As talk about the threat of nuclear war is being heard against the backdrop of the Ukraine war—and with continuing fears about climate change and economic turmoil—people are beginning to wonder how they can prepare for the worst.
Concerns about a nuclear "Armageddon" or global food shortages may have many of us worrying about what will happen next, but some have already put their apocalypse plans into place.
"Part of the point of prepping is to not have to react every time something bad happens," John Ramey, founder and CEO of website The Prepared, told Newsweek. "Similar to when COVID hit, where preppers were safe at home, not waiting in line to buy toilet paper.
"The Ukraine war, like any major event, motivates a chunk of new people to take preparedness seriously. Those who were already prepared aren't changing their behavior or doing anything differently because...they're already prepared," he said.
Survivor Jane, founder of Survivorjane.com and host of Prepper Camp, has a similar view.
"Regarding the Ukraine war, our behavior hasn't changed per se, as we currently live a self-reliant lifestyle," she told Newsweek. "However, with that said, we have picked up our pace in areas where items are becoming harder to come by, such as items used to fix or repair vehicles or machinery, tools, building supplies and supplies for animals.
She continued: "To me, the biggest threat to humanity right now is our reliance on the industrial/agriculture food system. With all the reported factory fires, drought, natural disasters, inflation, shrinkflation of food packaging, fuel cost and shipping issues to move products, people aren't going to be able to afford food or to feed their families."
For Ramey, the biggest threat to our species is more intrinsic. "Humans are the biggest threat to humanity," he said. "It's easy to point at surface issues like climate change; economics; and the breakdown of civil society, democracy and law and order. But we could solve those problems if it weren't for people getting in the way.
"The real blocker, and why so many people are so worried for the future, is the portion of our society who will never let those solutions happen," he said.
Humans have several basic needs, such as water, food, fuel and shelter, and it can be hard to know which ones to focus on. "The skill I most definitely recommend is to grow your own food," Jane said. "It's a lot easier than what people think. And far healthier.
"You can start small if you don't have outdoor space by planting vegetables and herbs in planters on a porch or balcony, or even inside by a sunny window," she said. "And if you do have a grassy area, you could make raised beds to plant your vegetables in. Or make a backyard garden.
She continued: "Another intricate part of growing your own food, and something that a lot of us don't even think about, is saving seeds. It's so rewarding to see the fruits of our labor, but what some don't realize is that we can have these fruits and vegetables each year by just saving back seeds from your harvest to plant for next season."
Ramey's top survival skill is even more basic. "Water! Every single person should know how to find water and how to make it safe to drink," he said. "It's so critical to life, yet so vulnerable—just look at the recent Jackson [Mississippi] crisis—and modern people have never had to think about those issues, so it's becoming a lost skill.
He continued: "Everyone's basic goal should be to be able to, without warning, go turtle mode and lock yourself in your house for two weeks—no utilities, no deliveries, etcetera. If you can turtle for two weeks, you'll be able to make it through the majority of possible disruptions.
"There isn't anything specific to do for the Ukraine war, mostly because it's very unlikely things will escalate into nuclear [world war] or get to the point of major disruptions in the West. We're already feeling most of the effects, such as continued inflation and supply chain crunches around energy, food, etcetera," he said.
Prepping can seem overwhelming, unfeasible and often unnecessary. But Ramey has some simple advice for anyone wanting to build a survivalist safety net.
"It's easy and cheap to get started prepping," he said. "Whenever you have a few extra dollars in your budget, just buy a few extras of the nonperishable food and drinks you already buy. Then get in the habit of using the [first in, first out] system to rotate through your pantry supplies. That way you always have a little extra buffer at home whenever an emergency strikes."
For Jane, organization is key. "The number one most important prepping tip I could give someone is to make a plan. Preparedness is not about just buying a lot of things and then thinking you'll be fine. It takes planning. You and your family need to decide how much water and food you need for any given disaster, a safe shelter or one you can go to, how to stay warm or cool.
"People need to understand that time is of the essence," she said. "People need to start preparing themselves and family for what may be right around the corner for us all. With higher food costs, shrinking food shelves and higher gas costs, we need to stock up on food, water and other needs."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Pandora Dewan is a Senior Science Reporter at Newsweek based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on science, health ... Read more
