If things continue on this path (which I think they will until it blows up), none of the conventional 'preps' will do much good absent effective security arrangements. When the EBT's don't work, the store shelves are empty and the transfer-payment checks don't cash, the cities and some 'rural' areas will burn (literally). The short-term survivors of that catastrophe will invade and scour anything within one gas-tank full (about 300 miles, give or take) of their initial location. Draw a 300 mile circle around every city with a population of more than 50,000 to find relatively 'safe' areas - surprise, there really aren't any. Good luck...