Surviving The End: Exploring The World Of Modern Preppers | My America

TRT World’s ‘My America’ takes us across the country to uncover some of the political, social and cultural stories often ignored by the mainstream media.
In a world filled with uncertainty, more people are preparing for the worst. From natural disasters like Hurricane Debby to global crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, we explore the rise of prepping culture, meeting those who have turned their passion for preparedness into a way of life.
We'll dive into the motivations behind this movement, the businesses capitalising on it, and the psychological aspects that drive people to prepare for doomsday scenarios. Is prepping a rational response to turbulent times, or is it driven by a culture of fear?
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[@SparkySezz]

The ice storm in Nashville TN in 1994 taught me a huge lesson. My area was without power for nearly a week! I had to stay at a local church that had a generator and supplies. I had no way to heat my little apt., food for just a few days and no water. That was a long time ago and i never forgot that feeling of helplessness. My home has a generator, food for at least a year (rotating pantry) along with a hearty garden every year, and several alternatives to obtain water if necessary. Sometimes you have to go without to fully understand what you should have done.

[@projectpat2262]

If you would really like to prepare, you should learn to not be reliant on electricity at all the only people that will survive a major disaster is the Amish because they are completely self-sufficient

[@oldgeezer8038]

@SparkySezz Hurricane Hugo taught me a lesson. It's truly negligent to not prepare for one's family.

[@PsychicIsaacs]

With the whole world self-evidently falling apart, I'd say it's the folks who are NOT PREPPING who might be mentally ill...

[@philippaclarke3735]

Agreed. They are in denial. They call it normalcy bias. Things have always been fine so they always will be.

[@sharlharmakhis280]

The classic 'bullets, beans, and bandaids' model is cuckoo, absolutely, but it's a stereotype. A joke. Having a survival kit ready for whatever variety of natural disaster the place you live is most likely to throw at you is just good sense, and knowing how to grow your own food means paying less at the grocery store.

[@projectpat2262]

We live in the United States. The only thing that we would ever have to worry about is a natural disaster, and all the prepping in the world won’t prepare you why live in fear and waste money on all these stupid gadgets. The only people that will survive are the Amish because they are completely self-sufficient. If you really want to prep, learn to be self-sufficient and not to rely on electricity at all if not, you’re just wasting time and money and stressing yourself out for nothing. We live in the safest area of the world. Enjoy it.

[@savagehunger3315]

The media seems to be fascinated by portraying independence as fear. The commentary literally sounds like a hit piece stating fear as a motive for every person out there with a preparedness mindset. It is about personal security and accountability, IE you control your own "insurance policy" that no one else gets to deny your claims. To much of the modern society has put too much faith in contracting out their livelihood, safety, faith, and well being to others. Be accountable for yourself.

[@kristinebaker4326]

I think Parr of the reason they do that is because they know they are an adversary right from the beginning. Prepper vs non prepper. The shrinks always say the stuff about preppers not trusting authority. Well, he knows that includes him. When they figure out what they really have faith in, like rioters that really won't light fires or scare the police or emt's so much that they can't or won't help if needed, they will someday stop insulting our ancestors for being who they were also. A lot of city people choose to be delusional but when worse comes to worse, those orphan trains were real. Carry on and best to ya.

[@mendyviola]

After the first prolonged power outage in Texas a few years ago and a hurricane or two and the pandemic, I quickly became a prepper. I’ve lost faith in the Texas power grid. It was an eye opener on what else fails during a power outage after just a few days (cell towers, water treatment plants, etc.). I’m not extreme with the “personal protection”, but I think I’m as prepared as I can realistically be for the common disasters/emergencies in my region.

[@BlueRidgeVirginia]

Having "personal protection" is NOT extreme, as you call it. Have you seen the death and destruction that has taken place in the past 3.6 years? Do you not understand what 20+ million uneducated/unskilled/lawbreaking 'newcomers' are capable of ?

[@oldgeezer8038]

@@mendyviola That's the key, being reasonably prepared.

