Survivalism
Survivalism is the philosophy and practice of preparing to survive emergencies through self-reliance, skills, and stored resources. At its heart is a mindset: you take ownership of your family's safety rather than assuming utilities and supply chains will always provide. Survivalism is the philosophy, and prepping is the hands-on practice that puts it to work.
You meet the term early in preparedness because it spans a wide range. At one end sits readiness for a three day power outage. At the other end is deep self-sufficiency for long term disruptions. Modern survivalism took shape during the Cold War, when civil defense programs urged families to stock food and water at home. Today hurricanes, wildfires, and long outages drive it, and that shift has moved it toward practical, family-centered readiness. Read how that shift is breaking the prepper stereotype.
Survivalism grows with your circumstances. If you have land, it can lead to homesteading. If money is your main worry, it shapes your economic preparedness. If you live on the road, it turns van life into a home built around self-reliance.
