Rural folks will be fine if they can fend off the pilferers, it’s the urban cities and suburbia that will suffer most.
The cities contain vital infrastructures that the gubmint will protect.
For the life of me, I will never understand the paranoia of rural folks concerning urban folks coming to “take their stuff.” Rural folks tend not to have a lot of stuff of value. Let’s face it, in most rural areas spending $20,000 on an engagement ring is a big deal. So, why would someone travel to a rural area when you can mug someone close to home in the city for a $60,000 cocktail ring or $80,000 watch?