Your local warehouse store might have a policy where you don't have to have a membership if you pay cash. Get yourself some bulk basics like you and others have mentioned. Also, know where your local food banks are.

Other things to consider stocking

bullion (soup stock base) dried cubes or wet.
powdered milk
coffee (doubles as currency in very tough times)
sugar
Salt (have some iodized salt on hand)
Yeast
Chicken, tofu, or your other fave proteins that come in vacuum packed bulk portions. Cut them apart and flatten them so they'll stack neatly and throw them in the freezer.
When you see meats on sale and you can do so, buy and freeze them. The cheaper cuts take more time to cook and sometimes prep. Get familiar with how to remove bones etc, and how to use them to create more stock or fats for cooking. I usually buy skin on chicken, remove the skin and render the fat down to use for cooking various things. It keeps indefinitely in the fridge. Bacon fat can also be saved to add flavors to your cooking too.

Go to your local SE Asian type grocer and stock up on staple spices - you will save a shit ton. My local white people supermarket will sell be a jar of cumin for $10 while the Indian grocer further away will sell me a 2 pound bag for $6.50.