You do what you can. But you don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything.
I’d like to build a compound off the grid. Not going to happen unless I win the lotto.
But, in the last 2 years I have gradually stocked up with at least 6 months of non perishable food that does not require refrigeration and the means to cook it without power. I am well prepared defensively and have come a long way in my competence with a variety of home defense “implements”.
I have stockpiled essential medications, prescription and non prescription.
IMO, with any disaster, man made or nature, every week you survive in the initial stages dramatically increases your odds of long term survival. The completely unprepared are going to get weeded out fairly quickly.
However, no matter how well prepared you are, you must look inside yourself and realize there will be very tough and painful decisions ahead. Particularly when the unprepared around you figure out that you are not unprepared.
Fortunately I live in a small town and we are not too close to a major city. More than likely, staying would be a better option than bugging out, especially with some defensive capabilities.
That was exactly how I felt a couple of years ago, but the other day I was looking at rural and semi-rural properties on hotpads.com and found some excellent looking properties that I could get a mortgage on that was less that I've been paying for local storage space here in town.
So, never say never. :)