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As the flu continues to ramp up there are still many other Doomsday scenarios that are permeating the news this week. If you have a favorite end to the world, chances are you can get a taste of its possibilities if you watch the news. In the United States, we still have concerns over our agriculture, a volcanic mega-eruption and worry over the state of the economy. Perhaps this is no different than any year, but the possibilities are enough to fuel Doomsday Preppers and their planning for how to survive the worst case scenario. In the event of a wide-scale natural disaster, a super virus or even a debilitating an economic-failure, preppers have it handled. Do you?
Drought Declared Natural Disaster
On January 9th, the USDA declared 597 counties in 14 states as primary disaster areas due to the ongoing drought. About 80 percent of agricultural land experienced drought in 2012, which made the 2012 drought more extensive than any since the 1950s. According to the USDA:
- The drought rapidly increased in severity from June to July and persisted into August. As of September 12, over 2,000 U.S. counties had been designated as disaster areas by USDA in 2012, mainly due to drought.
- As of August 14, 60 percent of farms are located in areas experiencing drought.
- Based on the 2011 value of production, at least 70 percent of both crop production and livestock production is in areas that are experiencing at least moderate drought as of August 14.
- Severe or greater drought is impacting 67 percent of cattle production, and about 70-75 percent of corn and soybean production.
- More than 80 percent of the acres of major field crops planted in the United States are covered by Federal crop insurance, which can help to mitigate yield or revenue losses for covered farms.
While this drought is considered a D2, the second level on a scale that increases in intensity from D1 to D4, is does make many question what will happen in years of extreme drought. Doomsday Preppers have a plan. Have you thought about where you would get food in extreme situations?
CDC Declares Flu a Classic Epidemic
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) surveillance of the current outbreak of influenza and resulting pneumonia indicate that the virus is at epidemic level. Last week, 7.3% of all deaths reported through the 122 Cities Mortality Reporting System were due to pneumonia and influenza. This percentage was slightly above the epidemic threshold of 7.2%. The influenza vaccine issued for this flu season is currently showing to be 62% effective again this year’s strain of the virus, making it only moderately effective. Those getting the vaccine still have a four in ten chance of contracting the flu if exposed. However, the experts note that getting the vaccine can still reduce the severity of the illness.
Documentarian Suggests Yellowstone Eruption Inevitable
How likely is that Yellowstone will have a mega-eruption? One Canadian documentarian feels it is very likely and thinks that Canada should take note. The documentary Supervolcano: Yellowstone’s Fury premiered on the Canadian Broadcast Corporation this January. The film which was directed by Dave Brady, a documentary writer and producer asserts that it is not a matter of ‘if’ the Yellowstone supervolcano will erupt, but ‘when’. Yellowstone Park sits above a supervolcano, the Yellowstone caldera which is a large flat area 55 by 72 km wide in the northwest corner of Wyoming. The geothermal activity under the park gives us the most famous geyser in the world, Old Faithful, but also has menacing possibilities. An eruption at the level the volcano is capable of at its worst could trigger a volcanic winter, choking the continent with ash and killing millions of people. The eruption could make most of North America uninhabitable. Will it happen? Brady’s documentary points to signs that an eruption could be coming and is in fact overdue. While some viewers feel this is alarmist, there are Doomsday Preppers who take the possibility of a volcanic winter very seriously. There is no question that disaster can strike without warning, however, especially on a smaller scale. Do you have your emergency kit ready?
High Cost of Natural Disasters
According to the CoreLogic® 2012 Natural Hazard Risk Summary and Analysis report, 2011 was a year of record-breaking destruction and overall, 2012 was a year of less damage than the previous one. The report provides a synopsis of the most significant catastrophic natural hazard events as a means to prepare for future events. In some locations, 2012 tornadoes, wildfires, freshwater flooding and hurricane surge still caused record local damage and destruction. The nine million acres that were burned in wildfires was the highest number since 1960. The single-most destructive disaster in the United States during 2012 was hurricane Sandy, which impacted 5 million people and had an economic impact as high as $50 billion dollars. Preparation is the key to recovery in major disaster, but at what point will economic recovery not be feasible?
For those who worry about economic collapse, the cost of a year with numerous natural disasters is something to consider. How much disaster can an economy withstand before collapse? Some Doomsday Preppers would argue that a collapse is inevitable. On this week’s Doomsday Preppers: In the Hurt Locker a prepper known as Snake Blocker is convinced a coming economic collapse will result in social chaos. Will Snake Blocker and his crew of preppers weather an economic collapse. Tune in to Doomday Preppers Tuesday 9Pm et/pt and decide for yourself.
