Where most well prepared individuals are ready for the high propensity emergencies, the survivalist applies the same thinking to less likely eventualities. Catastrophes that might affect the entire country, leaving no section unscathed. In addition the the normal emergencies of meteorology, geology or short term unrest they might include general economic and social collapse, a plague, a major meteor impact, a nuclear exchange or severe climatological change. When some people would stock 3 days or 3 weeks of food, the survivalist goes for 3 months or 3 years. He or she plans with the assumption that the transportation system may be crippled, money may lose its value, social disorder may become severe and that things may not soon return to normal.
Some survivalists plan to go it alone.
Others have formed very tightly knit groups. Many will be defending the homestead while some may have retreats in varying degrees of preparation. Most are not militia members or cammo clad Rambo wanna-bes, they're ordinary people with an extraordinary survival sense and very little faith in the government's ability to assist in a national catastrophe. Still, the main difference between preparedness and survivalism is just the probability, time frame and extent of what is being prepared for. Along with survivalism comes self suficiency and a revival of that hardy pioneer spirit that made this country great.