You've got a more optimistic view of people than I do.

My own impression is that the majority of people have enough food to get through to the next payday, and whatever bottled water is left from the last case they bought. They have no clue how to access the water in a water heater, and think they can drink swimming pool water in an emergency.

Sunday's earthquake made almost no difference in the attitudes around my job. Instead of "Well, they don't happen often, so I've got plenty of time", now it's "Well, now it'll be a long time before we have another one."