Doomsday prepping is a movement that has gained traction in recent years, particularly as natural disasters and civil unrest seem to be on the rise. Preppers are individuals or groups who prepare for a catastrophic event that could disrupt or threaten the normal functioning of society. While some people view preppers as paranoid and extreme, others argue that they are simply being practical and proactive. In this article, we will examine the question of whether doomsday preppers are right.
Risks of Catastrophic Events
One argument made by doomsday preppers is that there are genuine risks of catastrophic events that could pose a threat to society as we know it. These risks include natural disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. With climate change accelerating these events, it’s easy to see why some people would feel the need to prepare for them.
Furthermore, there is the risk of pandemics which could result in widespread illness and death. COVID-19 has shown us just how easily a virus can spread across the globe in a matter of weeks. Other potential threats include cyber attacks which could disrupt critical infrastructure like power grids or water supplies.
Although these risks may not seem imminent at present, they cannot be entirely ruled out. In fact, according to a survey conducted by Chapman University in 2019 on Americans’ fears, environmental issues made up one-third of those reported. So while it’s understandable to believe that something significant may happen soon or later down the road if we continue down this path.
Likelihood of an Event Happening
While it’s true that there are potential risks of catastrophic events happening globally or locally at some point in time due to various reasons ranging from natural disasters to man-made ones like war or terrorism- it’s important to note that not all threats have equal probability rates compared against each other.
For instance, consider an asteroid impact compared with terrorism. Although both are catastrophic events, an asteroid impact is much less likely to occur than a terrorist attack.
Even though the likelihood of a specific event happening may be low, the ramifications would be severe if it did happen. This is why it’s important to prepare for such events, whether they seem likely or not.
Preparing for Emergencies
Doomsday preppers believe in being self-sufficient and prepared for any emergencies that may arise. This involves stockpiling essential supplies such as food, water, medical supplies and having a backup power supply.
While some may argue that preparing for disasters is simply common sense, others see it as paranoid and unnecessary. However, as we have seen with natural disasters in recent years such as Hurricane Katrina or Maria (both of which resulted in millions of people without electricity), it’s essential to have emergency plans in place and ample resources at your disposal should something significant occur.
Furthermore, being prepared could also benefit society at large by reducing the strain on emergency services during times of crisis. During Hurricane Harvey which hit Texas back in 2017, many preppers were able help their neighbors who were caught unprepared for such an event by providing emergency assistance or sharing resources.
However, it’s important to note that not all preppers are created equal – some may take things too far and hoard supplies that they don’t need or weapons that could become a danger to themselves or their loved ones down the road.
Conclusion
In conclusion, doomsday prepping can seem extreme at first glance but with climate change increasing natural disasters around the world combined with other potential catastrophic events like cyberattacks or pandemics, there are legitimate reasons to prepare just in case such scenarios happen closer to home than anyone would expect. While we can’t predict when these events might occur or how severe they might be if they do happen; preparing ahead by having enough food/water/medical supplies stored away, having a backup power supply and knowing what to do during an emergency gives you peace of mind in knowing you’ve done everything possible to keep your family safe.