[@MosaicHomestead]

Ernesto hit Puerto rico recently, my area had no power and water for almost 2 weeks...I never lost power or water, i built my own infrastructure, is it crazy?...maybe, but the next day i did laundry and kept going like nothing happened, not everyone could say this.

[@joannacurran8475]

That is the reason I prepare. I live in a small country with 1 main road. The agricultural workers went out on strike and wirhin days no fresh food and the shelves were emptying of imported necessities. Even LPG was unavailable. Fortunately I had the 125lb tanks but most had the 25lb, then there was none. Another risk are those who do not prepare at all, have no food in the house, max out their credit cards etc. I live far enough from the city to have some notice. My SUV is very basically equiped and I reckon I could fit about 6 months of food. I do have a bug out location, very overgrown, mountainous land - very unfriendly looking and too much hard work for marauders.

[@latymz]

Good 👍 job.

[@lauriivey7801]

I live in Texas ... that said, I didn't run out of toilet paper in 2020, neither did I freeze in 2021 - call that what you want.

[@projectpat2262]

Wow you’re so cool😂

[@erink09]

Dr. will not know what to do when SHTF....I didn't see or hear obvious fear from any of the preppers shown, nor any I know personally. It's in the back of your mind but you still go to work, kids activities, make plans, etc.

[@Gator777]

Prepping is insurance for food, water, and shelter. Most Americans have some kind of insurance. This is no different than insurance.

[@susannahedwards8230]

I used to laugh watching dooms day preppers. Until 2016 then I started thinking hmmm maybe I should have a few things put back. Now while I'm not a full on prepper I like to think I'm decently prepared. I live in Australia so I don't own weapons but food wise and garden skills and home chickens.

[@Travis-sq6dl]

Australia is becoming increasingly authoritarian. Slowly but surely. Probably won’t be long before you see the digital currency.

[@Dawson-vy3zw]

Invest in a air compressor and a release valve and a hose … make a air rifle that will throw ball bearings… just a idea from the us

[@susannahedwards8230]

@@Dawson-vy3zw did think about a nail gun lol

[@Dawson-vy3zw]

@@susannahedwards8230 that’s not a bad idea. you will need to rig up a way to hold the safety back so it will shoot the nails without being pressed against anything though. If that’s the route you take.

[@happycook6737]

Cricket bat, knives, archery equipment?

[@VertigoBear]

That smug “mental health professional” is just the type of weasel who would NEVER make it out of a city alive in an emergency, and if by some miracle he did, he’d show up to your door sobbing, begging for help, which he would likely not receive.

[@oldgeezer8038]

Let me say 2 things. 1. To not prepare for your family is NEGLIGENT. 2. It's IMPOSSIBLE for our economy not to collapse. I defy anyone to reasonably arque the point. 35 trillion in debt (and growing) cannot and will not be paid!

[@projectpat2262]

We have the largest economy in the world and it is growing every day. It will not fall or even falter in the next hundred years and we will all be gone so preparing is pointless. I have always been self-sufficient. I don’t have electricity or running water. I grow all my own food and kill all my own meat. I live in the mountains in Virginia and just recently got a cell phone last year and just recently found out what preppers were and I have been watching videos about them and all their cute little emergency kits and freeze dried foods even with all that these people wouldn’t survival a week. The only people that are gonna survive. Are people like me and my Amish neighbors

[@oldgeezer8038]

@projectpat2262 Do you really think there'll be wild game left with millions trying to get them! Your garden will be raided most likely. Preppers are smart people and you have the audacity to put em' down. Preposterously ridiculous!!

[@Amen.ahmed1]

I have been a prepper since 2004, and I hope nothing bad happens.

[@lisapalmer4725]

You survived the 2008 crash

[@Amen.ahmed1]

@@lisapalmer4725 Tsunami

[@נתי-כ7ק]

Something bad will happen

[@pollyrg97]

Kiwi here, I agree prepping is absolutely a matter of prudence and common sense. Because of that it's very tailored to the geographic location and culture of the prepper: here in New Zealand we're more worried about earthquakes and storms (geography) and have less of an emphasis on firearms (cultural, and 'less emphasis' is not the same as 'no guns'), but the same overall mindset of 'get ready, get through'. There is absolutely a lunatic fringe, but most of us are just ordinary people exercising prudence and common sense.

