“I believe it’s time to panic.”
I’ve already panicked. Water, food, fuel, etc. all in place for hunkering down for months. It is time.
You're obviously ready so my response isn't aimed at YOU, but rather the folks who've never really encountered a potential survival situation and may be feeling overwhelmed but unsure of what to do and that starts with being prepared.... for anything.
It's always a good idea to be prepared, ask any boy scout or person who lives in hurricane country as I do in South Florida. June starts the storm season. My generator is tuned and I have stored fuel all set to go. Food, water and such will wait for another month or so so as to be kept fresh for the season. I have enough on hand in case of an emergency of another origin like a flu epidemic or terror attack.
Being prepped is always a good idea. Panic is never a good idea. Even being "alarmed" is right at the edge of "panic." Figure out what threat you face then get prepped to deal with that threat. More than being physically ready it's important to be mentally and emotionally ready to survive. All the physical preps in the world won't help you survive a bad attitude. A bad attitude, especially an attitude of defeatism is like getting ready for suicide.
Being prepped physically, emotionally and mentally is 99% of the task. Still it helps a great deal to have the training to use the implements of survival. If you don't know how to change the oil in your generator, you're going to be stuck at some point. If you have a gun and ammo to fend off the looters and don't know how to employ that weapon in a tactical manner, you're in trouble if that contingency rears it's head. If you don't know how to cook over a sterno can, learn. If you don't know how to drive your vehicle with debris in the road, or you own a 4x4 without knowing how to drive it off road, learn. It's not anything like driving on the pavement! OJT could get you killed.