Most SHTF type predictions are just meaningless opinionated guesses. Several years ago I took one seriously and learned my lesson. If the SHTF, then I’ll worry, life’s just too short to be perpetually paranoid over this stuff.
If the SHTF and you're not prepared, there will be no need to worry then either. But least you've played a major role in determining your own fate, and by that decision not to make preparations, you might have subtracted even more from your already "short life".
Visit your local fire department and learn first hand that being in a constant state of readiness/preparedness doesn't mean you're "perpetually paranoid". Being prepared means your prepared for many of the little disasters in life that happened from time to time as well, like a big storm or etc.
Doing so, over the last dozen year or so, has made my life and the lives of my neighbors easier, more times than I can remember. Over the years, we've dealt with major storms, no power, folks loosing their jobs, sickness, no food in the stores, and etc.
Americans have always been an independent people. What's changed???