National Geographic recently premiered a new show (Okay, the poster says February but we got it a bit late in Asia). Doomsday Preppers features different people in America preparing for economic collapse, chemical attacks, hyperinflation and other reasons why the world as we know it will be no more. Its a compelling show, one that takes a survival show to a different level and leaves viewers to question how they themselves will fare against apocalypse when it arrives in this lifetime.

I found this show quite interesting mainly because of the unbelievable extent that these people go to — the amount of money and time that they spend hoarding food, learning survival techniques, preparing their bug out gear (In case you were wondering what to get, click here)– which is both admirable and shocking at the same time. At the end of the segment, experts give their assessment on the preparations made by the featured person/family and they are given advice on how to improve on their current state. NatGeo checks in with them after several weeks to see how they have integrated the experts’ advice to their preparations.

I kind of like this show mainly because I pick up some tips on how to extend food’s shelf life, as well as some tips to survive the end of the world should it happen tomorrow. It has also prompted me to assess my home for exactly how long we would survive apocalypse staying indoors. I would have to say — a week, tops, until we need to forage for food and other essentials to get by. And no, I am not killing my cats for food should any of these events happen. It would break my heart.

Anyways, while I am awed by the sheer amount of effort that these people put to ensure their survival during disasters and am in no way judging them for their point of view, I still think that the amount of food that some of them hoard is over the top. One of the featured families has a container van full of food that will last 22 people an entire year. I think that its quite excessive especially since there are a lot of people in the world who cannot afford to have a single meal at present. If it were up to me, I would much rather share a portion than risk having some of the food spoil in the long run.

The show is kind of bleak in this sense. It would seem that these people, in preparing for the worst, have allowed themselves not to live in the present but in a future as depressing as those depicted in the movies. For me, my strategy would much rather be prepare enough only for a regular disaster (because food is mostly perishable anyway) and store food that has a long shelf life. If and when the time comes, I would much rather spend the last days foraging for food so long as my family stays together and try to survive as a decent human being. I know this is an idealistic view, and I would probably die in less than a week outside unlike these preppers, but that is what I would try to do as long as I can afford to. Sue me. Again, I will not kill my cats. So hopefully, apocalypse does not come at all.