By Jeanne du Plessis

There are many ways that the world as we know it could end. You just have to watch disaster movies like The Day After Tomorrow, War of the Worlds or 2012 to see the possibilities. The earth could be hit by an asteroid, or various ecological catastrophes could occur. The economy could crash, governments could fail and anarchy could prevail. We could be invaded by aliens or taken over by evil robots. Unstoppable viruses, nuclear war, flesh-eating zombies… the cataclysmic list is endless. To make matters worse, there’s that ominous prophecy about the world ending sometime this year.

What can you do besides hide under your bed? If thoughts of manmade or natural disasters keep you awake at night, you could consider investing in a survival shelter. Vivos is just one of several companies that are currently providing underground shelters for surviving just about any manmade or natural disaster.

Paranoid much?

Vivos shelters, which are buried 25–50 feet underground, can protect you from an amazing range of catastrophes. They can shelter you from floods, earthquakes, extreme weather, radiological fallout, an electromagnetic pulse over 1 000 000 volts, fire, solar flares, biological or chemical disasters, terrorism and general social anarchy. They can even withstand a 50 megaton nuclear blast within a 10 mile radius.

How much will it set you back?

A spot in a communal Vivos survival shelter typically costs between $9,960 to $50,000 (approximately R74 700 to R375 000) per adult depending on which shelter you choose. There will also be monthly costs to cover things like property insurance, maintenance and property taxes. Apparently not even Armageddon deters the tax man. Private, custom-designed shelters cost far more. If you have about $2 million (approximately R15 million) you could also check out the Survival Condo Project, a luxury apartment complex underground somewhere

Sadly, surviving the apocalypse is not within my budget. However, not all the rich folk are going to get in either. You have to apply for membership, and will only be selected if the selection committee thinks you’ll contribute to the long-term survival of the group. I don’t know what this will mean for politicians…

What will you get in a survival shelter?

That depends which company you go with, which option you choose and how much money you have. Vivos offers shelter complexes which can accommodate groups of 50 to 1000 people, or private shelters for families or groups. Communal shelters vary in size and include bedrooms, bathrooms, living rooms, kitchens, computers, exercise equipment, a library, security facilities, a communications centre and laundry facilities. Food, clothing, fuel, water, and medical supplies are also provided. The larger shelters even include a medical and dental care centre with x-ray equipment and additional extras. The Nebraska shelter, for example, promises a fully equipped hospital, hydroponic gardens, pool tables, a classroom, a theatre, a DNA storage bank, and can you believe it, a hair salon and fully stocked wine cellar. Over 900 people can live autonomously in this shelter for up to a year. How full do you think that wine cellar is?

If you’d prefer your very own shelter during this stressful time, Vivos can build a private shelter for you and your family. Apparently this can be installed virtually anywhere in just a few weeks. The size and features of your shelter will be determined by your particular requirements and the size of your wallet.

Good news for animal lovers!

Luckily for our furry friends, the Survival Condo Project and Vivos are pet-friendly so your cat, dog or goldfish can survive the apocalypse too! No dangerous, messy or annoying pets allowed; sorry, owners of little yappy dogs, “excessive barkers” are banned! Now there’s a rule I can live with, above or below the ground.