As Seen On TV: National Geographic's "Doomsday Preppers"
As seen on KXLH Evening News
Click Here to read about my favorite multi-purpose downloadable survival manual, "Nuclear War Survival Skills" by Cresson Kearny. A Google search for the title will result in numerous places you can download it from. Be sure to print it out -- and be sure to read it cover to cover!
"Preparedness, when properly pursued, is a way of life, not a sudden, spectacular program. - Spencer W. Kimball
Why I'm a Prepper
Some people would call me a survivalist; others would call me a hoarder. I don’t really like either term. In my mind, a ‘survivalist’ is one who will defend their stash of Ramen noodles to the death, or somebody who knows how to make bread out of acorns. A ‘hoarder’ is someone who never throws anything away and travels through tunnels of trash in their home. I prefer the term ‘prepper.’ Not ‘preppy’ but ‘prepper’ as in, ‘one who prepares’.
Some people would call me a survivalist; others would call me a hoarder. I don’t really like either term. In my mind, a ‘survivalist’ is one who will defend their stash of Ramen noodles to the death, or somebody who knows how to make bread out of acorns. A ‘hoarder’ is someone who never throws anything away and travels through tunnels of trash in their home. I prefer the term ‘prepper.’ Not ‘preppy’ but ‘prepper’ as in, ‘one who prepares’.
Photo Credit: Savit Keawtavee
If you take the word ‘prepare’ and cut it in half, you get
‘pre’’ meaning ‘in advance’ and ‘pare’ meaning to peel, cut back, or whittle
away’ The dictionary defines it this
way: “To make something ready beforehand for a specific purpose or event”, or
‘to fit out or equip’
I live an urban lifestyle that is utterly dependent upon the outside world continuously supplying me with things I need: Food, water, energy. If the outside world should ever fail in its obligation to provide me with electricity in my home, gas in my car, water in my toilet, and food in my pantry, then I could be dead pretty quick. If not dead, then at least very uncomfortable, Because I have very little control over the outside world, it therefore seems prudent to me to ‘prepare’ for any event that might interrupt the flow of anything upon which my life (or at least my comfort) may depend.
There are many things that could cut my lifelines to the outside world: a blizzard can knock out the electricity; an earthquake can ruin the water supply; a war can interrupt the gasoline; a drought can disrupt the groceries. This planet gets smacked by meteors every now and then. Pandemics sometimes sweep through the populace. Economic crises occur regularly. There are hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. I live pretty close to a bad-ass volcano. The list goes on.
I don’t know what may happen. I am only sure of two things: first, that I am wholly dependent upon the System to keep me alive; second, that there are many things that can knock the System down, either temporarily or permanently. If any part of the System goes down temporarily, I will be very uncomfortable. But if the System should go down permanently, I may be dead.
I like to think that if something interrupts my supply of civilization, it will be a temporary disconnect that will soon be restored. Perhaps other people will rush in to help me, bringing me short term supplies to get me through until everything is restored to normal. Maybe I could just leave and go some place where the supply line is still intact. If I’m lucky, nothing will ever happen at all.
But statistics show that the average human in a typical lifetime will experience three disasters in their lifetime, with ‘disaster’ defined as any event that disrupts an entire community simultaneously. I’ve already experienced one of my three allotted disasters, when a train blew up in the middle of my town in the middle of the night in the middle of a cold snap when it was 29 degrees below zero. My community is overdue for an earthquake, the last one having occurred when my father was a boy. (It was 25 below zero when that happened, too.) Huge wildfires often roll uncontrolled across the mountains where I live, wiping out everything in their path.
Statistically speaking, then, it makes sense for me to keep in mind that I still have two disasters waiting for me in my future somewhere. I don’t have any control over what may happen. I only have control over what I do about it.
I have two choices: I can either hope it’s not too bad and rely on other people to bail me out after it happens; or, I can be ready to take care of myself, just in case it is really bad, and nobody shows up to help.
And so, I prepare. If the power goes out, I’ll need light. If my furnace won’t work, I’ll need heat. If the grocery stores are plundered, I’ll need food. If the water lines are broken, I’ll want water.
I’ve never really understood why people make fun of me for this. To me, it seems the only sensible response to known risk factors. Still, they ridicule me for thinking there is any reason to doubt the integrity of the System.
If you have complete faith in the System and think it’s silly or insane to prepare for the end of the System, then this website is not for you. Feel free to leave right now. I’m sure someone will be along to rescue you if you are ever in need of help. And it’ll probably be somebody like me who shows up to help.
