Ways to Bugout So You Can Survive SHTF, and Avoid TEOTWAWKI

Doom and Gloom

Let me start off by asking you a question.  Why did you click on this article?  Is it because you want to survive the End of the World?  Do you fear what might come?  Or did the title of this article use all the right keywords to get you to come over and read how to be the last man standing?

I hope you keep reading, but this article isn’t what you think.

You see, there is a problem I’m trying to address.

Preppers love doom and gloom.  We say we don’t, but we do.

One of the things that I’ve realized over the years is that preppers will click on certain articles, podcasts and videos all the time.  We call that doom porn.

I’ve noticed this on Prepper Website.  I’ve noticed this on the podcast.  And I’ve even noticed that in my email list that goes out every Saturday morning, The Sat. Prep.

Articles about EMP’s and Bug Outs and how to live and survive after an SHTF event will always bring a lot of clicks to whatever medium is promoting that information.

Surviving Doom and Gloom Isn’t a Bad Thing!

Now wanting to survive and gain knowledge isn’t the problem.  The problem I see is that people are either living in fear or looking for that one silver bullet that will help them survive.  But something that needs to be understood is that everyone’s situation is different.  Everyone is in a different place in their life and their preparedness.

Knowing that preppers are in every type of situation and place in life is something I see in the Prepper Website Exclusive Email Group.  There are many experienced preppers who have a lot of great information, but we all come from different areas and will get through SHTF differently.

The reality is that the world is fragile and bad things happen.  There are reasons to fear.  But we shouldn’t let it rule our lives.  We shouldn’t roll-up in the fetal position and wait for kingdom come.

The reality is that there’s no silver bullet!  Everyone is going to bring their own skills and their own understanding and knowledge to a situation. If we continue to look for or dwell on the big SHTF moments, we don’t wind up building those skills that add value to our lives.  If we live in constant fear, we miss out on all the good and memories we can make along the way.

Doomsday scenarios can cause a level of stress that people don’t even realize. I’ve been there before, so I can identify it. You’re reading articles, you’re watching videos, you’re reading books, and all of these things make it seem like an SHTF scenario is right around the corner.

I know I’ve said this before and I’ve mentioned it on the podcast, there is a scene in Men in Black where Will Smith’s character is freaking out because the Earth is about to be destroyed and Tommy Lee Jones’s character is really relaxed.  Smith can’t understand why Jones is relaxed about the world getting destroyed.  Jones tells Smith’s character there’s always someone trying to blow up the earth. And this speaks to our situations as preppers or self-reliant people or whatever you want to call us.  There’s always a situation that could possibly spell Doom for us. But focusing on that is not the way to live!

Those doom and gloom articles, videos and podcasts might be fun for some.  They might be interesting for others.  But one of the things that we really need to start doing is to build systems in our lives where we’re not dependent on what’s out there.

Instead Build Self-Reliant Systems

Now you can’t completely be independent or self-reliant.  Even back in the day, when we were an agricultural society and everybody was homesteading and everybody was on a farm, people still depended on other people for specific items that they needed or things that needed to be done.

So, one of the things to do is to build Independence as much as possible by building systems in your life that can help to mitigate the pain that we might feel if there was a ________ (fill in the blank).

For example, if there are food shortages, do you have a garden that can help provide some of your vegetables. Do you have chickens that can provide some meat and some eggs? Are maybe some rabbits that can reproduce quickly and provide some of your meat? Do you have ways to cook your food if the power goes out? What about having multiple streams of income if, for whatever reason, you lose your job?

This type of thinking is the most beneficial to those of us wanting to live a self-reliant life, but it takes work and it takes effort to sit down to think it through, to plan to get up off the couch, to talk with your spouse and put things in place.

Instead Build Community

Another beneficial practice for preppers is when they are tied into some kind of community. I believe in this more and more as I have run Prepper Website and realize that preppers need other peppers! And the answer is not building a prepper group. I know many people don’t want to hear that!

I get emails from people all the time that say something like, “Todd, do you know someone in this area that I can link up with?”  And the fact is, 98% of the time it never really pans out. I do know some that have a decent prepper group, but again, it is very rare!

The key is to look at the community that you are already involved with and use that as a means of support if you were in a true SHTF situation. For many people, that will be your neighborhood, your current community. And that might scare you because there are people in your community that you just don’t like and don’t want to be around in an SHTF situation.  You realize that some people might not have the best interest of the community or neighborhood at heart. But you need to find the people that DO!  Those people you can depend on! Those are the people that have a shared interest in coming together and sticking together.  Because if they don’t, then they will be an individual or even an individual family who are sticking out like a sore thumb.  Then, eventually, it’s easy for pain to come and disrupt whatever they have going on.

