I believe you. :-)
Some of the recent posts on FR have been so weird from folks who were not prepared and now have freaked out.
It is some sort of collective nervous breakdown.
We have great community spirit in my area as well—but these are rural folks who always prepare for any unusual event.
,,, community “intactness” will be our new measure for things being OK as the economy slides. Pumpkins, eggs and all sorts of goodies have been left at our gate and baking and other stuff has left our house for other gates over the last two weeks. We’re in a small town of 20,000 or so, including outer villages.