What I have seen from 9/11 through Ebola, from some of the Hurricanes, and in these years of this Covid stuff, is that our government support system is tiny and barely able to handle routine small regional emergencies.
A widespread national catastrophe means that we are mostly on our own, the government and military would be trying to do what they could piecemeal, some water trucks in some places, some food distribution in some places, some charging stations in some places, some electrical and internet repairs in some places, but if you aren’t prepared with food, shelter, and water, and/or the ability to move to the areas where some order and assistance remains, then you may not make it.
I have been ranting for years that the cops and firemen are not the “First Responders.” Your neighbors are.
That was exactly the case in the EMP attack in “One Second After.” No help was coming anywhere.
I have lived through several regional disasters. You are absolutely correct the government is in no way ready to handle a very large regional let alone a countrywide catastrophe. Besides if it’s countrywide who’s gonna show up to work for FEMA? They’ll be worried about their own families or taking care of themselves(which conjures up all kinds of Walking Dead scenarios).