You might find that a lot of people, and I believe this to be true, are preppers at heart. Consider what happens down here in the Gulf Coast when there’s a hurricane.  Everybody knows to go to the grocery store and get supplies. When COVID hit and it became real for people, there was a run on the grocery stores.  People knew to go to the grocery stores and stock up. Anytime there is a shortage on anything, or word gets out, people realize that they need to go and prepare. So, people understand what preparedness is. They just might not call themselves preppers or live that preparedness lifestyle on a regular basis like many of us do.

But I still feel that peppers need the ability to bounce off ideas and communicate and build relationships with other preppers. You need a tribe!  That’s why I love the exclusive email group that has really morphed into something that I couldn’t have even imagined.

Instead Build Confidence

As mentioned earlier, preppers should really be focusing on building skills and knowledge.  Knowing how to survive and actually practicing those skills builds confidence in yourself.  If you have confidence in your abilities, then your fear will be minimized.  Note – We never truly get to leave fear behind.  It is built into us.

Search out the articles, podcasts and videos that actually teach you something.  Start a notebook of skills you are learning, learned and want to learn.  In short order you will look back and see your accomplishments and how your skills have increased.

Prepper Confidence

Instead Build Accountability

Do you have someone you can talk to about preparedness?  Most preppers don’t!  Many preppers are solo preppers because their family thinks their nuts.  I mean, “there’s always been 24-7 Walmart stores, right?”

Having someone that you can identify with and who can validate your ideas and thoughts about preparedness is powerful.  In the past, I have suggested that preppers could find other preppers by listening to those keywords that preppers use, at a gun range, in a gardening or ham radio club and even just putting it out there on a prepper forum.  Just be careful about how much you share right off the bat.  Don’t let you desire to find a likeminded self-reliant soul, rush you into giving away more information about yourself than you would like.

If the above doesn’t interest you, then you might be interested in joining the Exclusive Prepper Website Email Group.  The group is run completely from your email, no social media to track you, and you will learn a ton!  We also have online meetups every other week.  You don’t have to show up if you don’t want to.  And if you do show up, you don’t have to turn on your camera or even talk.  Some people just come to listen.  And that is ok.

I recently asked the group if they felt the group had helped them to be better prepared.  Once group member said, “It has reminded me to keep thinking about it and not let the busyness of life lull me into a false safety.  It has introduced me to new ideas and products which I have then researched and my husband and I have talked about and decided if we wanted to purchase/incorporate/do.  It reassures me that there are lots of other people out there like me who see the direction we are headed and want to be as ready as we can.”

You can join the email group for $20 a year.

Conclusion

Doom and Gloom has had its place in history.  From prophets to prepper fiction, hearing about the end or what might be coming is always a crowd favorite, no matter what the message might be.  But preppers need to leave the fear of it all behind and build a life that looks at each day as a blessing and another day to enjoy what life brings.  Be smart!  Build preparedness, but don’t let it consume your life.  That sounds funny from the editor of this website and the host of a preparedness podcast, but it’s the truth!

p.s. – I’m not a big fan of the Rolling Stones.  But I thought this video was interesting.

Peace,
Todd

Doom and Gloom

14 responses to Ways to Bugout So You Can Survive SHTF, and Avoid TEOTWAWKI

  1. John Patrick July 13th, 2021 at 8:25 am

    I signedup for the prepperwebsite and paid my 20.00 but that was all it went off and dentet tell me where to go can you help

    Reply

  2. Todd - Prepper Website July 13th, 2021 at 9:29 am

    John, I sent you an email.

    Reply

  3. Leam July 13th, 2021 at 10:15 am

    Nice references … “Gimme shelter” also fits the bill for the current times. And, throughout my seventy years,prepping and training have been useful more than once, keeping me reasonably comfortable through the “bump.” Thanks.

    Reply

  4. Cindy Fox July 13th, 2021 at 10:26 am

    Appreciate this article Todd. To the point on a lot of areas.
    I don’t spend a lot of time reading stuff except some here, on Organic Prepper, a few other sites and on the email prepper group when have time or videos that I need to learn something. I just don’t have time for crazy stuff if I’m going to live life, work on things I am doing and continue to work on being self-reliant. Plus have a website to get done.
    There is so much fear provoking news(gloom and doom or other stuff) I can’t spend a lot of time on that stuff, have any quality of daily life and get anything done. Plus working with a grandson with painful leg problems takes some time.
    I trust what you have to say and the others I spend time following.
    I agree on community. This is a big plus with the email group I don’t find much anywhere else. I keep my ears open around me and talk to a few neighbors without giving a lot of info. Some roll their eyes or don’t answer if I ask them questions to see where there at with thing around us. I’ll be visiting a gal not too far away I connected with to see where things are at. I believe they have a prepper mindset but afraid to give much info away as well but time will tell. Another neighbor about to get his house condemned boasts his guns will cure any ill sigh
    Yes I have some fear that I have to bring into perspective from time to time but I just can’t live in gloom and doom.

