There are three schools of thought here:

(1) Prepare for anything, because you can’t predict what will happen in your lifetime

(2) Get ready for the most likely emergencies, disasters or apocalypse (singular, because There Can Be Only One … at a time), or

(3) Dedicate all your time, money and imagination to preparing solely for your Most Favorite Apocalypse, because the other types are lamer than a Justin Bieber concert—and if loving zombies is wrong, you don’t want to be right.

This matters because what you do to prepare for WATERWORLD: KEVIN COSTNER IS OPTIONAL is far, far different than if you expect a Mad Max wasteland next Tuesday after Kim Jong Il insults the bathroom décor at Mar-a-Lago and the Donald starts mashing buttons on the nuclear suitcase.

This great infographic by the BBC gives us a look at the entire universe of possible, probable and unlikely disasters:

Well done, BBC, just spot on. Terrifying, sure, but good.

Next week, let’s start going through all the major options.

What’s a fun fantasy that won’t happen? What’s the most likely and smart to prep for?

And how should you react to all this?

Previous posts:

• Chapter 1—You’re Doing It Wrong
• Chapter 2—Lone Wolf in a Bunker vs Nimble Nomad with Friends
• Chapter 3—Getting Around
• Chapter 4—One Backpack and a Pair of Hiking Boots
• Chapter 5—Yes, Any Sort of Apocalypse Means Looting the Mall
• Chapter 6—Suit Up with Seriously Practical Armor
• Chapter 7—Fire and Water
• Chapter 8—Blades, Bludgeons and Bad Ideas
• Chapter 9—Getting Real about Long Range Weapons
• Chapter 10—Prepping for Day 1 of Any Sort of ‘Pocalypse