IMO, roving gangs will attempt to break out from the cities and go foraging for food in the suburbs. The food supply is key in any upcoming conflict. As is water. Southern California can be brought to its knees by cutting off access to Colorado River waters.
Need to know who your neighbors are, who owns guns, and who you can rely on to help secure the neighborhood.
A house in the suburbs with only two adults cannot withstand a horde. Eight houses with 20 adults has a chance.
The suburbs are not going to be much better off for food supply.
They need to go into the country for it and they will not get far that way.
Most people have no idea how to survive in the wilderness, nothing about water purification and exposure. They don’t know how to find food and live off the land and without food they will weaken and die in fairly short order. Many will die that way. Others will be dealt with by people defending themselves.
The other thing in our favor at the moment, is that winter is coming. Here in the north, that will contain things as anyone who tries to invade the suburbs or rural areas will have the added hindrance of fighting the elements.
People have no clue how to dress for the weather and hypothermia and frostbite will hit quickly for many.
The nicer weather is far more conducive to chaos and anarchy.