Your post reminded me of the e-book “Lights Out”. Regular guy pulls his neighborhood together after the power goes out indefinitely.
http://www.amazon.com/Lights-Out-David-Crawford/dp/0615427359
Indeed. A family a four simply cannot defend in place, stand watch, get chores done and remain sane. It takes a team/community/ cooperating group of folks. A few leaders, enough followers, and a lot of doers.
Think about it, how would a family of four, or five, or six stand up a competent 7 X 365 X 24 X 360 degree watch?