I'm a Doomsday Preparer and Here's How You Could Survive a Nuclear Disaster as Ukraine-Russia Tensions Threaten World War III

A FORMER White House adviser turned doomsday planner has shared advice on how to survive a nuclear disaster or other world-ending event amid fears a Russian invasion of Ukraine could triggers World War III.

John Ramey, the founder of popular preparedness website The Prepared, urges Americans to start thinking rationally about the idea that at any moment society as we know it could completely collapse.

Such a societal implosion could be caused by nuclear war, catastrophic natural disaster or even the proliferation of AI technology, Ramey warned in an interview with The Sun, insisting that there is no no better time than the present to start planning for the end of the world.

“Not only are the threats [against our civilization] changing, but they are converging in ways our world has never seen before,” he said.

“So on top of all the historically normal things like wars, natural disasters, car crashes and inequality, we are now dealing with a dying planet and machines that can sincerely replace humans. »

Ramey, who was an innovation adviser to the Obama White House, said he had prepared for most of his adult life, citing 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina as "early events that had had an impact” on his beliefs.

But the longtime Silicon Valley entrepreneur has said for several years he was reluctant to come out as such due to the stigma and stereotypes surrounding the survivalist movement.

PREPARATION BECOMES GENERAL

In years past, preppers have been routinely stereotyped as paranoid, gun-toting, right-wing older white men, but lately prepping has become increasingly mainstream, attracting people from all walks of life.

For example, in 2013, about 3.7 million Americans identified themselves as survivalists. Fast forward to 2021, and that number is estimated to be between 10 and 20 million.

Ramey has also experienced firsthand the apparent surge in interest. Since the coronavirus pandemic hit in March 2020, his website The Prepared, which he created in 2018, has grown by 25%. time.

Explaining the apparent boom in interest, Ramey said: "It's swung into the mainstream because enough 'normal' people have seen what the world is like, like going through Trumpism, natural disasters more and more serious, the coronavirus and all the problems of climate change – and all the other data points show that we are going in the wrong directions.

“All these fears are rational. And the reward of preparation is proven,” he added.

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of pain – so it will naturally spread. »

Ramey, who identifies as one of the first preppers to come out of Silicone Valley, said he thought it was important to get "out there" because "it felt like there was a wall that had to be crossed” in the public perception of preparers.

"So many people like me have been preparing for a long time but felt the need to be locked up about it," he said.

“It didn't take long after people like me spoke out for those walls to come down. »

SOCIETAL COLLAPSE

Preparedness is certainly not a new phenomenon and its origins date back to the 1930s in the UK and US, where perceived threats included government policies during the Great Depression, threats of nuclear war after World War II and fears. of impending social and economic collapse.

Early members of the survivalist movement cited the Great Depression and the stock market crash of 1929 as examples of the need to be prepared for anything.

Several decades later, the threats to our society may have changed, but they remain just as pressing, if not more so, according to Ramey.

When asked what he thinks would be the most likely cause of societal collapse in the modern age, Ramey said it would likely be a combination of "the climate crisis causing things like migration mass, regional economic collapse and struggle for scarce resources, combined with mass economic inequality and institutional failure (e.g. democracy) leading to conflict created by Russia, China and others opponents.

“Maybe you sprinkle a pandemic on top of that too,” he added.

Contrary to stereotypes surrounding the survivalist movement, Ramey said he was not preparing for a zombie apocalypse and did not intend to hide in an underground bunker in the event of a nuclear event.

The former tech CEO said he, and other modern preppers like him, "don't focus on scenarios that aren't worth experiencing, to begin with."

“Nobody wants to be the last person on earth, in their bunker patting themselves on the back,” he said.

“Instead, we think the world is going to get much tougher over the next few decades than it has been over the past few. So the question is, "How do we get out of this?" «»

HOW TO PREPARE

To start preparing for a disaster, Ramey urges all would-be preparers to "ignore extreme things like nuclear bunkers" and start small, focusing on their biggest risks, which for most people, he says. , are personal health and finances.

