Are there any “Survivalists” in Winchester and would they admit to being one?

In Fort Worth, Texas, Jack Spirko is one. He owns a media company, has a nice house and family and considers himself to be an ordinary joe.

But for the past few years he has been stockpiling food, water, fuel and guns and ammunition in addition to vast quantities of red wine, coffee and deodorant.

Is he crazy?

Well he describes himself as a “stark raving mad Libertarian” and is part of a growing movement of people in the States who saw 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and other disasters as a wake-up call and are preparing for a disaster be it natural, economic or man-made.

There are Internet sites devoted to survivalism that often refer to scenarios like TEOTWAWKI “the end of the world as we know it”.

Many devotees are closet survivalists not wishing to be seen as crazy nevertheless they continue to stockpile, even building shelters where they can go in the event of TEOTWAWKI.

This movement has done wonders for suppliers of storable foods.

One such retailer in Texas reported a single day’s sales of $31,000 of dehydrated and canned foods. He says his special of “one-year food supply for a family of four” is becoming very popular at a price of $4,000.

He comments: “I think to have anything less than a month’s supply is foolish. People should stop watching American Idol et al and start paying attention to what is going on in the world.”

Words of warning indeed. Only in America? Who knows!!!