'Preppers' have endured years of mockery. Coronavirus fears have given them a booming self-survival business.

CNN ^ | 3/7/2020 | Emma Reynolds

[Carriage Hill]

Do you have your "bug-out bag" (BOB) ready for when the "s*** hits the fan" (SHTF), or will you "bug in" for "the end of the world as we know it" (TEOTWAWKI)?

This jargon is well understood within niche "prepper" communities, whose members spend their lives preparing for impending Armageddon -- natural disasters, pandemics or financial collapse.

And the ideas that drive this culture are becoming increasingly mainstream as coronavirus panic sees people across the world stockpiling rations, sourcing gas masks and self-isolating at home.

Now, "civilians" are turning to expert preppers in droves for help in getting ready for the worst.

[zeugma]

“Preppers” generally get a bad rap from the press, even though the government itself, through FEMA and other orgs, actually encourages folk to plan for bad times. Yeah, folk can go overboard with it, but it is definitely worse to be under prepared than over prepared, because the over prepared folk can help out others.

[the OlLine Rebel]

This is all overblown.

Still not seeing a real alarming scenario with this virus. Still looking like minor expected complications for more vulnerable demographics and death rate. And seems so flu-like that many more probably never reported it but simply got over it.

So, I’m not seeing any great vindication of preppers yet.

[Vaduz]

CNN: Everybody make a cave............................

[aimhigh]

Ruger stock has dropped from $54 to $39 per share. If you can time the bottom, it’s beginning to look like a good investment.

[Carriage Hill]

I’ve converted over a dozen to my “prepping ways” over the past few years, but many resisted, so I gave up on them. They’ll find out the hard way, as so many will do, *when* it happens on a large scale.

[Carriage Hill]

In 2012, I bought 5,000 shares of RGR at $7 or $8/share, and sold it in the mid-40s a couple years ago, so it’s a solid investment stock.

[Carriage Hill]

I hope you’re right, but I don’t think we’ve even seen the upside of the bell-curve, yet. Hope I’m wrong.

[Carriage Hill]

I started back in 2010, and have added to my considerable supplies, ever since.

[Carriage Hill]

I rotate mine every 6mos.

[Carriage Hill]

Either History or Discovery had an 8-part series on them, so they’d be easy to track down.

[Carriage Hill]

I don’t do that. My supplies are for me and my family, only.

[Lurker]

“Expert” preppers don’t talk about their preps.

L

[Psalm 73]

"They’ll find out the hard way..."

That's why I try to keep it as low key as possible - lessens the chance I may have to shoot someone.

[The Toll]

“’Preppers’ have endured years of mockery.”

Not to their face they haven’t.

[dfwgator]

The Shelter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPtFIJLmrKs

[Black Agnes]

Proper prepping prevents panic!

[Carriage Hill]

I remember that episode from back in the 60s.

[Carriage Hill]

Good point. Not on my bucket list, either.

[dfwgator]

It’s a great illustration of human nature.

[Carriage Hill]

No one’s mocked me, because no one’s seen my preps.