How prepared do you feel for the future? If your answer is ‘very’, then you’re in good company as there are now more survivalists in New York than in any other state in the US. Over 60% of residents in New York state are taking proactive steps to prepare themselves for the future by joining the survivalist movement. With concerns over economic instability, global conflicts and environmental issues mounting, and reports of dubious foreign surveillance activities, many people wan to feel prepared for what may lie ahead. But if you imagine New York’s survivalists to be paranoid loners living on the fringes of society fuelled by conspiracy theories, think again. Survivalists are just like everyone else. The difference is that they have an emergency plan and a stash of emergency supplies, just in case.
Over Half Of Americans Are Survivalists
Global events within the last couple of decades and increasing political mistrust, have heightened interest in the concepts of preparedness, resilience, and self-sufficiency. For the 54% of Americans who identify as survivalists, the core belief of survivalism is that readiness can reduce risk and improve people’s chances of surviving challenging situations. This can mean building up a stockpile of essential items, developing an emergency plan, learning survival skills and basic medical care to building an insulated, well-stocked bunker. Survivalism is big business too. In 2023 alone, Americans spent around £11 billion on disaster preparations, while online retailers like eBay and Amazon now have categories devoted to prepping supplies while specialist survivalist stores are popping up all over the country.
Building A Survival Kit
While the survivalist movement is growing rapidly in New York, many Americans are still extremely ill-equipped to handle any type of disaster. In fact, should they face power outages or other crises the average American household might only endure one week before finding themselves facing significant challenges. But the good news is that you don’t have to go to extreme lengths to be prepared. You can start by building a comprehensive survival kit. The US government and Red Cross recommend having three days (but ideally two weeks) worth of essential supplies. These include non-perishable ready-to-eat meals, bottled water, a first aid kit, medical masks, warm clothes, a flashlight, a battery-operated radio, spare batteries, and a whistle. These items should be kept together somewhere that’s easily accessible.
Create An Emergency Plan
When Hurricane Sandy ripped through New York City in 2012, it disrupted power lines, destroyed hundreds of homes, and left many residents with limited access to food, water, and critical services. But despite this, still just 39% of the population has an emergency plan. An up-to-date emergency plan ensures everyone in the family knows what to do, where to go and what essentials to take should something major happen. It should be tailored to where you live and your family’s needs. An emergency plan also includes factors like when it’s time to seek shelter, where in your home is the safest place to go and safe escape routes. It should also outline where you to go next amid a disaster.
Get Some Practical Survival Skills
In addition to having an emergency kit and written plan, gaining knowledge about survival techniques can be a huge benefit should you face any kind of major issue, even just a power outage or shortage of supplies. There are numerous training courses and workshops now available that offer skills training to help people navigate challenging situations. Some of these courses are designed to teach aspiring survivalists how to properly store food, purify water and gain some basic first aid skills. There are also similar opportunities to develop key outdoor skills such as foraging, camping and wilderness navigation. Being part of survivalist groups and online communities can be a great source of information and support too, allowing people to connect with other New Yorkers who share similar concerns about the future.
Today’s Survivalist Preppers
There are around 20 million survivalists worldwide, many of which have been swayed by concerns over climate change, global conflicts and unstable employment markets. But they’re not all ex-military personnel or survival experts like Bear Grylls, as you may think. Anyone, from your neighbor or doctor to the CEO of a billion-dollar tech giant can be a survivalist or prepper. There are also several high-profile New Yorkers who are known to be active survivalists. For instance, Martha Stewart, famous for her lifestyle expertise, is a homesteader with a farm in New York. Similarly, former New York City mayor and tech innovator Michael Bloomberg is committed to supporting disaster preparedness efforts. Other prominent personalities like Kim Kardashian, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are actively involved in the survivalist community.
Many New Yorkers are embracing the survivalist movement as a means to protect themselves and their loved ones. From stocking up on supplies and devising emergency plans to learning survival tips and practical skills, more people are taking measures to ensure they are prepared for whatever lies ahead.
Leave a Reply