There is, however, a class of people who not only believe TEOTWAWKI is upon us, but are positively looking forward to it: the hi-tech incarnation of the survivalist movement that emerged in the 1970s when the apocalyptic fear was of global nuclear warfare.

They would have looked even deeper into the woods for a place, but if TEOTWAWKI happens, they want to be sure their children and grandchildren still living in cities can reach this sanctuary in time.

Even if it's only going to be a bump in the road, the psychology of this is going to cause major problems," said Rawles. He may be fueling that psychology, reissuing his book under the title "TEOTWAWKI: The End of the World As We Know It.