This Feb. 8, 2013 photo shows Guardian Survival Gear's Elite Survival Kit features food, water, shelter and hygiene items for one person for 24 hours in Boise. Emergency preparedness is nothing new - it's a tradition in the Mormon religion and, for many others, a routine activity, like seeing the dentist. Organizations from the Boy Scouts to government agencies encourage people to be prepared for emergencies with water, food and first-aid kits. But there's a growing subculture of people who want to be prepared for the collapse of American democracy and civilization. Sometimes called "preppers," these apocalyptic types are a market for survival businesses. (photo: AP/Katherine Jones)
