Nuclear bunker sales increase amid rising concern of catastrophic events
Have you ever thought about building a private bunker to live through a catastrophic event? A new report shows that sales for survival shelters are on the rise, continuing a trend that’s been a part of history for years.
New numbers from BlueWeave Consulting show the market for U.S. bomb and fallout shelters is expected to grow from $137 million last year to $175 million by 2030.
Recently, people have taken interest in building shelters on their property due to the rising threat of nuclear attacks or civil unrest.
Ron Hubbard, the owner of Atlas Survival Shelters in Sulpher Springs, Texas said he’s continued to see an uptick in sales since the COVID-19 lockdown with his sales more than doubling in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic.
“People are uneasy and they want a safe place to put their family. And they have this attitude that it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it, not have it,” Hubbard told The Associated Press.
However, not everyone is on board with bunkers. Critics said they create a false perception that a nuclear war is survivable, arguing those planning to live through an atomic blast aren’t focusing on the real dangers posed by nuclear threats.
Government disaster experts also said bunkers aren’t necessary. FEMA recommends simply staying inside, ideally in a basement and away from outside walls.
History of bunkers
The long past of bunkers started with protecting military members against bombings and nuclear attacks. During World War II, they sheltered troops and civilians, followed by the Cold War era when the fear of nuclear warfare led to building numerous public and private bunkers.
The Sept. 11 attacks then reignited interest in bunkers becoming more modern and providing amenities such as swimming pools, theaters and wine cellars.
There’s been a significant increase in the number of wealthy people investing in elaborate doomsday bunkers, a trend driven by a growing sense of insecurity about the future.
Doomsday Clock set at 90 seconds to midnight for 2nd year
The apocalypse is nearing, at least according to atomic scientists and their Doomsday Clock. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the science-oriented nonprofit organization, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, set the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight for the second year.
This is the closest to the hour of midnight the clock has ever been in its 77 years, with midnight representing the hour when the Earth will become unlivable. The scientists set the clock each year based on what they call “existential” risks to the planet and humans. The group said this year, the concerns were centered on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, nuclear threats, climate change, and the rise of artificial intelligence.
“The risks of last year continue with unabated veracity and continue to shape this year,” said Rachel Bronson, Bulletin President and CEO. “Today, we once again set the Doomsday Clock to express a continuing and unprecedented level of risk, it is 90 seconds to midnight.”
The atomic scientists said the clock, which was created in 1947, is meant to warn the public that change is needed to keep the world stable. Since its inception, the clock has moved 25 times. It first moved in 1949, from 7 minutes to midnight to 3 minutes to midnight, in response to the Soviet Union testing its first nuclear weapon. Following the Cold War and the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty the clock moved to 17 minutes to midnight, which marks the furthest from midnight the clock has ever been.
“Make no mistake: resetting the Clock at 90 seconds to midnight is not an indication that the world is stable,” Bronson said. “Quite the opposite. It’s urgent for governments and communities around the world to act. And the Bulletin remains hopeful—and inspired—in seeing the younger generations leading the charge.”
Trump wins New Hampshire Republican primary: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 24, 2024
With a commanding lead, former President Donald Trump is declared the winner in New Hampshire. And scientists put out a grave warning as the Doomsday Clock nears midnight. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Jan. 24.
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“Well, I want to thank everybody,” former President Donald Trump said. “This is a fantastic state. This is a great, great state. You know we won New Hampshire three times now, three, three.”
With 91% of the estimated vote in as of late Tuesday night, Jan. 23, Trump held a double-digit lead over Haley, with the former president at 54% and the former U.N. ambassador at 43%. While she came in second, following her third-place finish in last week’s Iowa caucuses, Haley said despite her critics claiming the race is over, she is not going anywhere.
“I have news for all of them. New Hampshire is first in the nation; it is not the last in the nation,” Haley said.
On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden won thanks to a write-in campaign since the president did not put his name on the ballot following a disagreement between the Democratic National Committee and New Hampshire Democrats. Biden and the DNC see South Carolina as the state to hold the first Democratic primary in the country. That primary will take place on Feb. 3, 2024.
There was also a shakeup in Biden’s reelection campaign on Tuesday. Two White House aides are moving over to help run his reelection bid.
US military strikes Iran-backed militia groups in Iraq and Yemen
As tensions in the Middle East continue to grow, the U.S. announced it had struck targets in Yemen and Iraq on Tuesday, Jan. 23. According to U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces conducted strikes in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen after locating two anti-ship missiles aimed at the Southern Red Sea, determining they posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and Navy ships.
A short time earlier, at the direction of President Joe Biden, U.S. forces conducted strikes in Iraq targeting Iran-backed groups, including the Kataib Hezbollah Militia, in response to an attack on U.S. forces that injured four Americans at al-Asad Airbase on Saturday, Jan. 20.
According to reports, the militia group launched a barrage of missiles at the base, two of which made it through defense systems, making it the most serious attack on the base this year by the militia group. According to Central Command, U.S. strikes hit the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah’s headquarters, training facilities, and some munitions storage areas.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called the strikes in Iraq a direct response to attacks on U.S. personnel, while the Iraqi prime minister called the strikes an irresponsible escalation and considered them to be “hostile acts.”
