The questions were:
If World War 3 were to break out, how do you believe it would affect the average American?
What challenges do you think we would face here at home?
What shortages do you predict would occur?
How would you prep for this?
To answer your question, Clay:
1) "Average American" is vague, but I think a majority will panic, mostly those who are younger than 30 years old. That will result in protests, riots and police actions in cities. Those old enough to remember the Vietnam response will be better able to deal with a country changing to a war based economy.
2) As in #1 above, plus expect that our money system will be shaken. We are not, presently, able to go back to a full cash based money system, but barter will become more mainstream, where it is "allowed".
Additionally, our food production will be highly stressed, first by panic buying and then by poor logistics (food transport scheduling). The present system ("just-in-time") is not able to handle a sudden increase in demand. It will fall behind and there will be food shortages. Not rationing, but simply the inability to get food from farm to store to meet demand.
3) Food and Fuel shortage in the immediate start, followed by decreasing inventory of the tools and "things" which we take for granted... Think toilet paper shortage as an example. New cars will (I expect) become more expensive and used cars more valuable. With a fuel delivery slowdown, driving may become less of an option to travel.
4) Keep doing the things we've been doing a preppers, building stockpiles of food and tools, no longer practicing our skills but actually doing them (conserving food, water and electrical usage). Learning to cook with as little energy use as possible, even if it means going to a local park to use their grills.
The major thing we personally will do (being apartment dwellers) is raising our area awareness. The people living here will, for the most part, be panicked and unable to cope. They will be easy prey for the less scrupulous people in the area. That means higher crime and perhaps, a tightened police presence.