The day after Donald Trump was elected president in 2016, Eric Shonkwiler, an Ohio resident, assessed his hiking bag to see what supplies he had on hand. At the time, he didn’t know the term “bug-out bag,” but this marked the beginning of his journey into left-wing prepping for disaster preparedness. Today, Shonkwiler shares his home with his wife, a Pomeranian named Rosemary, a six-month supply of food and water, firearms, and chickens—all essential for surviving potential disasters. He sees these resources as bridges across crises.
Margaret Killjoy’s introduction to prepping came from a stark warning in 2016. A scientist friend alerted her to the precarious state of the global food system due to climate change. In response, she began stockpiling essentials like food, water, and generators, purchased a firearm, and started the podcast Live Like the World is Dying. Her goal: to foster a community prepared for emergencies.
Traditionally associated with right-wing ideologies, left-wing prepping for disaster preparedness is gaining traction among individuals who prioritize community and mutual aid over isolationism. As global crises multiply, this shift is reshaping the prepper landscape.
The Evolution of Prepping in America
Modern prepping in the United States traces its roots to the 1950s during the nuclear scare. The movement evolved in the 1970s with survivalism, which later dwindled in the 1990s due to its association with extreme-right ideologies. The term “prepper” gained wider use in the early 2000s, fueled by events such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2008 financial crisis.
While the election of Barack Obama in 2008 galvanized many right-wing preppers, Donald Trump’s victory in 2016 became a catalyst for left-wing individuals. Prepping today often stems from a general sense of fear rather than belief in a singular catastrophic event. Concerns include economic instability, pandemics, climate disasters, war, and terrorism—all of which have occurred in recent decades.
Sociologist Anna Maria Bounds highlights that these crises reinforce preppers’ distrust in the government’s ability to respond effectively. For Marlon Smith, a New Jersey-based prepper and survival instructor, this distrust began during an attempted coup in Trinidad in 1990. After moving to New York, events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina solidified his belief in self-reliance. Today, Smith balances his fashion business with teaching survival skills, including preparing for nuclear fallout.
A Diverse Prepper Landscape
The exact number of preppers in the U.S. remains uncertain. Estimates range from 5 million to over 20 million, according to researchers like Chris Ellis and Michael Mills. While most preppers lean conservative, a growing number of left-wing individuals are adopting preparedness. This shift is reflected in the rising popularity of left-wing prepping newsletters, social media channels, and courses.
For instance, Shonkwiler’s newsletter, When/If, experiences surges in subscribers whenever right-wing rhetoric dominates headlines. Similarly, Smith’s client base has diversified to include liberals seeking survival training. Although he avoids political discussions in his courses, this trend underscores the broadening appeal of prepping.
Left-Wing Preppers: A Focus on Community
Despite their political differences, preppers on the left and right share common practices: stockpiling food and water, gathering emergency supplies, and preparing for scenarios requiring evacuation or sheltering at home. However, left-wing preppers often reject the “bunker mentality” of individual survival in isolation.
For Killjoy, who lives in rural Appalachia, guns are part of her preparation but not her primary focus. As a transgender woman, she emphasizes community defense and mutual aid. When Hurricane Helene struck Asheville, North Carolina, in 2024, she loaded her truck with supplies to assist those affected. Similarly, Inshirah Overton, a New Jersey attorney, uses her half-acre plot to grow food and maintain beehives. She shares her harvest with neighbors, fostering a network of mutual support.
This emphasis on community aligns with growing concerns about the climate crisis. Unlike other disasters, climate change demands long-term, collective action. Brekke Wagoner, host of the Sustainable Prepping YouTube channel, prepares her North Carolina home for extreme weather while aiming to ensure her family’s needs are met so that emergency resources can benefit others.
The Human Connection in Times of Crisis
Left-wing preppers often see their actions as part of a broader effort to build a better world post-crisis. Shonkwiler envisions preparedness as the foundation for positive societal change. Similarly, Killjoy highlights moments of solidarity that transcend political divides. During the COVID-19 pandemic, even conservative preppers extended help across ideological lines, demonstrating a shared humanity in times of need.
While prepping is sometimes dismissed as doomsday paranoia, many preppers view it as practical planning for an uncertain future. The rise in natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, and economic instability has prompted individuals to reconsider their perceptions of preparedness. As Killjoy notes, the growing interest in prepping reflects a shift toward incorporating these practices into everyday life.
Conclusion: Building Resilience for the Future
Prepping, once a niche subculture, is becoming increasingly mainstream as people face escalating global crises. Whether motivated by political events, climate concerns, or personal experiences, preppers are united by a desire for self-reliance and resilience. Left-wing preppers, in particular, highlight the importance of community and cooperation, offering a hopeful vision of preparedness that goes beyond mere survival.
As Shonkwiler succinctly puts it, “What we need to be doing now is figuring out how we can survive in the world that we’ve created.”
