Homeless; I think that you bring up some valid points, especially about insulin, etc. In the event of a situation of any length and breadth, there will be a large die off in the population just from a lack of medication, be it for HIV, Diabetes(sp), cancer, transplant patients, dialysis patients etc. Just in time systems are just not going to work and will not be rapidly replaced.
The Earthquake scenario would be pretty tough on the US, even if you weren't in the immediate area. A quake in the New Madrid area would clog the Mississippi, and destroy most of St. Louis. Chicago would have issues as the Loop is built on landfill out into Lake Michigan. Transportation and supply would be very difficult, not to mention a high deathtoll, and what if it happened in the dead of winter during an ice storm? Disasters don't preclude other disasters, kinda like cascading failure.
The Earthquake scenario would be pretty tough on the US, even if you weren't in the immediate area. A quake in the New Madrid area would clog the Mississippi, and destroy most of St. Louis. Chicago would have issues as the Loop is built on landfill out into Lake Michigan. Transportation and supply would be very difficult, not to mention a high deathtoll, and what if it happened in the dead of winter during an ice storm? Disasters don't preclude other disasters, kinda like cascading failure.