Having "lived through" several end-of-the-world predictions, it is still a little un-nerving whenever another one pops up. But I think there are still good things to be had from these kinds of events.
First of all, for me anyway, it makes one take a good look at your lifestyle and choices - I mean, if we do survive some cataclysmic event - what about being able to survive AFTERWARDS?
After - when there is no power, no gas, no stores, no medicine. If you woke up and all the modern day convenience were gone... could you and your family survive? And I mean, without taking from others!
Even though I generally do not hold with doomsdayers, I do strongly believe in preparedness - for anything! Regardless of what circumstance may cause TEOTWAYKI (finally had to look up what the heck this meant LOL - then it was obvious from the song... now of course, I can't get the song out of my head!!!), other than, like a Zombie Apocalypse (this one gets me giggling the most), it is not an impossibility that something COULD happen.
Depending on what part of the world you live in, you may even prepare for a natural disaster already - power outages are known to last for days in the east, tornadoes in the midwest, hurricanes along the coast, floods - alot of people are proactive and prepare emergency food, water, medical supplies, etc, for disasters that could/have occurre(d) in their area. Urban survival is something I do not even want to contemplate!
Here in Idaho we do not have alot to worry about. We do get minor quakes rarely, and live between two active/semi active volcanic areas (Mt. St. Helens and Yellowstone), but we do not have hurricanes or tornadoes, and only have flooding issues along rivers.
Extended power outages are rare. Forest wildfires can be a threat during the summer if you live in such an area.
All in all, Idaho is a pretty safe place to reside! However, it is my personal intent to make sure, IF anything happens, my family has a chance to survive AFTER the initial event (should we surive that!). We will know how to grow and raise our food, to hunt, forage and harvest our wild resources, to cook and live without electricity, gas powered conveniences and running water.
My kids have already learned alot this last year of being back on the farm. They have learned to care for our livestock, to provide for their needs on a daily basis. They have learned how to butcher chickens and turkeys, gather eggs, hunt, and have started to learn how to preserve the food we get.
This coming year I am going to re-introduce them to gardening (on a bigger scale!), harvesting more wild game and foods, preserving more and with different methods (canning, drying, smoking, etc), and introducing them to new livestock: cows, pigs and maybe ducks or sheep.
Our son has indicated an interest in turkey hunting, and I have a friend who has offered to take me bear hunting. We are also going to do alot more fishing this year and I am hoping to make some smoked fish!
We are still going to strive for more natural, healthy foods, organic and non-GMO for ourselves and our livestock.
I have a good feeling about this year. I think good things are going to happen if we strive for them, work hard for them and believe in them. It is my honest and sincere hope that good things are in store for all of us and our nation.