[@wandac396]

If the vaccine is so great, it shouldn’t be forced!

[@freakinfrugal5268]

The little boy who is narrating this lost credibility when he was talking about expiration dates on food at the Walmart.

[@karenhowk1455]

Covid opened my eyes too. I am also getting into herbalism

[@robertcook9264]

Back in the 70s, there was a lot going on. Inflation, high interest rates, global oil instability, terrorist attacks, hostage situations and more I dont recall right now. Not to mention meat was really expensive, in my area anyway. Folks started buying extra freezers, and those freezers came with locks. My rural grandmother even had someone come and steal meat out of her freezer, and I would hear of folks having their firewood stolen. I have not since then seen newer freezers with locks on them. This shows you, even your neighbors will steal from you.

[@latymz]

It’s simply insurance. Nothing more or less. Some people are a bit over the top with certain aspects. But I think it is common sense at this point.

[@Dawson-vy3zw]

Iv always described it as a insurance plan.. just like all my actual insurance policies it’s a what if scenario.

[@latymz]

@@Dawson-vy3zw The big difference is you get to keep what you buy vs regular insurance benefits that disappear month after month.

[@Dawson-vy3zw]

@@latymz yep much better feeling

[@medhead964]

Taking the time and effort to be prepared is more than getting ready just in case something happens, it's about taking responsibility for yourself, and your families safety and not relying on someone else to take care of you during the worst of times and circumstances. In a way, you could also consider it patriotic, because if I make preparations and can self sustain my family for a month or two, that's less burden on our over-taxed emergency management resources and those can be spent on other more needy citizens. The other thing is, relying on our government to take care of you during a major crisis is not a plan. Don't forget how long it took FEMA to get food and water to those in NOLA after Hurricane Katrina. How long were those poor Americans sheltered in the Superdome? Having a generator in FL for after hurricanes is a lifesaver for some, having a stash of food and blankets in case a blizzard snows you in, or keeping a simple bag with necessities in your truck in case you need to evacuate during a forest fire are all sensible things to do. It's just straight luck that COVID wasn't as deadly as it was and didn't unalive half of our population. There was an eye opening conference that you can look up on YT with Ron Klain, who used to be the Chief of Staff for BIden, who stated that when he(Ron) worked in the WH under Obama it was by sheer luck that more Americans weren't dead from the Swine Flu (H1N1) because of that administration's abject failure at mitigating the spread of that virus and their lack of response to the illness and treatments. Between 1/3 and 1/2 our population caught that within 3-4 months. For example, if the mortality rate had been just 5%, that would have been close to 10 million American funerals in a very short timeframe. What would have happened to our healthcare system, and where would all those bodies have to have been kept? Do you really want to put your faith in the government to do the right by you in the event that the rest of the country/state/county is in a real crisis? Who cares more about your family... you or a faceless bureaucrat?

[@bradleygraves5915]

I started prepping in 2009. In 2013 I was unemployed for 2 full years. I never had to buy rice, chicken, and other staples. Sure, I bought food it wasn't the end of the world. But slowly over the months as my savings dried up those supplies (food, etc.) sure made a difference until I got back to work.

[@MsPackman4]

Thank you for showing normal people. Great video. 👍🏻

[@allienoneya4257]

I’m considered a daily prepper, overboard and a tin foil hat….seriously? No, I was raised old school on the farm as a child, young adult. I unfortunately got taken back to the city by parents but everything I learned from my grandparents still lives in me. They were the original preppers only thing that’s changed is technology. Solar. I have gardens , can, raise animals , an orchard. I dry my clothes on a line, well water, root cellar. Newer and improved drainage and ventilation. Not much has changed in food preservation. Growing , canning, dehydrating, salting and smoking meats, freeze drying is new but again , technology.

