What would you do if a massive earthquake shook the foundations of civilization, forcing you and your family to get out of town fast?

If an earthquake is not your idea of the ultimate end-of-days scenario, there's also the possibility civil unrest, World War III or any number of other grim situations.

To Gabriel Tyner it doesn't matter what causes doomsday; what matters is how you prepare yourself to handle it if and when it gets here.

That's why in April, Tyner opened Back to Basics, which offers a wide selection of survival gear, including first aid kits, ammunition and knives, fire-starters, freeze-dried food, survival videos and literature. He also carries an array of concealed carry gear.

In short, the store has just about anything you'd want in your "bug-out bag."

Tyner says he started Back to Basics because he didn't see anyone else selling survival gear.

"We saw a need, so we decided to fill a gap," he says. "It's a need for being ready for whatever comes your way. You've always got to have a plan."

The store owner says being prepared for unexpected changes was something instilled in him from a young age.

"I'm a military brat and with a military family, you know it's always good to be ready," he explains. "You know, you may come home from school one day and Dad's on his way oversees, so you know to always be ready for what happens."

But that experience isn't the only one that makes Tyner especially fit for the job.

Raised on hunting, Tyner's knowledge of the items he sells may surprise you. He spent some time learning metallurgy from a blacksmith and could talk for hours about the intricacies of knife making.

He's even shocked himself with a stun gun, giving him a certain perspective when recommending an 850,000-volt weapon as opposed to one that only produces 350,000 volts.

And if this all sounds a little too out there, Tyner reminds us of real-life natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Sichuan Province earthquake that in May killed an estimated 69,000 Chinese. That earthquake left almost 5 million people homeless. To Tyner those people could have been well-served by a little preparedness.

"Whether it's defending yourself against gang members or an earthquake, you just never know what's going to happen," says Tyner. "So far I've had a lot of interest from people. The idea of being prepared has become increasingly popular since Katrina."

In addition to the gear Tyner sells, the shopkeeper says he plans to soon offer survival courses. He's currently in talks with a wilderness first aid instructor and plans to offer other related classes.

And although the store is only months old, Tyner says it's already outgrown its rental space. An expansion is in the works and the owner plans to increase his selection of clothing, including a full line of camouflage shirts, pants, shorts and hats.

Back to Basics, located at 4760 S. Pahrump Valley Blvd., Suite 4, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.