Many people believe that our world is on a downward spiral into sheer chaos. All things considered, it’s certainly possible. Growing political conflicts, rising economic problems, and an increased reliance on technology are only a few of the situations that could lead to the decline of humanity. When an apocalyptic scenario arises, being prepared for it ahead of time will be the key to survival.
Companies like Prepared Bee are on a mission to help people get ready for the inevitable. From small-scale, localized disasters to global events, they offer the gear you need to survive when push comes to shove. Think about some of the major events that could happen and how they may reshape life as we know it. Along the way, consider some of the essential survival tools you might need to forge through them.
Climate-Related Catastrophes:
Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity at this point. Global warming is causing the polar ice caps to melt. It’s also leading to changes in our oceans and altering Earth’s weather patterns. These issues have already brought about more extreme storms than in the past and caused an increase in drought among other problems. At its current rate, global warming could soon result in food and water shortages.
If that happens, people may migrate to areas where those resources are more plentiful. At the same time, experts believe our coastal cities may be under water before long, which would mean even more people would need to move inland. People would have less room to spread out, and overcrowding would become a major problem.
Serious changes in climates and weather patterns could be devastating. They would destroy animals’ habitats and put a strain on Earth’s food supply and other natural resources. In time, diseases and malnutrition could run rampant. Societal and political instability would escalate as well. People would ultimately turn on each other. Preparation will be essential in a situation like this. Getting your property ready for extreme weather and striving for self-sustainability could help. Of course, being capable of protecting yourself and your family will be crucial as well.
Nuclear War:
Another looming threat is nuclear war. Some sources say that the risk of nuclear war is greater now than it has been since the Cold War. Tensions between nations with nuclear weapons are ramping up the threat, but that’s only one factor to consider. System malfunctions that could lead to an accidental launch are also a distinct possibility.
Nuclear war could cause massive destruction. Millions of lives could be lost, and much of Earth’s fresh water, food supplies, and other resources could be rendered unusable. Nuclear weapons don’t only affect their targets; their impacts are far more widespread. Immediately after a nuclear detonation, an intense wave of heat and fire destroys the surrounding area. Thermal radiation from these weapons can cause explosions and fires that extend well beyond the point of impact. Resulting shockwaves can destroy buildings and viable land as well.
People who survive the initial blast are likely to suffer from radiation sickness before long. Wind can carry radioactive fallout across extensive distances, further spreading the exposure and its effects. Those materials will continue to spread across the globe after the fact. Environmental devastation, residual health effects, and many other consequences are sure to follow.
Creating a self-sustaining home and lifestyle won’t keep you safe from nuclear war, but other measures can increase your family’s chances of survival. Having an underground fallout shelter could be an important step here. It would need to have its own ventilation and plumbing systems. Stocking it with canned, dehydrated, and freeze-dried foods will be essential as well. Having an ample supply of water on hand will also be crucial. Gas masks with respirators, hazmat suits, and additional tools can help you survive a nuclear disaster, too.
Global Health Crisis:
Global health crises can also have a profound impact on life as we know it. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly taught us that. It caused businesses and schools to close and brought entire cities to a screeching halt. People were forced to stay at home as much as possible, and store shelves were bare. Logistics fell apart as well, so stores struggled to rebuild their inventories.
What if an even deadlier pathogen were to evolve or be inadvertently released? Its effects could be much more devastating and long-lasting than those of the world’s most recent pandemic. Again, self-sustainability will be one of the keys to survival in a scenario like this. Having a cache of essential medications, first-aid supplies, water, and other resources will help keep your family alive. Masks with respirators that are capable of filtering out viruses and bacteria will provide even more protection.
Biological Weapons:
Along those same lines, the threat of biological weapons continues to grow. What if a pathogen or other deadly biological agent was intentionally released? Those could include bacteria, viruses, and toxins to name a few possibilities. Advances in biotechnology and ways to release such agents have made this type of attack even more of a concern in recent years.
Biological weapons can quickly spread across entire countries, being carried along by the planet’s natural air currents. That makes them particularly difficult to control once they’re released. They could kill millions of people in a very short time. They might also overwhelm healthcare systems, leaving many people without the treatments they need to survive. That’s assuming there’s a way to counteract the effects of the biological weapon that’s released.
As is the case in other apocalyptic scenarios, infrastructures and society could quickly break down after a biological attack. In this type of situation, a respirator with an appropriate filter could save your life. You’ll need to have a massive supply of uncontaminated water on hand and plenty of non-perishable foods to forge through the resulting hardships as well. Remember, medical care and emergency services may not be readily available in a scenario like this, so you’re likely to be on your own.
Technological Singularity:
A technological singularity is yet another possibility. This is a situation in which technology exceeds our ability to control it. It’s hypothetical at this point, but with the growing use of technology and the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s not entirely impossible. Consider the Facebook AI programs that were allowed to communicate with each other. They started writing their own language, and their creators didn’t understand it.
Think about how many people use artificial intelligence in their everyday lives. If these artificial assistants can tell us how much money is in our bank accounts, pay bills at our request, and order groceries for us, they could one day decide to cut us off from the essentials. Technology is only going to grow more advanced from this point on, so what’s to stop it from developing a mind of its own?
If AI decides to take over, it could potentially shut down everything we’ve come to depend on. It might even prevent us from communicating with each other. No one is sure of just how far a situation like this might go or what its effects could be. Stocking up on basic essentials and developing a plan now before the need arises is certainly a tempting and advisable concept, though.
Economic Downturn:
Global economic downturn seems to be an imminent threat as well. This can start slowly at an individual level, but it can quickly grow to monumental proportions. Lost jobs leave people with no money to pay their bills or spend on frivolous items. When numerous people lose their jobs, it can lead to the downfall of an entire community. That, in turn, may have ripple effects that spread across a city or even an entire state.
Eventually, businesses may be forced to close. Decreases in national and international trade could ensue. Governments might struggle to meet their financial obligations and provide public services. While this may seem a bit extreme, seemingly minor events can eventually lead to global consequences. Economic collapse could affect virtually every aspect of our lives, and its impact would be devastating.
Some might be quick to point out that it’s important to prepare ahead of time while the economy is still holding out. Remember what happened during the Great Depression. If you wait too late to start preparing for economic collapse, you may not be able to access your savings at all.
Many preppers say that being mobile at a time like this is the most important step a person can take to survive. After all, if people are losing their homes and properties, sustainability measures and other proactive practices could end up being a moot point. Going back to the basics with standard survival gear, portable grills and water heaters, and personal water filters might be the best course of action.
Being Prepared for Whatever the Future Holds:
All those scenarios may seem a bit far-fetched, but they may not be as impossible as many people like to think. Humanity has already been on the verge of some of them. Next time around, bouncing back may not be an option. Though several measures can be taken to reduce the risks of these eventualities, altogether preventing them could be impossible. It’s best to be prepared just in case.
