I've been talking about "practical disasters" in this thread. Things like floods, tornados, blizzards and heavy snow fall that result in a disaster area.
If you're in a situation where you're looking at long-term hardship (loss of power for more than 4-5 days), bug out. As long as the roads are passable all you need to do is drive 100-400 miles until you see houses with the lights on.
Staying in a disaster area for a prolonged period only opens you up to a greater risk of infections, dysentery, parasites, and bullet wounds. Leave the fighting to the cave men and get out.
Keep your important papers (titles, mortgages, birth certificates, policies, bank records, passports, ID) in a zip-type plastic bag and take it with you.