Re stockpiling. In the event of a pandemic what I'm worried about isnt just the virus and shortages. It's what people panicking does. It's the videos of people being beaten in the street and locked in their homes.
China for all its flaws because its an authoritarian state has a mindset of a fear of authority. People tend to follow rules because they have been conditioned to.
In the UK I can see much more of a break down in law and order and vigilantism. Particularly racially aggrievated attacks.
Even if you stockpile, how do you deal with friends and family asking for help? How do you deal with aggressive neighbours?
Do the elderly and infirm living alone have more to fear from the virus or someone who sees them as an easy target to rob and steal food from?
I think the USA could be even worse on this front due to the number of weapons in circulation.
It could happen even if the death rate is reasonably low too simply due to panic breaking out.
Also what happens if work places are shut down? How many would have no income? How long could you pay the rent/mortgage? At least if you are already on benefits, you have a guaranteed income or more accurately you may be perceived to be (which is more relevant than the reality) particularly by people who have just lost their jobs and then have a six week universal credit wait to survive. This could lead to rising social tensions in its own right. A significant number of Brits live pay check to pay check.
In terms of stockpiling, I don't see much discussion of saving extra money, just in case things get really hard in either the short term or medium term financially.
The virus itself certainly isn't my only concern in a pandemic and won't be the only concern of Cobra members.
I watch too many disaster movies.