In the Beginning, ...

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

When did you wake up to the fragile nature of our complex society?

Was it urban riots like the one in Watts in 1964 or the one during the New York city blackout in 1977. How about the Miami riot in early 1980, another one again in Los Angeles in 1992, or was it the 2002 Cincinnati riot?

Was it a natural disaster such as a hurricane (Camille in 1962, Andrew in 1992, Katrina in 2005, the Schoolhouse Blizzard in 1888, the blizzard of 1978 and again in 2010, or the earthquakes 1811 in New Madrid, 1906 in San Francisco, or Northridge in 1994?

Was it a financial difficulty such as a financial depression, like the ones in 1857, 1929 and again in 1937, or maybe it was the recessions of '73, the early '80s, or the 90s?

Was it reading a book like Alas, Babylon in 1959, Warday in 1984 or One Second After in 2009 that put that nagging doubt in to your head?

Or is it a potential disaster that might be unfolding such as climate change, Peak Oil, the mass extinction of species, the massive volcano in Yellowstone, another New Madrid earthquake, or the collapse of the world's financial system?

Or could it be some fringe scenario like the Rapture in 2011, Mayan calendar ending in 2012, Zombies, or an alien invasion?

Either way,

Welcome to prepping and survivalism.

Link:
Wikipedia - Urban Riots
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_riots

Wikipedia - Hurricane Andrew
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew

Wikipedia - Hurricane Katrina
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina

The Post Chronicle - Biggest Hurricanes in History: The Top 14 Big, Bad Storms
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_212367849.shtml

Wikipedia - Schoolhouse Blizzard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schoolhouse_Blizzard

Wikipedia - North American Blizzards of 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_blizzards_of_2010

USGS - Largest Earthquakes in these United States
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/10_largest_us.php

The Amateur Economist - America's Great Depression: An Overview
http://www.amatecon.com/gd/gdoverview.html

Wikipedia - List of Recessions in these United States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recessions_in_the_United_States

Wikipedia - Alas, Babylon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alas,_Babylon

Wikipedia - Warday
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warday

Wikipedia - One Second After
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Second_After