Maybe the OP is much younger than me, and can't remember a few winter weather issues we've had in the last 50-odd years.
I remember there being a massive storm in 1987 (Michael Fish anyone?) where in the South East transport came to an almost complete stop due to trees down on all major roads and rail lines. And a year (about 25 years ago maybe? can't remember exactly when) when the entire South East was covered in about 2 feet of snow - my father walked 4 miles to a supermarket to find milk etc, and basically we were snowed in for 4 days despite being in the suburbs not out in the country. Most winters in the North can cut communities off for days.
And then 2018 we had The Beast From the East, whole country came to a standstill due to massive snow falls, temperature below -10c everywhere, roads and rail & air travel all cut off. Even if you could get to a shop, their suppliers hadn't managed to deliver. I was fine - always been brought up to have plenty of not just frozen food in the house but tinned as well in case the electricity went down, have both gas and electric methods of heating water & cooking food, emergency lighting like charged or battery torches or candles. But many weren't prepared.
Then of course we had the Covid pandemic, where many things were in short supply. If things had got any worse, then there would have been shortages of deliveries due to lack of staffing and possibly even utilities issues for the same reason especially electricity which relies on deliveries.
There's always been a recommendation to keep at least 3 days supply of essentials in the house, it's just that more and more people have ignored that as time has gone by. With climate change, the chances of extreme weather conditions happening are on the increase.