Doomsday Preppers Over The Top – or Not

Until recently, I was unaware of the term “Doomsday Preppers” (Doomsday, as in the end of the world), which is believed by many to coincide with the end of the Mayan calendar on December 21, 2012.

While switching channels one evening, I happened to see the National Geographic series, Doomsday Preppers and decided to watch. I was amazed at how far people are going to prepare for natural disasters, global pandemics, global economic collapse, and/or terrorists attacks that they believe will leave thousands, possibly millions vulnerable to famine, starvation, pestilence, disease, and ultimately death.

At one time like-minded individuals were referred to as Survivalists. Then, at the turn of the current century, when the threat that massive computer failures could leave us without electricity, water, and food supplies, they were called Y2K’ers, (Y2K standing for Year 2000). Today, they’re apparently called Doomsday Preppers. The word doomsday sounds so utterly hopeless.

There are varying opinions about how the end times are being predicted: of course, there is the Mayan calendar; then there are predictions made by a number of prophets through the ages; and last, but not least is the belief that the end is coming based on bible prophecy.

Also, there are those who simply observe the increase in disasters in the world today, and make the rational decision, based on any or all of the above reasons, that some preparations should be made in the event one of these disasters should hit close to home.

Realistically, Doomsday Preppers may simply be demonstrating a proactive (okay, an extremely proactive) response to an uncertain, increasingly disaster prone world.

Here is where I stand: I believe in the bible, and everything that’s happening today is all there, particularly in the book of Revelations, but in other books of the bible as well, including, Isaiah, Matthew, Daniel, etc. I don’t pretend to know when, or how these prophecies will come to past, but the way things are lining up, it’s looking good for sooner rather than later.

Japan tsunami resulting from the 9.0 earthquake

By many accounts, both scientific and otherwise, 2011 was the worst year in recorded history for disasters. Some, but not all of these 2011 disasters include:

●The New Zealand earthquake in February; a 6.3 magnitude that left 100 dead and 226                         missing.

●The Japan 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in March that left over 15,000 dead and over 3,000 missing.

●Super tornadoes (over 300) that swarmed over the southeastern United States in April and left 700 dead.

●The Philippines Typhoon in December that left 1,200 fatalities in its wake.                                

And those are just a few of the disasters that made 2011 such a memorable year. It is quite a list.  In the past ten years global disasters can only be described as biblical in proportions. Natural disasters are becoming more and more severe resulting in more and more fatalities. There has also been weather phenomenon that can only be described as freaky.

When looking at events in the world around us, making some type of preparation just seems common sense. I might not go as far as the Preppers, but I do believe in self preservation. That’s why in December 1999 I researched and wrote a 100-page self-help manual on how to survive if the lights go out “Before the Disaster: Surviving Disasters Through Spiritual and Corporeal Preparedness”. I sent the manual around the country to family and friends. Just in case.

In 2007, I revised the manual to include surviving nuclear events and made it available to the general public. Before the Disaster can be found on my website at: claudettejones.com      
and at:

Before the Disaster: Surviving Disasters Through Spiritual and Corporeal Preparedness

I must say that the one thing about the Preppers that causes me concern are the weapons. Some of the Preppers seem a little too anxious to demonstrate their prowess against anyone they suspect may be trying to take their supplies. I have visions of innocent people simply crossing some of their properties and being blown away.

All in all, I believe the Doomsday Preppers are on the right track. Some of them may go a bit far; like the man who is teaching his children to eat and enjoy insects. Seriously. Regardless, I am still of the belief that it is better  to go too far, than not go anywhere at all. Then again, perhaps best of all is falling somewhere in the between the two extremes.