I've seen the shows on TV but I was also wondering if they portray it accurately or they're blowing it out of proportion.
Definitely blowing it out of proportion.
For starters, none of us really prep for just "one" event. This is something the show does to make each segment interesting. Also, prepping isn't something we are doing 24/7. We have lives too, and enjoy life.
Most of us aren't doing this for any reason other than ensuring our family and loved ones are prepared for any event that can completely disrupt our lives, from the exotic like a zombie apocalypse, to the more realistic, like being laid off a job, etc.
For many of us here, it's also more about self-sufficiency, and finding ways to not have to depend on modern society's continual existence for everything. Much like our ancestors, we find we can do things like have gardens and livestock even while having more modern jobs, etc.
Example, my wife and I both work in offices all day, but we come home and have horses, chickens, rabbits, gardens, etc. For water, we have a well, so don't depend on city water, etc. Currently, this just supplements buying groceries of course, but in a SHTF situation, we'd like to think we could expand this to provide even more.
