Christina,

Words can be evocative. Perhaps using words like "emergency preparedness" instead of "...survival..." would tone things down in your aquaintance's minds. There are many good reasons to be a "Boy Scout" and "Be Prepared". In fact, there is a BSA merit badge pamphlet titled "Emergency Preparedness" available for about $3.00 that would be light reading and give you some "safe and sane" answers to the "Why?" questions. Be sure you get the latest version; it was recently revised.

There are the Red Cross and FEMA websites as well, which may give you some additional "cover".

Tom