Lengthy but interesting story.

Is Survival Only for The Rich?
Anne Stanton

Tiny Pellston--known as the “ice box of the nation”--is now steeped in a controversy that is heating up the nation.
Pellston is courting a Chicago area company that promises badly needed jobs, but strikes some people as bad news. The young company is called Sovereign Deed and plans to provide emergency supplies and services to wealthy clients who are caught in a major catastrophe, such as a pandemic, an earthquake, or terrorist attack. Clients will pay $50,000 to join, and $15,000 thereafter. It’s a tiered service; those who pay most have the greatest chances of survival.

Full article here.

Not much different from the private fire fighting/protection companies around here. If there's a fire they rush to your home and douse it with fire retardant. Or the private companies that offer emergency evacuation/medical services from wherever you happen to be traveling in the world. Survival isn't only for the rich but money can sure come in handy.

I worked at the ranch of a celebrity actor. And it came to pass he held a big outdoor reception at his ranch. A very well known catering outfit was contracted to put on a big 'cowboy' spread. On the day of the soiree said company burned down. The food and staff failed to show. I fired up my dutch ovens and made a fast run to our local restaurant geared market and bought 60 bottles of $4 champagne, 5 gallon tubs of sherbert and disposable tableware. Next stop was a kosher deli and then the local vegetable and fruit stand. the Folgers was in a rapid boil when the first Beemer rolled in.Nobody went hungry and this lady of Oscar fame asked for my biscuit recipe. I handed her the emptied box of Bisquick with my compliments. The point, yes there is one of my story is this: Companies make lots of promises. I wouldn't bet the horseranch on them fullfilling such promises in a disaster when they can't even seem to manage in good times.

I was up in Corral canyon yanking horses out during the second recent Malibu fire.Those outfits failed to make it up there.

well, it is the American style that encourages fee base system for medical & emergency services. Money buys the best of everything in life.

Frankly, I don't buy that, at least not in this situation.

The only way this deal could work is if all the 'subscribers' hung out in a designated bunker for 6-9 months. That would cost a lot more than 50K. Heck, the champagne alone ...

Chris's comment is right on the money: the odds of these companies delivering is pretty questionable. In most of these scenarios, mobility would be severely restricted; in some cases, by quarantine enforced by armed police/military personnel.

If these companies provide resources that let people 'bug in' effectively, and do it beforehand, there may be value. Otherwise, the rule is: you can't outsource preparedness.

uh or u can pay like $200 for your preparedness items.?!

No, the "American style" is that there is one born every minute. This scheme is proof of that.

The other posters are basically all correct. If it sounds too good to be true, then it's probably a lie.

The caveat emptor is probably that the company receiving the money will probably do quite well until catastrophe occurs, then they will silently slip away with the remaining goods.

Considering traffic on the PCH, I always wondered how those guys made good on their promise without being stationed right next door. I guess that answers my question.