2012 End of the World Survival Guide

By Meaghan Olson

With all the post-apocalyptic movies coming out, chances are, you’ve thought about the end of the world at some point. Whether it comes about via zombies, plague or nuclear war, could you survive the End?

The end of the world may wipe out some national currencies, but it may not necessarily wipe out your debt. With the tips here, you'll be set, not only to make it through an Apocalypse, but anything else that might come your way!

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Possible 2012 End of World Scenarios Include:

Mayan End of the World

• The Mayan calendar ends on December 21, 2012, which some feel indicates the world will end that day.

Polar Shift

• The Earth flips its poles every so often and some feel that we’re due for a switch.
• The pole reversal could cause volcanoes, tsunamis and other disasters.
• Our poles reverse polarity about every 250,000 years. Last flip = 780,000 years ago.

Nuclear War

• This is often the number one theory in the U.S. as to how the world will end.
• There are over 20,000 nuclear warheads in the world.

Biological Disaster

• Plagues have a historical reputation of wiping out civilizations and bioweapons do exist.
• It’s possible for any viral or bacterial infection to spread across the entire world within a couple of days.

Ice Age

• The world has had several ice ages before.
• Despite technology, if an ice age approached too quickly, many areas would be destroyed.

Alien War

• Are aliens planning an Earth takeover?
• 20% of people believe aliens already live amongst us

Zombie Virus Outbreak

• Is it just the stuff of science fiction or could a cannibalistic virus take us all down?

Will Money Matter?

Keeping cash on hand won’t matter if no one will accept it, so what should you know about currency in times of major upheaval?

• Over the years, more money has been printed than there is gold to back it.
• Some feel that the US will run out of gold for the December 21, 2012 predicted end of the world, in which case, money will merely be bits of pretty paper.
• Natural disasters can have a major impact on the economy.
• If a world-wide series of disasters were to occur, there would be no funds to aid countries suffering.
• Repairs would be non-existent in many areas.
• Big banks and other corporations may still be around even after a major catastrophe, so the end of the world may not a be cure-all for getting out of debt.
• Natural disasters tend to devalue a country’s currency.
• On a global scale, this would be extreme, to the point of money not being worth much at all.
• War can cause currencies to fluctuate drastically in the countries involved.
• Money may be worth nothing one day and much more the next.
• In any disaster that covers the nation, inflation is the first change, with goods and services becoming very expensive.
• Bottom line: Money may be useful for a while in an extreme, end of the world situation, but will rapidly lose its value. Make sure you have other things to trade!

Trading Skills and Goods

What will be most useful when the world ends? Skills are always a better choice than goods, since you’ll eventually run out of things like chocolate and cigarettes.

Trade Goods

• Food
• Fuel
• Seeds
• Water
• Medical Supplies

Skills

• Farming
• Hunting
• Construction
• Mechanics
• First Aid
• Natural Medicine

Stocking Up the House

Your home is your fortress, so this is probably where you’ll hole up if things get bad, be it due to zombies or an alien invasion. You should have at least three days worth of food and water on hand in case of a smaller emergency, but if you want to be prepared for the long haul, keep adding to your stockpile to ensure you have enough.

Water

• Store 1 gallon of water per person, per day
• Keep purification tablets and filters on hand

Food

• Non-perishable food that doesn’t need to be cooked, such as canned vegetables, SPAM, tuna, granola bars, oatmeal, dehydrated fruits
• Multivitamins
• Pet food for your furry friends

First Aid

• Pain killers
• Bandages and gauze
• Antibiotics
• Disinfectants
• Eye cleaner
• Burn cream
• Blood-stopping agent
• Smelling salts

Clothing

• Keep extra warm and cold clothes on hand in an easy to reach place
• Extra durable shoes and boots
• Protective gloves
• Solar blanket
• Dusk mask or gas mask
• Goggles for eye protection

Tools

• Long nails, 2x4s and hammer to board up doors/windows
• Axe or chain saw
• Matches and lighters
• Utility knife
• Shovel
• Knife sharpener

Other Supplies

• Candles and solar or hand crank-powered flashlights
• Basic cooking equipment
• Sanitation supplies
• Hand crank-powered transistor radios to listen to news updates
• Can opener
• Propane tanks
• Books and board games to occupy the kids

Money and Documents

• Keep some cash on hand
• Copies of all important documents, such as birth certificates and passports
• List of phone numbers or contact info for family and friends

Weapons

• Rifle or shotgun
• Lots of ammunition

4 Best Weapons Against Zombies

• Axe
• Baseball bat
• Double edged sword or machete
• Guns with silencers

Alternative Shelter

Your home won’t be safe in many situations. A zombie infestation means relocating to the roof or trying to barricade all those windows you thought were a good idea and no one will make it in a nuclear fallout! Your best option? A fallout shelter.

• Buy ready-made to be prepared fast, for around $80,000.
• Build your own.
• The roof of the shelter should be at least 3 feet underground
• Must be safely ventilated
• Should have a shower so you can clean yourself of potential toxins
• Should be hidden so others do not know you’re down there
• Should have at least two entry/exit points

Is Your Car Ready?

Your vehicle will be your primary means of transport if you evacuate, so it can be helpful to have everything you need for the family for 72 hours in the car. This can also be useful if you are caught in an apocalypse situation while away from home. Keep your car topped up with gas, as well, so you can leave in a hurry, without worrying about line ups in gas stations.

Include basics from the lists above, including water, clothing and food.

Car Essentials

• Blankets or sleeping bags
• Flares
• Jumper cables
• Spare tires and tire repair kits
• Extra gas, stored safely

Best Vehicles for Post Apocalyptic Getaways

• You want a fuel efficient car since gas will be tough to get, but also one that can handle some off-roading if you need to get around traffic jams and zombie hordes.
• Top Picks
• 2010 Jeep Patriot - 25 mpg combined
• 2010 Subaru Outback - 24 mpg combined
• 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara - 22 mpg combined

No one really wants to suffer a disaster, much less the end of the world, but at least this way, you’ll be prepared!

Presented by Total Bankruptcy.