“Once these basics are covered, such as an emergency fund with three months of expenses, you need to ensure that you are able to survive in your home without any utilities or outside help for at least two weeks. »

From there, Ramey suggests building an “escape bag” — a bag full of survival supplies such as food, water, medicine, radios and flashlights — in case of an emergency. emergency requiring rapid evacuation.

Ramey says all responsible members of society should start preparing to some degree, likening preparing for an emergency to buying home insurance or car insurance.

Where many Americans buy home insurance in case their house is on fire or buy car insurance in case of an accident, Ramey says the same logic should be applied to prepare for possible disasters, comparing this to the maintenance of a fund for rainy days. »

Dr. Alex Bitterman, a professor of architecture at Alfred State College in New York who studies the impact of extreme events on communities, agrees.

“There are two things that are very important,” he told Downtown Magazine last year. "The Boy Scouts of America, their motto has always been 'Be Prepared'. They taught young people to be prepared for anything.

“It's a very resonant part of our culture. Preparing is part of being an American – part of being able to support yourself. We are very proud to be a self-governing nation. »

Bitterman added: “The other thing, as we amplify the most extreme events, from terrorism to hurricanes to wildfires, storms and floods, snowstorms and extreme heat and cold, the way we build in this country is for a very stable climate – not for these massive flows. »

'FLATTENING THE CURVE'

Essentially what Ramey and Bitterman are saying is that individuals need to prepare for emergencies, especially natural disasters, because the systems in place to protect society are ultimately ill-equipped to do so on a large scale.

According to Ramey, preparedness is about "flattening the curve", meaning that the more self-sufficient an individual can become, the less likely they are to seek help, such as treatment in a hospital, and therefore the more the system will be able to to face.

He shares a slew of survival tips and survival product reviews on The Prepared for "rational preppers" - or people who like to calculate risk and see prep as a game.

Explaining the website's mission, Ramey said: "The Prepared teaches people how to prepare for life's inevitable disruptions, whether it's a car accident or job loss at events. major ones such as disasters and pandemics.

“We research and review equipment, and write guides to walk you through preparing and learning skills like first aid. It's also the largest community of mainstream preppers — people from all walks of life working to build the community and knowledge base, rather than bickering over culture war trash. »

WWIII FEARS

Ramey's call for action comes as an aggressive display of Russian force on Ukraine's eastern border has raised concerns among Western nations in recent weeks that an invasion is imminent - leading potentially to a multinational conflict.

Russia has already massed about 100,000 troops near Ukraine, and the State Department has ordered the families of all US embassy personnel in kyiv to leave the country.

The USS Harry S. Truman is now under NATO control for the first time since the end of the Cold War, while around 8,500 US forces have been put on 'enhanced readiness' as tensions escalate. intensify.

Isabel Sawkins, a researcher at the Henry Jackson Society, believes that any potential conflict in Eastern Europe would not be confined to its borders.

She told The Sun: “The crisis has the potential to spread its tentacles to every corner of the globe. »

Sawkins warned that Chinese President Xi would "watch" the Ukraine crisis unfold.

The expert added: “If Russia invades Ukraine, Xi will be emboldened to invade Taiwan. The idea of ​​being part of one nation is similar – Russia and Ukraine, and China and Taiwan.

Reports indicate that the United States could send up to 50,000 troops to Eastern Europe if the Ukraine crisis continues to deteriorate.

But, Biden is apparently reluctant to deploy forces to Ukraine because he doesn't want to get into another conflict — months after the Afghan crisis, according to The New York Times.

The White House has not yet made a decision on the deployment of forces in Ukraine.

Sawkins believes this week is crucial as the crisis continues to escalate, with Washington expected to issue a response to Moscow's assault within days.

She called on the West to present a united front, urging nations to make it clear that Russia must back down.

She said: “There is no unified effort. Putin knows he has managed to dig these kinds of crevices to essentially isolate parts of the West. »

Sawkins warned that if the West cannot unite on its strategy, a Russian invasion is "inevitable".

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