    Reply

  5. Todd - Prepper Website July 13th, 2021 at 11:51 am

    Its a great story! I saw the movie and have some of her books.

    Reply

  6. n. July 13th, 2021 at 12:49 pm

    talk about survival???

    if you can find it: THE HIDING PLACE by:

    CORRIE TEN BOOM read this short book and

    you will be SHOCKED & EDUCATED

    Reply

  7. Newbie July 13th, 2021 at 12:59 pm

    Thanks for hosting this site, blog and weekly output, Todd.
    Perhaps on way we can assess other neighbors near us is to use real life examples such as your Gulf Coast crisis. Maybe asking our neighbors generalized questions that center on our individual regional issues; “Hey, I hear we’re entering fire/flood/tornado/(fill in your expected seasonal disaster) season. What are you and the family doing to stay ready in case it comes near?”
    …Probably offers a little more tact than, “Hey, wanna see my gas mask collection?”
    We’re in a unique area where there are a few neighbors who seem level-headed and reasonable about readiness. Seems we’re all prior mouths. Plenty of give and take. Yet, there’s also a couple of non interested, busy bodies and one definite ne’er do well. Thankfully we decided rural was good for us in semi-retirement. It is a blessing.
    Your advice is good stuff, Todd, and I will continue to share with others in hopes they will glean, continue to learn and stay flexible and ready.
    Best to all,
    Newbie,
    near 24333

    Reply

  8. david July 13th, 2021 at 2:59 pm

    Wow Todd !
    people don’t like living on the edge. I am a Police Officer of twenty five years. I live on the Gulf Coast. I see and read about people not being ready for any bug-in-realities or bad situtions. Most people live in denile. keep up your articles, people need to stay prepared, not victims.people tend to relax too much. people need be ready, keep up the good articles, people tend to believe that it will never happen to them! Just a matter of time!thank you Todd!

    Reply

  9. Robert Reeves July 13th, 2021 at 3:24 pm

    Todd,
    Thanks for the article. Truth is, I don’t
    believe bugging out is a honest option for most people. Know your neighborhood, know your abilities, know the Lord. Being prepared is not an option, it’s the truth of our times. Are you truly ready in all ways?
    God Bless,
    Bob

    Reply

  10. 101st Airborne July 13th, 2021 at 10:41 pm

    What if we just click for a bit of information we may not have known or thought of. I for one enjoy running across bits n pieces. Just today I made a decision about yarn. Yeah, yarn. Growing the best garden I’ve had in 20 years all from seed, expecting a freezer of vinison, and chicken. I’ve read all the Top 100 things to pack in a bugout, when the shelves are empty, surviving the zombies, and the dollar is worth .05. In less than 10 years a line is going to be drawn in the sand and sides will be chosen, The haves and the have nots. Prepare accordingly.

    Reply

  11. James Herendeen July 16th, 2021 at 5:55 pm

    I’m 71 and ready as I can be. My wife doesn’t subscribe to it but tolerates it. I do worry if I have enough(guess you never have enough). I live in a gated community with lots of retired military and police which would make this place defensible with a lake full of fish and wildlife in the area. The problem is getting enough people to get off their duffs…events will soon do that.

    Reply

  12. lewis conley July 17th, 2021 at 5:03 am

    as for me my famly has allways saved food and tools to servive we went thow hard times my parents live in the graet depreshon and we allways had food wild or garden jobs might bee there and the gov. might not help do you want to starve to death wating for them to give you a handout to many people look the other way and dont want to see us in less your giveing them some thing

    Reply

  13. Jon July 17th, 2021 at 6:32 am

    Do you wear a seat belt, have a smoke detector or have life insurance? This is not paranoia. This is wisdom. I think everyone should store some extra supplies in case of: economic turmoil to sudden job loss or ____. It if nothing happens you are you are able to rotate your stock stock and be fine. If something does happen, you are able to respond giving you do a chance to help those around you.

    Thank you Todd for helping people with practical tips.

    A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.
    Proverbs 27:12

    Reply

  14. Bill tramontab July 17th, 2021 at 7:14 pm

    Preparedness is peace of mind ,how Mitch are you willing to pay?

    Reply

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