A view on Prepping from April 2014

While channel surfing a little while back, I stumbled across the National Geographic channel’s show Doomsday Preppers which follows people who have essentially made a lifestyle of preparing for what they believe is going to be a catastrophic disaster that will lead to the end of civilization as we know it.

Almost all of the people profiled appear to be gun-and-ammo-loving Americans, who stockpile decades worth of food and paper products and believe having gazillions of gallons of gas will be their new world’s currency — when they come out of hunkering in their bunkers.

I can’t claim to have seen every episode, but I saw enough to find it ironic how often its subjects are preparing for something like a collapse in the banking system or faith in paper currency, or for a dirty bomb, but no one ever seems to be preparing for global warming in this extremely fretful segment of society.

It’s an odd and unfortunate paradox that the people who seem most concerned about future threats to our way of life seem to disregard one of the most dangerous and obvious ones we face at this very moment, today.

A United Nations (UN) report has put the world on notice that climate change will force millions of people to relocate triggering famine, inciting conflict and losing trillions of dollars worth of economic gains. The irreversible consequences of climate change will lead to economic mass migration. Then, there is a risk of violence which will increase from protests triggered by international or civil conflicts.

While I don’t think it’s a good thing to scare people unduly, a healthy respect for something on this scale is warranted. It’s a good idea to get an emergency preparedness kit, decide on a plan, and have awareness of what to do in the event of a disaster. It’s doubtful you will need an underground bunker with a year’s supply of canned food; it is, however, common sense to have a weather radio, flash light, and some non-perishable food items and all your necessary medications on hand in case the power is knocked out by a storm for example.

Along with your emergency plans, find the time to discuss with your family where you would go if you needed to take shelter in your home or if you needed to leave town for an impending hurricane or earthquake. Are you are unsure of what disasters are likely in your area or where you should go during an earthquake or tornado? Do sensible research. There are a number of resources online to get informed about disaster preparedness.

CDC’s preparedness website and FEMA’s emergency strategies and solutions are excellent resources for reliable and credible information on how to look after yourself and your family. Share your research with your neighbors and other members of your community. Knowledge is powerful and life-saving, and should not be wasted in the selfish pursuit of only looking after number one.

I find the Doomsday Preppers resembling escapists more than survivalists. Focusing on how to abandon modern life with the motto of the SHTF scenario — when the “Shit Finally Does Hit the Fan,” alarming and void of any caring for mankind, outside their own families. We’re in this world together, and our responsibility to preserve this planet goes well beyond any single individual’s bunker’s walls.

Source: Huffington Post