As I will prove below, any nitwit can refute the worst-case projections of the experts. Businesses will have a greatly decreased ability to produce, distribute, and sell goods. Rippling financial losses may trigger stock price plunges, business failures, bank closures, unemployment, and recession. The Great Depression wasn't that bad. The communication, distribution, and utility infrastructures may limp badly for a time.
Most people have a few days' supply of food on hand and plenty of flammable furniture.
State, local, and federal government computer systems will be largely unable to function. This could result in many wholesale changes to the way taxes are collected and services are rendered. It goes without saying that in the face of disaster, our elected leaders would set aside petty differences, and in less time than it takes to vote down a congressional pay cut, would form a solution that is efficient, effective, fair, and beneficial to all. I could go on and on, but I've made my point. The answer is yes, they are.