You’re exactly right about people’s reactions.
Just look at S California last week and the ‘warnings’ there.
Like a lot of folks here on FR, we’re pretty well prepared to handle an extended grid down event.
IF you are interested I strongly suggest you read Survival Theory and Survival Theory 2 by Jon Hollerman. Survival Theory 2 goes deep into human behavior.
What you are touching on is a huge topic, worth far more than I can post about.
I can only strongly urge you to learn and prepare for any number of possible events- some more than others.
I live at Ground Zero of the Cascadia Subduction Zone. There won’t be much warning if things go kerblooey.