If prepping were divorced from reactionary doomsday scenarios it would be much cooler. It’s not that different than people who fantasize about being the “good guy with a gun”.
I get that it's fascinating, but the "bunker prepper" argument has no place in a good-faith discussion of emergency preparedness.
[Edit: added "private" to address some irrelevant rebukes below.]
uhm? Ever heard of Zwitserland?
Finland and Sweden were also big on fallout shelters.
In the PNW of the US, there are many thriving prepper communities of all political persuasions and I find that the vast majority of them are not doomers, and in fact, try to avoid doomers and satirize them.
But now we have major, extended weather-related events once or twice a year (wildfires and winter storms). And then there was the pandemic.
So now, it's a mission-critical thing.
"No we are not going to be in a Mad max world in 2 years!"
When it happens at the atomic level, the larger government elements aren't really supplying timely assistance or even functional law enforcement.
Most long term preppers advocate for a deeper pantry, so a few months instead of a few weeks, a few gallons of water in a shed. A focus on personal health as there is no point hoarding guns if you cannot run 100 meters. Increase personal skills that can be useful in a time of disruption such as basic medical aid. And community, that is key - "If you want to fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go with others." African proverb
A lot of them point out about how the stereo type of the food hoard on your own land with a small military of guns is foolish. That even if the worst case Zombie situation did arise, that just makes you a target for others and would have to become endlessly paranoid just to maintain a terrible lifestyle.
Interesting that you chose this example when nearly every socialist/communist revolution that has ever happened in history started with mass murder.