Of course it's prudent to have a bit of a stash of vital stuff on hand. Stock up on water and beverages, you easily rotate through them, but clean drinking water can be hard to find for several days after a hurricane or other major problem. Have some cupboard staples to get through a few days.   Have a way to recharge the cell phone. Don't let the car slip below half a tank. Don't let the insulin run out just as the hurricane is strengthening over water.

Otherwise, you wind up part of the problem, lemmings out in gas and food lines when the last thing anybody needs is you out roaming around.