I believe that you are safer if you have neighbors who have also prepared and are willing to work with you in the event of a disaster situation. Granted, anything can happen. But I think we should side on the concept of working together until we are given reason to go "every man for himself".

Having friends and family as contacts in your county scattered about just makes sense. Everyone should have a backup base of operations.

Every day I am subjected to events that reinforce the idea that most people in this country are idiots. I have spent a lot of energy weeding through the knuckleheads. What friends I do have are certainly in the top 1% of the population with regard to intelligence. I view them as a valuable resource. I would prefer to deal with whatever is to come with my friends than living alone in the woods.

I could live alone in the woods quite easily. I have done it before. But that hardly helps the situation.