If such a minnor disruption cause such choas what would you think would happen if some real SHTF came?
Here is the reality:
Before Hurricane Ike came in at Galveston, there were days to prepare. When it came through Houston, as soon as it passed Houston, I saw on TV people demanding water and food right that minute - I mean immediately. I couldn't believe my eyes - they didn't have one bottle of water and no food.
I thought about that, why that would happen. I think those people saw this hurricane as a way to get “free stuff”. They planned it this way - don't spend money on water and food - wait for the free stuff the govn. will give you. In an emergency that hits the whole country, free stuff won't be there and these people will be the first to die.
An extended family member of my husband's during that time called us to brag about the fact he got some free water and ice from FEMA! - absolutely free!, they gave it to him. He was beside himself that he got that free stuff. He wanted to know if we got free stuff. I told him we had two large ice chests and an insulated water jug full of ice WE BOUGHT and we had over a hundred gallons of OUR good water stored. He said, “You are better off than I am.” He sounded sad that we had all that. My estimation of that man's worth to the world, hit the bottom.
So, consider there are some people who won't store ANYTHING no matter the problem because they are depending on FEMA and free stuff.
I live in a rural area which may react differently than urban areas. Getting to and returning from a store may take the better part of a day so most probably have more food at home than those in urban areas. We didn’t see any chaos during the power outage after the derecho. Most folks worked together. No one went crazy trying to find gasoline although a few tired to fill 55 gallon barrels to scalp it. The only out right thievery involved the stealing of some portable enumerators set up by the phone company.
What happens in a real SHTF incident depends on a lot of factors.