Turkey approves Sweden’s NATO membership after months of delay
Sweden’s chances of becoming a member of NATO became even more of a possibility on Tuesday, Jan. 23, thanks to Turkey. Turkish legislators endorsed Sweden’s membership with a vote of 287-55 after having delayed it for over a year.
Turkey had accused Sweden of being too lenient toward groups deemed by Turkey as security threats. Over the past year, Sweden has altered its anti-terrorism laws. The Swedish prime minister responded on “X,” saying, “Today we are one step closer to becoming a full member of NATO.”
U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this was welcomed news, calling Sweden a “strong, capable defense partner” and adding that bringing Sweden into NATO will make the alliance “safer and stronger.” This leaves Hungary as the only NATO ally to not yet ratify Sweden’s accession. NATO requires unanimous approval from all members to add another country.
Doomsday Clock set to 90 seconds to midnight
The apocalypse is nearing, at least according to atomic scientists and their Doomsday Clock. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the science-oriented nonprofit organization, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, set the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight for the second year.
This is the closest to the hour of midnight the clock has ever been in its 77 years, with midnight representing the hour when the Earth will become unlivable. The scientists set the clock each year based on what they call “existential” risks to the planet and humans. The group said this year, the concerns were centered on the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, nuclear threats, climate change and the rise of artificial intelligence.
Netflix adds 13.1 million subscribers, beating Wall Street expectations
Netflix has reasons to celebrate Wednesday morning, Jan. 24, announcing it has gained millions of subscribers and surpassed Wall Street expectations. The streaming giant said on Tuesday, Jan. 23, it added 13.1 million subscribers in the fourth quarter, nearly 5 million more than expected.
This brings the total number of its paid subscribers to 260.8 million, which is more than any of its streaming competition. Netflix said its crackdown on password sharing is a success, making sure those who enjoy the service are paying for it too. The company said its focus is on expanding its entertainment offerings, from live events to sports content to video games, and increasing its advertising business.
The nominations for the 96th annual Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday, Jan. 23, and as usual, there were plenty of surprises, as well as some significant snubs. Christopher Nolan’s three-hour blockbuster “Oppenheimer” led the field with 13 nominations, including best picture and director and acting nominations for Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt.
The film’s partner in this past summer’s “Barbenheimer” craze, “Barbie,” the top-grossing film of the year, garnered eight nominations, including best picture and two for acting. However, “Barbie’s” director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie were both left out of their respective categories. Ryan Gosling, who was nominated, called out the snubs and said they were the two people “most responsible for the history-making globally celebrated film.”
Speaking of history, Lily Gladstone, the star of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” became the first Native American nominated for best actress. The 2024 Oscars air on March 10 on ABC.
Study: Australia, New Zealand best suited to survive an apocalypse
The Doomsday Clock, which symbolizes the likelihood of a global catastrophe, is ticking closer to disaster. In light of this, researchers from the Risk Analysis Journal have published a study comparing 38 island countries on 13 factors that could predict success as a post-nuclear apocalypse survival state.
Researchers wrote there would “likely be pockets of survivors around the planet in even the most severe” scenario. Those in the most resilient nations stand the best chance of avoiding a pre-industrial collapse, as reported by the Guardian.
Australia emerged as the top pick, with the study citing its relatively strong infrastructure, energy surplus and massive food supply as potential factors for feeding tens of millions of extra people. However, researchers did note that Australia’s close military ties with the West could make the country a potential target in a nuclear war.
Nuclear-free New Zealand was also a top pick due to its remote location and oceanic surroundings, which could protect it from extreme temperatures. Other countries highlighted as safe options to reboot civilization in the aftermath of a global collapse include Iceland, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
Doomsday Clock now 90 seconds to midnight amid nuclear threats
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved its Doomsday Clock from 100 seconds to midnight to 90 seconds to midnight Tuesday. According to the bulletin, 90 seconds is “the closest to global catastrophe” the Doomsday Clock has ever been.
Areas of concern that led to the moving of the clock include:
“The Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moves the hands of the Doomsday Clock forward, largely (though not exclusively) because of the mounting dangers of the war in Ukraine,” the bulletin said in a news release. “Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the conflict—by accident, intention, or miscalculation—is a terrible risk.”
The clock, which is assessed each January, had been set to 100 seconds to midnight since 2020. The change to 100 seconds was notable as it was the first time the proximity to midnight was described in seconds.
“I said at that time ‘we are faced by a gathering storm of extinction-level consequences and time is running out,’” bulletin board member and former Irish President Mary Robinson said Tuesday. “Little did I know then that the gathering storm of threats would also include the devastating COVID-19 pandemic… and the illegal invasion of a sovereign state by a nuclear-armed and permanent member of the UN Security Council.”
Sivan Kartha, a bulletin board member and scientist at the Stockholm Environmental Institute, added natural gas prices pushed to new heights by the war had also forced companies to turn to coal as an alternative power source. This further exacerbated the climate crisis, according to the bulletin.
“Global carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels, after having rebounded from the COVID economic decline to an all-time-high in 2021, continue to rise in 2022 and hit another record high,” Kartha said. “With emissions still rising, weather extremes continue, and were even more clearly attributable to climate change.”