The amount of effort you go into prepping depends on how long you want to be independent of of external contact and supplies. Let’s look at the lengths of time and type of crisis you need to consider.
Events lasting a couple of days
For an event of a couple days where you can’t leave your immediate area, many families usually have enough supplies to support themselves with food and water/liquids for up to a week. Many singles who leave alone may eat out more than eat at home and may struggle beyond a day for food. Recent government lock downs showed lack of preparedness for many people resulting in panic buying of food and essential household items such as toilet paper.
Events lasting a couple of weeks
Most people will struggle to sustain themselves for a couple of weeks and events such as bush fires or floods will result in people needing external supplies of food and water. People of regional areas cut off from town centers due to road closures will struggle to survive for more than a couple of weeks.
Events lasting a couple of months
Very few people will be able to sustains themselves for months with supplies of food, water and energy.
Extreme Crisis Events
Catastrophic or significant crisis events where you have hours or minutes to leave your home are rarely thought of by people and even less likely for people to consider preparation. Tsunami’s, Earthquakes, Fires can give you little time to leave your home and get to safety. I keep a couple of USB sticks I can grab and carry with me at all times so in a catastrophe I can get access to insurance, banking and other critical items if we had to start over again.