Real Life ‘The Walking Dead’ On The Way? Apocalypse Fears Have Some Families Already ‘Prepped’

It wouldn’t be hard for an alien race studying humankind to think that the people on Earth have an obsession with the apocalypse. After all, movies and the rest of pop culture are obsessed with the concept, whether that’s The Walking Dead or The Day After Tomorrow. There’s a whole range of things that people are afraid are ushering us into the end times.

But some people take it beyond just a mere fear that the apocalypse could, indeed, be nigh. There’s a group of people living in the United States who are actually prepping for what that fatal attack could be — Walking Dead-related or not. Salt Lake City father of six Braxton Southwick is one such “apocalypse prepper” who spoke to Sky News.

“I think that is what I’m scared of the most. Not the actual events. I’ve already prepared for that. It’s the aftermath, when there are no police, there are no military to protect us, we’re going to be protecting ourselves… Once people use up all their resources, they’re going to come after the people that prepared and had more resources. So basically we have to take care of ourselves.”

Families like Southwick’s have stockpiled food and weapons in the event of The Walking Dead taking over. Even his sizable clan could live for years in the event of an apocalypse. Other people have even profited from the rush for people who want to be in good shape should the world end. Jay Blevins had written several books on the subject, and even tours around to speak to other who want to learn the art of prepping.

“We’re not talking about folks walking around wearing tin foil on their heads. We’re not talking about conspiracy theorists. I’m talking about professionals: doctors and lawyers and law enforcement and military. Normal, everyday people. They can’t necessarily put their finger on it. But there’s something about the uncertainty of our times. They know something isn’t quite right.”

His converts agree. Another apocalypse prepper, Katy Bryson, says that economic woes are partially at play in The Walking Dead defense mechanism trend.

“They’re not in control of whether they lose their job or not but they are in control of whether they are prepared. So I feel like that’s why the industry is just booming right now for preparedness.”

It’s interesting to note that the apocalypse prepper culture is something distinctly American. After all, it’s a country built on rugged individualism. Barry Glastner, author of The Culture of Fear, notes that even that spirit may not be enough should The Walking Dead come to pass.

“Americans are fairly unique as world citizens in that we tend to believe that we control our own destiny as individuals to a much greater extent than we really do… Where there are real dangers, to take an individualistic approach is usually exactly the wrong thing to do. So the kinds of things that the preppers are preparing to protect themselves from are much better handled on a community-wide basis than they are in your own home.”

Do you think a real life Walking Dead scenario could bring about the apocalypse?

[Image via Flickr]