[@quinnmiller3382]

Not sure handing a random person a gun was a good idea. Might want to make sure they know how to handle it first lol.

[@jeffarnold8425]

the "ranch " is a joke ! basically a weekend retreat . building too high , can be seen for miles . no back plans for electric , water , heat etc etc

[@projectpat2262]

It’s all a joke. The only way to be completely prepared is to live the way I do and be completely self-sufficient. I do not use electricity or solar. I have nothing that uses batteries except for the cell phone. I got a couple years ago. I grow my own food and kill my own meat. I can survive indefinitely with nothing but my bare hands. Imagine thinking being prepared is having a generator.😂 to have electricity and heat you said boys will die. Something really happens.

[@deloresserra6770]

I think if prepping makes that person feel safer,or just prepared for any crisis. What’s wrong with that? If anything,they have an abundance of whatever they need.

[@cbeel3873]

"That they call prepping!" Wtf would it be called other than prepping?? It's literally preparing. PREPPING!

[@idahopreps4242]

I have always kept a few extra of staples so dinners for the family were easy. About 6 months before c-vid, every week I would get an extra package of tp and something else like pasta or sauce. I didn't know why at the time, I just did. Then we started hearing about something in China then cruise ships were being kept out of port. I told the hubby that something was going to happen. Luckily I was then able to provide for a few family members when there was little to be found. Being in North Idaho we always are prepared for cold weather and power outages.

[@projectpat2262]

Seems pretty pointless that you did all of that now we all went through Covid and I didn’t prepare anything and I was still able to get everything I needed without a problem. Don’t be paranoid. We live in the greatest place on earth enjoy it.

[@brandonboi9465]

16:28 love the overly dramatic shot of dinky 5.56 (basically a roided up .22) casings that somebody was obviously dropping by hand so they would cluster like that. They really make firearm/ammunition ownership look like it's such a fringe thing when in reality 1/2 of the world's guns are in this country and since ammunition sales hit over 8 billion annually since 2017 and you can still find older ammo as well, we're talking about close to a trillion rounds in circulation or just sitting there.

[@dreamleaf6784]

I shop at costco. So basicaly i have a couple months of food on hand. Hazzzah

[@davidnichols7485]

Prepping just a new word for the old ways

[@45and47MAGA]

This Dr sounds like a clown. I don’t know any prepared person that is living in fear.

[@Scaryerrorsandwarnings22]

Anyone with a doctorate is a 🐑 🤡

[@Ali-prepper]

Hey Dr. Todd do yourself a favor, look around, do some research & get your head out of the sand...

[@erink09]

He likes the gov nanny and thinks he'll always be taken care of. In SHTF he'll have his own mental health crisis

[@McGruph]

I'm not crazy. you're the one that's crazy! 🤣👍

[@Ali-prepper]

I didn't call you crazy, all I said is look around & see what is going on in the world today. I think you will be a prepper too...

[@McGruph]

@Ali-prepper The dr is saying there is some mental illness in the pepper community, and your answer was worded differently but still was, "I'm not crazy your crazy," lol... 🤷‍♂️🤣👍

[@Ali-prepper]

I have found that the most calm & sane people I know are preppers. We are not worried about what's going on these day with gov, etc. We are ready so we don't have to rely on them. Those that are not are those who will have no option but to comply...

[@tonymorris8296]

The first guy trying to make preppers sound crazy. I bet he’s a closet prepped or a future Victim

[@demolitiondan1188]

I wouldn’t trust a level 3 plate for anything above hand gun rounds. I have level 4 plates to ensure a rifle round doesn’t take me down…..💪🏻💪🏻👍🏻👍🏻🇨🇦🇨🇦 And please stop calling magazines “clips”!!😡

[@projectpat2262]

Clips are magazines man. It’s just a slang term. Congratulations you have wasted money on level four plates while living in the safest country in the world don’t be a weirdo man. Nobody likes people like you that say magazines.😂 people like you won’t be able to survive even with all your fancy equipment people like me are gonna come take what we need from people like you just remember that the more that you have the bigger target you will be

[@karenbarth-vt7of]

If it's the end of the world, there's no need to prep. Good bye.