But if you have ever thought through some “What If” scenarios in your mind, and have wondered what you could do to mitigate the damage if the shit ever really did hit the fan, then you’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to the Armageddon Inn. My name is Calamity Janet. I’ll be your hostess while you’re here.
I live an urban lifestyle that is utterly dependent upon the outside world continuously supplying me with things I need: Food, water, energy. If the outside world should ever fail in its obligation to provide me with electricity in my home, gas in my car, water in my toilet, and food in my pantry, then I could be dead pretty quick. If not dead, then at least very uncomfortable, Because I have very little control over the outside world, it therefore seems prudent to me to ‘prepare’ for any event that might interrupt the flow of anything upon which my life (or at least my comfort) may depend.
There are many things that could cut my lifelines to the outside world: a blizzard can knock out the electricity; an earthquake can ruin the water supply; a war can interrupt the gasoline; a drought can disrupt the groceries. This planet gets smacked by meteors every now and then. Pandemics sometimes sweep through the populace. Economic crises occur regularly. There are hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods. I live pretty close to a bad-ass volcano. The list goes on.
I don’t know what may happen. I am only sure of two things: first, that I am wholly dependent upon the System to keep me alive; second, that there are many things that can knock the System down, either temporarily or permanently. If any part of the System goes down temporarily, I will be very uncomfortable. But if the System should go down permanently, I may be dead.
I like to think that if something interrupts my supply of civilization, it will be a temporary disconnect that will soon be restored. Perhaps other people will rush in to help me, bringing me short term supplies to get me through until everything is restored to normal. Maybe I could just leave and go some place where the supply line is still intact. If I’m lucky, nothing will ever happen at all.
But statistics show that the average human in a typical lifetime will experience three disasters in their lifetime, with ‘disaster’ defined as any event that disrupts an entire community simultaneously. I’ve already experienced one of my three allotted disasters, when a train blew up in the middle of my town in the middle of the night in the middle of a cold snap when it was 29 degrees below zero. My community is overdue for an earthquake, the last one having occurred when my father was a boy. (It was 25 below zero when that happened, too.) Huge wildfires often roll uncontrolled across the mountains where I live, wiping out everything in their path.
Statistically speaking, then, it makes sense for me to keep in mind that I still have two disasters waiting for me in my future somewhere. I don’t have any control over what may happen. I only have control over what I do about it.
I have two choices: I can either hope it’s not too bad and rely on other people to bail me out after it happens; or, I can be ready to take care of myself, just in case it is really bad, and nobody shows up to help.
And so, I prepare. If the power goes out, I’ll need light. If my furnace won’t work, I’ll need heat. If the grocery stores are plundered, I’ll need food. If the water lines are broken, I’ll want water.
I’ve never really understood why people make fun of me for this. To me, it seems the only sensible response to known risk factors. Still, they ridicule me for thinking there is any reason to doubt the integrity of the System.
If you have complete faith in the System and think it’s silly or insane to prepare for the end of the System, then this website is not for you. Feel free to leave right now. I’m sure someone will be along to rescue you if you are ever in need of help. And it’ll probably be somebody like me who shows up to help.
But if you have ever thought through some “What If” scenarios in your mind, and have wondered what you could do to mitigate the damage if the shit ever really did hit the fan, then you’ve come to the right place.
Welcome to the Armageddon Inn. My name is Calamity Janet. I’ll be your hostess while you’re here.
"It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark." -Howard Ruff
Armageddon Trivia
The hill called Megiddo
There is a hill in Israel near Nazareth called Megiddo which is known for its historical, geographical, and theological importance. The hill is strategically located at the head of a pass, overlooking a valley near the coastal plain. Several ancient trade routes between Egypt and Assyria intersected here, and the Roman military regularly passed by here on their way to the Mediterranean Sea. The hill was inhabited from about 7000 B.C. until about 586 B.C. Because of the strategic importance of the location, numerous battles have been waged at Megiddo, even as recently as World War I. Every invading army that ever passed through this region fought for control of the hill of Megiddo. In the Bible in the book of Revelations, a verse refers to an apocalyptic military engagement at the hill of Megiddo which will be the final showdown between God and Satan. In Hebrew, the word for hill or mount is har, so the verse refers to ‘har Megiddo’. When the Bible was translated into English, ‘har Megiddo’ was altered and anglicized, and has now come into our language as a word meaning the end of the world, or an apocalyptic catastrophe: Armageddon.