When a Chinese spy balloon floated across the U.S. in 2023, most people joked about it online. Carrie and Colton Smith bought a life raft. And a year’s worth of freeze-dried meals. And four generators.

The Montana couple went full prepper mode after that balloon incident, convinced it wasn’t just a blip on the news cycle—it was a warning. “I grew up in California with earthquake kits,” Carrie told SWNS, reported by New York Post. “But the balloon took things to the next level.”

That “next level” includes 55-gallon water drums, a bug-out bag for their Goldendoodle, and enough off-grid equipment to live comfortably without any modern tech.

Their approach isn’t apocalyptic. It’s also practical. A job loss, a natural disaster, a prolonged power outage—any of it could force you to rely on wh

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