Regardless of terminology and semantics, and artificial classifications aside (I’m not saying that spitefully or anything, by the way: I know it can be challenging to tell tone in text, sometimes), a lot of rough stuff is going down all over. Despite their not initially seeming connected, everything is connected, at least on some level and somehow (I don’t mean that in a conspiracy way: just a fabric-of-life way). World War I was started because one guy was shot by a small band of rogues over some national/ethnic grudges—it’s really a challenge to say whether the planet is looking at a third world-war in the near-future, but it can be said that the risk level is very different than it once was. A lot of stuff in politics and the global scene tend to fizzle—I can’t recall the number of times in my politically-hyped days that it seemed like the world would burn, based on short-term events and hearing people talk on the television—all it ever got me was misery, worry, deception by mutually-crooked/bad sides, a blindness to nuance and the really important things in life, and a great deal of consternation and distressed-distraction, all due to things that never did and never would even remotely impact me or mine. With that being said, this stuff causes even my ears to prick up a bit, and that’s saying something. I’ve started filling out and finishing my kit for my region, even though things are a bit tight for me right now, and I’m usually a pretty chill, live-and-let live, what-will-be-will-be dude. I believe that, while such things will usually fizzle out eventually and not blow up like popular talkshows make them out to be for hype and views and promoting certain agendas, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared in a sound, calm way. Models for prepping and surviving vary from region-to-region and from situation-to-situation, so don’t take my word for it, but, for my region and situation, the model looks like this:

1.: water

2.: shelter

3.: food

4.: protection

The body can only go for three days without water, having no shelter leaves one vulnerable to weather-exposure and/or predators/parasites, food is important for also-obvious reasons, and it’s never a bad idea to have a reliable and sound level of defense (something traditional, like a blade or bludgeon, for reliability, quiet, and ferocity up-close, but a handgun for loud, intimidating displays and/or for ranged engagements [just keep in mind that those bullets will run out, eventually, and reloading bullets also relies on equipment and supplies which may not be accessible long-term, at which point the gun just becomes a very poor long-term substitute for a club]). I have prepared by knowing my region well, understanding the people and culture, knowing who to trust and what regions and/or people to avoid if things went down, by getting a full on-foot nomad-kit set up (light baggage [small backpack, chest-bag, light camping-gear, clothes, tools, some basic supplies, etc.), and weaponry. I am also an experienced martial-artist (traditional, but a kind that actually does full-contact and trains in weaponry, no worries), and a pretty good marksman; in addition, I have studied bushcraft extensively and lived in the wilderness for awhile, and I have studied a bit of urban-survival as well, just incase (although the cities would, likely, be a place to avoid, if a major SHTF event goes down). I have started a small stash of seeds that grow well in my area and are high-production, low-effort, and well-suited to my personal palette and knowledge of preparation, alongside some minor gardening-equipment that I can get things done and which I can easily carry with me, when and if I find somewhere to settle, so I feel pretty prepared for my area and situation. While I feel this is a good setup for my region, once again, your situation may be very, very different, so keep in mind that you definitely should NOT just take this comment on its own: research your region, your skills, and your comfort.