Preparing For The Apocalypse

Phil Burns pulls a gun from his backpack full of survival supplies at his home in American Fork, Utah, December 14, 2012. While most preppers discount the Mayan calendar prophecy, many are preparing to be self-sufficient for threats like nuclear war, natural disaster, famine and economic collapse. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Phil Burns demonstrates the air purifying SCape Mask at his home in American Fork. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Phil Burns inventories some of the gear in a backpack full of survival supplies at his home in American Fork. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Hugh Vail cuts firewood at his home in Bountiful. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Freeze dried meals and emergency food rations, which are a staple of preppers, fill the racks at Grandma's Country Foods in Sandy. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Paul Seyfried climbs into a bunker he is constructing for a client at Utah Shelter Systems in North Salt Lake. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Paul Seyfried climbs into a bunker he is constructing for a client at Utah Shelter Systems in North Salt Lake. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Hugh Vail inventories his food storage at his home in Bountiful, Utah. Jim Urquhart/REUTERS

Mike Holland reviews his stock of dry food storage in a trailer at the Holland family property in Warrenton, North Carolina December 13, 2012. Prepper Mike Holland lives with his wife, four children and three other men on their 13 acre property where they raise, chickens, turkey, goat and a cow for milk. In addition to livestock they also have a greenhouse and a few trailers that house food storage including multiple freezers. Outside of food preparations Holland has ammunition and firearms, a safe room, security cameras and a military grade generator for power. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS

Jeff Nice repairs a tractor disk at his farm in Kinston. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS

James Blair cleans chickens after a slaughter at the Holland family property in Warrenton. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS

Jeff Nice empties his boot of dried corn at his farm in Kinston. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS

A pen rests on a notepad with a list of chores at the Nice family farm in Kinston. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS

Mike Holland dips a chicken in a pot of boiling water at the Holland family property in Warrenton. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS

Mike Holland looks over as a chicken is run through the plucker after being slaughtered at the Holland family property in Warrenton. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS

Chickens are seen in one of two freezers at the Nice family farm in Kinston. CHRIS KEANE/REUTERS