I think it's important to realize that part of the issue now is also logistics of getting the resources to the people who need them. But the majority of that is a created hurdle.

Corporations have decided to thrive on razor thin margins of supply, relying on everything to be delivered to them just in time, not taking up storage space if they can't be sure it will sell in a week. Experienced this first hand with this storm. Nobody had toddler snow boots because they have been ordering less restock as the cold season here is ending. So when everyone needs them suddenly, there's not enough.

People have also gotten used to regularly having access to things made from non-local resources. Not judging, I sure as hell have lived my whole life like that. But way way back, people ate what could be grown locally. Over time we've become reliant on the global logistics and transportation networks, while at the same time companies are optimizing profits over keeping stable stocks of things.

I really think we need a shift towards a bare minimum level of local areas being able to self sustain, and it's an absolute sin that corporations have not only been pushing the luxury of lifestyles that can't exist without them, but working to destroy the simpler lifestyles that aren't reliant.

So... The great depression actually coincided with the dust bowl in the West. Thousands of farms were effectively not producing, many ended up migrating away from the area. So there was less food than normal.