I'm in the metro DC Silver Spring suburb of the US Capitol. In this politically driven area, it is said that if you want a friend, get a dog.

Having a one year supply of food is not that hard. It is a requirement for many Mormons. Sealed barrels of beans and flour are a good start.
A type of water purification device is a good idea. Sometimes boiling is not enough.

We have been lucky not to have any extended power outages, which were common 10+ years ago. I am not a prepper so I expect to be a statistic.