New Trends in Reality TV

NATGEO Sets the Pace
If you haven't heard, there's a new TV show out there on the National Geographic (NATGEO) channel called "Doomsday Preppers." This show surveys the activities of regular Americans who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. The "end" can come about in many different ways from economic to natural disasters. All of these disasters have one thing in common - life that we know will change dramatically in a negative and scary way. People will have to become self-sufficient in order to survive! Day-to-day living will become quite different. No Big Government can help you!

The show illustrates what can happen when electrical power is cut-off in large cities for several days or weeks. People begin to riot, loot stores, rob other people, and even beat and kill for life-sustaining items like food and water. The program exemplifies modern day existence and our dependence on many things taken for granted. What would you do if the grocery store was empty? How could you take care of your family of you had to evacuate your home in 10 minutes? It makes you aware that most of us are unprepared for disasters. It also shows that civil unrest is a likely outcome when there is such a loss or when there is no food or water available in cities. What would you do under these conditions? Do you have a plan?

A common phrase used by Preppers is "when the Shit Hits The Fan" (WTSHTF or SHTF for short). They don't swear a lot, but use the acronym or just skip the swear word. Preppers are making themselves self-sufficient (stockpiling) in food, water, and the essentials and amenities for living without having a power grid available. They are learning new skills to be more efficient so they can help others in need. Many are learning about self-protection as well, because there won't be any police available.

Doomsday Preppers demonstrates that preppers will go to whatever measures they can in order to make sure that they are equipped for these uncertainties. Each show segment ends with an expert's assessment of the preparedness for the anticipated disaster. This is truly enlightening and helps viewers see whether the example makes any sense.

Check you TV listings for scheduled shows.

Doomsday Bunkers
The Discovery Channel hosts its own "Doomsday" show called "Doomsday Bunkers." This is the second reality show that has to do with the end of the world scenario. Doomsday Bunkers highlights a company called "Deep Earth Bunkers" in Texas. They custom build underground dwellings for Preppers and ship them to just about anywhere in the continental USA.

The company has a backlog of customers wanting them to build their special place for survival. It's amazing to see what individuals will pay for these structures and what amenities they want included into their new underground homes. Some are designed as homes while others are true bunkers with minimal amenities.

One thing they all have in common, is that they are underground shelters built for families and their survival in times of disaster. They are usually located in some isolated location away from cities. However, the show illustrated that one family had their shelter buried next to their home in the country.

Again, check you TV guide for local listings.

All In All
Some may think that the people highlighted in these shows are all crazy. Others may not. That's entirely up to you. Recent estimates indicate that over 25-30% of Americans are involved in Prepping and that number is growing. What these shows point-out clearly is that we as a society and as a civilization have become totally dependent on others (mainly big government) for our existence. Self-reliance is a thing of the past. Preppers are turning that around by revitalizing skill sets that have been long forgotten. They are learning or re-learning things to become independent.

So, are you ready for a REAL disaster like Hurricane Katrina? Do you have a plan to protect your family?