For years, we've heard about so-called 'Doomsday Preppers,' who were building underground shelters or stocking up on food and supplies in preparation for a major emergency or apocalyptic event. While many of these folks were once dismissed as fringe, paranoid, conspiracy theorists, a majority of Americans are now considering joining their ranks. According to a new survey from the website Primal Survivor, 57 percent of Americans consider themselves to be 'survivalists.' In Texas, the number is at 65 percent, likely spurred by events like Hurricane Harvey, the 2021 winter storm Uri, and recurring questions about the state's power grid. "Especially in Texas, there are so many natural disasters each year, everything from hurricanes to droughts," says Diane Vukovic with Primal Survivor.
Indeed, extreme weather was the top concern cited by those who call themselves survivalists, at 54 percent. But nearly one-third (30 percent) cited economic uncertainty or international conflict as primary reasons for prepping. "The Russia-Ukraine war really has people thinking about international conflict," says Vukovic. "And the Chinese spy balloon case is just one other motivation making people realize that maybe international conflict isn't such a far-fetched idea."
Today's survivalists don't necessarily have cellars filled with canned food or large power generators stowed away. In fact, many who call themselves survivalists may be using the term a little loosely. "Even in our survey, most people admitted they wouldn't be able to last longer than two weeks through a major disaster, or even a power outage," says Vukovic.
What the survey may reveal is while folks aren't necessarily going full Doomsday Prepper, more people now realize the need to be prepared for the unexpected. "We're seeing that being a survivalist is no longer equated with being, like, the crazy person living in the woods," says Vukovic. "But there is still a long way to go when it comes to actually getting prepared for disasters."
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