A woman who has built a doomsday bunker has revealed how she has spent an extra £24,000 on new supplies amid the Russia-Ukraine war and cost of living crisis.
Rowan MacKenzie, 38, a homemaker from the US, recently hit the headlines after revealing she had a hidden bunker installed into her home and believes it necessary to prepare for the end of the world.
The ‘prepper’ began stocking up her cupboards 11 years ago and initially, bought long-life cupboard essentials, such as beans and rice, which she taught herself to preserve through trial and error.
As her stock grew, Rowan decided to spend $10,000 (£7,650) on having the created in her home her home, where she keeps food and water, as well as defence weaponry.
Now, as Putin’s war with Ukraine continues and a strain on other countries begins as a result, she’s taken to new measures to ensure her family are kept safe.
In total, she’s spent $20,000 (£15,300) on food, self-sustaining materials and weaponry – but with these new additions, she now believes the amount is close to $45,000 (£39,000).
“I’m preparing, as a whole, for war, inflation, nuclear disaster and all out chaos,” Rowan told NeedToKnow.Online.
“The price of everything here has gone up so much – but I need to ready myself and my family for a disaster situation.
“I’ve added a lot more food to the bunker and a new water filtration system, as well as some chickens and a turkey.
“We’ve also set up a large greenhouse, so we can start reproduction of more homegrown food. “It’s been necessary for us to add more ammo and weapons to the secret bunker as well.”
Rowan claims most of her stock will last up to 25 years and she has a “flawless” rotation system to ensure there isn’t any waste.
However, her biggest piece of advice? Stock up on weaponry.
She said: “The number one must for any bunker is defence.
“I would highly recommend having a few guns and knives in your bunker at all times, along with ample amounts of ammunition.
“You need to protect yourself, especially in a ‘dog-eat-dog’ situation.
“It’s kill or be killed and you need the best possible chance of survival. “Also, if meat becomes scarce, guns are good for hunting.”
In a bid to educate others about the importance of prepping, she regularly uploads videos on TikTok. In one of her most viewed clips, which has racked up 422,700 views and over 34,000 likes, she gives a tour around her secret bunker.
Across the video, the text reads: “It’s called preparation not hoarding!!!” as she walks around the stocked-up room.
Rowan begins with saying: “I was just told that I was a hoarder and it’s people like me, who make it hard for others to feed their children because I’m taking all the food off the shelves.”
She then asks people to do their research before making these comments, classing her efforts preparing, not hoarding.
She ends the clip with saying: “There’s a huge difference – I’m here to inform, I’m a good person, I’m a really giving person and I would never do anything to prevent a mother from feeding her child.”
Users have flocked to the comments to share their praise the prepper for her efforts.
Preppers don’t empty the shelves like many did last year.
They invest and stock up over time,” one person said. Another user added: “You’re smart. Your survival skills are awesome.
They’ll be the ones knocking at your door for food. Don’t let them in your house.”
“I’m a prepper and support you 100% but I would never show my food supplies,” someone else said.
Another person added: “I love your stockpile! I wish I had the space you do.”
“You’re right this is preparing! The unprepared and uniformed will suffer and die. Don’t let them get you down,” one viewer commented.
Rowan added: “Knowledge is power and I love to help people – it’s what I do.
“I feel like I’ve made myself very vulnerable, but I believe it’s for a good cause.
“My friends and family think I’m crazy, but I always tell them that when the time comes, they won’t be calling me crazy then.
“I prep for now, as you never know day-to-day what might happen.
“The day is upon us where being prepared is a blessing, as food is disappearing and becoming overpriced due to the war.
“We will all feel the side effects eventually.
“My biggest advice is: don’t panic. Breathe, make a list and execute.
“There is no better feeling than knowing you are ready for anything that could happen and having your family protected.
“The main thing is to remain calm and have a plan.”
