...or in the case of a major population center, I’d avoid return altogether.
Twenty years ago, I’d not have said this, but the general population (particularly in places like LA, SanFran or Seattle) is so dependent and at the same time so selfish/self-centered....I’m concerned that if a major disaster occurred in one of those places, the physical damage and deaths due to the event would be a tiny fraction of the death and damage caused by the panic and gross criminality of the “survivors”.
It wouldn’t even rise to the level of Medieval.
I tell you, you have hit it right on the head.
To even get the hell out would be a problem. That is why I tell people to get the hell out within a day of the thing happening before the shock wears off the scum.