Actually, as urban as the US is, very little would have to happen for SHTF. Mostly it is all macho fantasizing in my opinion.

That said, assuming the big earthquake hits where I live the best SHTF tools are what is most common.

- 30-06 or 308 scoped rifle for hunting, real defense
- 12 gauge Remington 870 with a variety of chokes, different barrels, for hunting and defense.
- 20 gauge shotgun or .22 rifle for majority of hunting
- Whatever assortment of 9mm handguns you want
- one fiskars axe
- one mulsurp multipurpose digging tool
- one fine skinning knife
- one large defense / skinning knife
- water bottles and can-openers
- fishing line and hooks
- diesel fuel, seed, chickens, goats.
- some solar panels to get the radio working for news, or a boatload of batteries