[@ashleyjarrett3646]

Leme ask that dr man how many ppl died during the great depression?? Because they had nothing stuck back. I’m 37 and I have socked now called prepping since I moved out my mom and dad’s house when I was 20.

[@tracysmith-yv5lt]

it is better to have a good way of looking at things the fear they had in their eyes and sadness in some of the documentaries on the great depression it is not a bad idea to have something in place but would people look after one another though in the community like in covid or would it be like the film leave the world behind when he turned them away when their son needed antibiotics.

[@jeffs9850]

The whole gun worship loses a lot of people including me. Guns are just one of the “original sins” of this country!

[@VertigoBear]

@jeffs9850 If the world ever starts a-rockin….definitely don’t come a-knockin 😉

[@evinwhiteson4902]

I have 2 years put back. But I am not a preper. I am a hoarder

[@sabrinab9991]

I wonder if there is a Fortitude Ranch in Mississippi.

[@00SecretAgent]

I'd rather error on the side of caution, then to be proven a fool..!

[@ninajones1175]

Prepared, not panicked

[@Dawson-vy3zw]

7:18 dude is driving on the left side of the road into a curve

[@auburn886]

Expect the best; prepare for the worst.

[@christopherwanamaker828]

This is a prime example of why more people need to get more prepared and think about "Emergency Preparedness Management" for both your home and vehicles. I am a KZbinr under my Full-Name with the same profile picture as this post with 47 videos covering 27 different category topic subjects sharing my personal knowledge and experiences with others to help others improve their overall adult lives. I've got videos on building yourself a high quality 24-72 Hour Survival Bug Out Bags, Home and Vehicle Preparedness and Readiness advice videos, several Financial Literacy advice videos, a dozen Cooking Creation Recipes videos, and more!

[@Julianvanderheijden]

Honestly we are all just children. In a way we hope we hope something happens.. and that you did your prepping so you can feel safe. We somehow want it to happen.. but the reality is.. it is not gonna happen 😅

[@WillieMakeit]

Get quality long handle spade shovel and sharpen them.

[@Operator_68]

Dr. Todd Grande is the type that would be banging on your door begging for food during a 3 day power outage. He's the type that would start having "mental health issues" if his cellphone didn't work for a day.

[@HanaHallums-t6v]

Thompson Brian Lewis Nancy White Brenda

[@Ninjah013]

Way to marginalize and villainize people who are just investing in their own type of insurance.... See signals of doom where they dont exist?? Whatever gets you views and reactions, i guess, right?

[@farfalcon1616]

Movie world USA!

[@allencollins6031]

😮

[@naturegirl4803]

Truly weird and profit erner people

[@Amen.ahmed1]

Prepping for when natural disasters strike is ok to have 2 weeks of essentials, even 6 months is ok but prepping for years is crazy. guns and weapons will also make the situation way worse.

[@maskdjon]

​@Amen.ahmed1 I get it, but it makes sense to prep long term given according to CBS and a few other sources over 40 percent of the American population are 1 paycheck away from poverty.

[@Amen.ahmed1]

@@maskdjon 6 months is ok but more than that, you can't hunker down in one place. you have to move around and live off the land.

[@Liesbeth22]

​@@Amen.ahmed1 Prepping for years isn't crazy in this economy. I wish I had started sooner. I fond myself in unforseen financial scheiße and sure enough, I'm going hungry oftentimes now. I tried really hard the past years to put away some stuff But once ly food budget became ZERO, I promise, those few months worth of cans, they all gone now and my belly is often empty. I'd say it would be wise to put away about 2yrs worth of cans and dried goods. You have no idea how quickly you burn through these things! But you do need to rotate though. I'm glad I got myself chickens and prioritized my garden . They are keeping me alive. Very literally!

[@unbelievable9750]

BYE BYE AMERICA 🙋‍♂️it was fun while it lasted