To a lot of people, the term "Prepper" raises notions of a camouflage wearing, gun-toting scary survivalist who is waiting for no more the planet. However, most Preppers are very ordinary individuals who don't stick out inside a crowd. They're doctors and plumbers and lawyers and carpenters and school teachers. A lot of them don't even own any camouflage!

So what is a "Prepper?"

Although there could possibly be as numerous definitions because there are people associated with each movement, the fundamental definition is the fact that a Prepper is somebody who stores equipment and supplies and food in case there is an urgent situation. That emergency might be a major natural disaster just like a hurricane or a tornado, a forest fire or gas leak that needs a neighborhood to be evacuated, or anything up to and including major collapse of the country's power company. Preppers also take seriously the threat of how a terrorist attack may affect the energy grid or even the nationwide supply network that keeps our grocery stores' shelves stocked.

Preppers will routinely have weeks with a year's availability of food stocked up, along with flashlights, blankets, a water renal system and usually a portable backup generator. These are people who are not affected greatly by way of a multi-day power outage or a broken water main that causes a run on bottled water in the food store.

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What is a "Survivalist?"

Typically a Survivalist is really a hard core Prepper who, and also being prepared for a natural disaster, is extremely concerned with a dysfunction in law and order. Besides the Preppers' worry about "SHTF" (shit hits the fan) scenarios, Survivalists are worried with "TEOTWAWKI" (the end of the planet as we know it) and "WROL" (without rule of law) situations. Survivalists begin to see the social order to be very fragile: influenced by a increasingly burdened government welfare system that have to keep over 44 million Americans on Food Stamps. They understand much too well that when America's extraordinary debt is not continually recycled by foreign countries prepared to purchase our T-bills and bonds, we're able to face hyperinflation like in Zimbabwe and Weimar Germany that can cause massive riots. Dangerous times and great risks call for precautions, and Survivalists consider their personal safety, understanding that of these loved ones, paramount. A Survivalist will have firearms in most cases an extremely specific arrange for "hunkering down" or "bugging out" if law and order break up.

Exactly what can We Study from Preppers and Survivalists

It would be difficult to get a Survivalist who isn't a Prepper, as well as most Preppers have thought a great deal about survivalism and protecting themselves. Anyone would greatly take advantage of thinking about both of these sets of people and exactly what can be learned from them.

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If there was an electrical outage that lasted for longer than 2 or 3 days, what would you do? If the governments (city, state and federal) couldn't maintain your Hurricane Katrina victims, precisely what does that let you know about being prepared? Have you considered that the propane leak, train derailment with hazardous materials, power outage or terror attack could turn your household into refugees if you don't have a plan?