Are Preppers Deluded?

The New York Times has a provocative column by Kit Dillon on preppers and what we really need during an emergency. He takes as paradigmatic the prepper obsession with "bug-out bags" — what do you pack when the SHTF: the water tablets, the medicines, the bandages, the tools and weapons and gear you would need to survive a general collapse of civilization.

I think Dillon is correct that these kinds of preparations can become an unending rabbit hole, especially if they are conceived of as individual projects. Ultimately, humanity depends on the division of labor. Dillon emphasizes that our best prep is being known and well-liked and surrounded by a community of capable neighbors. He writes:

What I’ve learned, across every one of these close calls and near misses, is that what keeps us safe isn’t the stuff we pack or stockpile; it’s the community we build before calamity strikes. At a time when Americans are increasingly isolated from one another, we must see our ties with our neighbors as essential preparation for the future ahead.

But I think most preppers of any serious sort have internalized this already. They know that their stockpiles would be shared if they are needed. A bug-out bag is useful if you have a localized disaster and really need to bug out quickly — say, a nuclear plant meltdown, a wildfire, or a flood.

I think the prepper community is good for helping people think through some of their dependencies on modern technology, or on supply chains that can be disrupted. I think most people could benefit from just reading the various lists of supplies that it might be important to have on hand in an emergency. Or simple plans to have. Do your kids know where to meet you outside the house in case of a fire? Do you have medical supplies and some basic first aid training?

Yes, preppers often go overboard in imagining that civilization itself will fall apart for an extended length of time. But most of us could review the basics. Do we have a way of cutting through a seat belt after a crash or if your car were knocked into a body of water? Do you have a solid reminder of when to check your gas and smoke alarms?