Ready for Disaster? 'Preparedness Movement' Members Say They Are

If things get really bad, he'll dig into his supply of sealed nitro-packed food that's meant to last for decades. Even with all of this food, he'd prefer to have another six months' worth of supplies.

"That would make me sleep better," he said.

Prepared or Pessimistic?

Souza doesn't call himself a "survivalist" but rather a member of the "preparedness movement."

He was one of the few people who agreed to speak on camera. He said others, including his stepson, are worried they'll become targets for people in need after some future calamity.

Back at Tom Brown's East Coast survival school, the students include a retired banker.

"I am aware that things could get out of hand," Larry Scharff said. "And I do believe these classes would assist me in being prepared."

Brown isn't sure oil is the problem. He's worried about global warming, among other issues.

But the point, he says, is the same.

"You have to look at the earth as an island -- kind of like Easter Island where they ran out of wood and literally died. That is going to happen here if we're not careful."