While I agree with the basic premise of your comment regarding corruption and bureaucratic nonsense ("doing study after study and raising taxes to pay for them instead of doing something useful"), don't you think some preparations are best done by cooperating with other groups (nations)?
Individual actions by people who lack important facts can be counterproductive.
A simplistic example:
A dike to reduce flood damage made of reinforced concrete is designed by a team of experienced civil engineers residing in county A, but upstream county B decides to save money by hiring local gardeners who use plain cement ("good enough!" they say).
County B's leaders might brag that their dike is better because it is taller and cheaper, but when a massive flood hits, their dike will break and wind up causing severe damage to County A that had a properly reinforced dike.
"it's up to every individual to make their own preparations and sink or swim."
I don't know about that: cooperating with reasonable, likeminded people is probably better than going it alone.
A feasibility study can have a cutoff point and be carried out with a strictly limited one-time budget not controlled by corrupt politicians.
Like you said. You presented a simplistic argument...never happen.
the more likely event is that government will contract out the job to a union operator.
who will skimp on materials to make a higher profit and make an inferior product.
It happens all the time.
Individuals won't put up with that kind of nonsense.