Input from across the Atlantic
This morning (we're 6 hours apart) I was reading some news out of Gr.Britain, so I wandered into this area of the surv.boards. I know the people/culture of the rural American South ... well, to the degree such can be known. It seems the countryside breeds complexity in human nature.
Jubbles mentioned knowing your neighbors. I think that point is unimaginably important. In the States it sure is. Just show up on somebody else's land and you can get a bad case of traumatic lead poisoning. The locals consider local public lands to be their own, right? Right. The hills and streams belong to them also. It's their territory; it really is.
However, if you go there now and form relationships with the locals, scout the land, understand the culture, find the camping areas, on and on ..., then should you show up in an emergency, you'll less likely be seen as an interloper. Easiest thing, if possible, make it a holiday destination if they have rentals, bed & breakfasts, and such. Get out, spend money, make acquaintances, and smile a lot.
Another thing, if you head there during bad times, in the name of God, bring barter with you -- SERIOUS barter. If the electric grid is down or not trustworthy, bring your electric generator with you. No truck or caravan, then buy or construct a trailer. Here in the states, there are stores who carry all of the parts for trailers -- leaf springs, axles, tires, electrical wiring for lights / turn-signals -- the whole shooting match except the lumber for the bed.
Think about what they will need. All rural folk here own firearms, but that may not be the case over there. So, here you show up with a shotgun (join a shooting club and get to be a skeet/trap shooter -- it's a bunch of fun by the way), a water filter, canned goods, and maybe even a electric generator. And they know your face. You've spent money there. You've been seen at the restaurants, wherever. You've made friends. Now you can help defend them, light a house, and you've brought food. It may not exactly be home away from home, but at least you may just be able to fit-in long enough to get through the social upheaval.
Do not flash cash or precious metals. I don't think I need to expound upon that. The "nicest" of people can go way strange under the right circumstances, now can't they!