to leave there.

Stevo and Gina - it's a big state, visit a bit more before you start badmouthing it. Or perhaps you're simply not used to the desert? Or were you in the mountains when you visited? I'd like to hear about whatever hellhole you live in and what makes it so wonderful in comparison.

@Zach-460702
Zach, you are a little thinned skinned here. I said, "have you seen parts of that state?" I'm from Ohio and live in Metro Atlanta, Ga. And guess what? Both states have areas that are crummy and I wouldn't want to live near that particular area. If you wish to call either state a hellhole, so be it. Oh, I know what a desert looks like and I've been through plenty of them and moutains too. Sit back and take a deep breath!

Next thing you know, they'll be getting the word of God by looking into a hat, and everyone watching will think that's quite reasonable.

My thoughts exactly.

Most of these people say they will need their weapons to defend their stockpile of food. That's very sad. Guess if a child were to beg a crumb off these people, they would get a bullet instead. If I had a stockpile, I couldn't live with myself letting others starve to death while I lived fat & happy.