If a major disaster strikes your town, the disaster itself won't be the only threat to your safety. You'll also have to beware of two types of people: those without food or supplies who are desperate enough to rob anybody, and criminals who are taking advantage of the lack of law enforcement. That's why situational awareness is so important.
During normal times, you are relatively safe walking through the city while daydreaming or staring at your phone. But during tough times, not being aware of your surroundings could be very dangerous. In this video, one of my favorite new Youtube channels, City Prepping, talks about how to practice situational awareness.
He explains a concept called the OODA Loop. OODA stands for: observe, orient, decide, act. The idea here is to not only be aware of potential threats but also be able to act quickly and decisively. You can watch the video below.