We recently learned that California was the least prepared for a Zombie apocalypse, but what about a more realistic plan of action when it comes to the real deal? Climate change being ever present with catastrophic events, as well as international conflicts and economical uncertainty, the nation’s number of survivalists is growing rapidly. Let’s take a look at why Texas is one of the states with most survivalists.
More than Half of Americans Consider themselves Survivalists
When we think of preppers, we often think of people building bunkers and overstocking them with canned goods and weapons to be able thrive in a post-apocalyptic scenario. It can be the case, but it is a little different than this. And now, more than half of Americans consider themselves to be ready for when SHTF. With talks of asteroids hitting Earth in the near future, and experts saying that AI could cause a nuclear apocalypse too, it’s no wonder why people are making plans for the worst. Over 57 percent of U.S. adults now consider themselves to be “survivalists,” or “preppers”, according to the findings of a study of 3,000 people that was conducted by the website Primal Survivor, which is committed to giving users with useful preparing tips.
According to the website, 57% of Americans now think of themselves as “survivalists,” which is close to 150 million people. And in Texas alone, a whopping 13,932,949 people, or 65% of the Lone Star State’s population consider themselves survivalists.
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It is interesting to note that Hawaii has the largest percentage of individuals who are interested in survivalism, with 80% of the population (or 892,000 people) having previously made preparations for a catastrophic occurrence. The geographical remoteness of the state, which makes it more susceptible to the effects of natural catastrophes like hurricanes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions, is one cause that may be considered.
And who is the least prepared, you might ask? If you haven’t taken a look at the interactive chart above, the least prepared state in the United States is Rhode Island. Only 17% of its population has made the choice to prepare for the day when things crumble down.
With that being said, it would seem that the majority of people living in the United States are not really all that well-prepared for a catastrophic disaster, despite the rising number of survivalists. Only one week was the typical answer that people gave when asked how long they could live without assistance from authorities in the event that the electricity went out. And one in every eight responders stated there was no way they could make it through day two. So despite being called survivalists, it’s possible that most people could only survive for a short period of time.
What is a Survivalist?
According to Wikipedia, survivalism is a social movement of individuals or groups, called survivalists or preppers, who proactively prepare for emergencies, such as natural disasters, as well as other disasters causing disruption to social order (that is, civil disorder) caused by political or economic crises.
A common practice among survivalists is to receive training in first aid and emergency medical/paramedic care, self-defense (martial arts, firearm safety), and self-sufficiency. Additionally, survivalists frequently construct survival retreats and underground shelters in the event that they feel it will be necessary for them to do so in order to survive a catastrophic breakdown in society. but as we found out in this survey, that is not always the case with the people surveyed.
According to the article, there has been a 54% rise in the number of people who did not consider themselves to be survivalists before the pandemic but who are now more inclined to join the movement as a result of the virus.
If you want to know where to start, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) suggests putting together a Disaster Supplies kit with enough food and water for three days, an emergency radio, a flashlight with extra batteries, a first aid kit, a whistle, and warm clothes. And of course, read more about everything survival and prepping! Getting ready for the worst could save you and your loved ones’ lives.
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