So, does this mean they're mainstream now?

The Beeb on Preppers.

I LOL'd:

Preppers are keen not to be seen as survivalists - the stereotypically anti-government, wood-dwelling, gun-toting hermits of past decades.

They say that like it's a bad thing...

Stranger, when you call me that, smile:

While most preppers tend to be politically to the right, or even libertarian in their views, their back-to-basics approach to food cultivation and preparation, as well as use of alternative energy sources, paradoxically means they have much in common with left-of-centre environmentalists.

 S*i*g*h.  Here we go again:

Many preppers cite the American government's bungled response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 as a key motivator behind their approach to survival.

 One more time:  The Federal Government's response was not "bungled", it simple can not legally move in until the governor of a state declares a disaster and requests federal assistance.  But, the media hated (hates) George W. Bush and gave the publicity to the loathesome mayor of New Orleans and incompetent governor of Louisiana, who did nothing to prepare, including request that FEMA roll the convoys of aid that were queued up at the state border waiting for the word.  Which took far too long to come, but that was not the fault of President Bush or Michael Brown.  (Who wouldn't have been my first choice to head FEMA, but that's beside the point.)