I just started playing rimworld a week ago.
My first colony all died. I was researching drug policy and starting geothermal and blowback weapons, I was getting raided every couple of days and had 0 wind so I had to prioritize those. Suddenly, the plague infects 5 of my 6 people. 2 people survive with the least skills. Cassandra: Adventure difficulty. I followed all of the healing and rest guides and 1 person with the plague survived. This first time I got a few turtles and had major problems with 300+ turtles eating all of my food and unable to slaughter them as fast as they were spawning
I started a new colony also with Cassabdra: Adventure difficulty. I just reached the exact same point. Drug policy not done, this time not even geothermal or blowback done (so I would say early game). Plague. This time only 2 out of 6 die. Not bad. I survived.
NOPE: 2 days later, nuclear fallout and everyone has to stay inside for what? Months? Luckily I have only 1 turtle so I have 1000 rice and 1000 various meats built up in my much larger freezer with a open door chimney. Should be able to wait it out.
NOPE: the second day of fallout I had a multi-day solar flare knocking out all of my fridges.
Luckily the power came back before all of the meat spoiled and I got a mad muffalo for extra food.
I still don't know how to protect my chickens in the pen because I can't set a zone, but they seem to by chance sleep under the roof every few days and reduce their radiation. I don't have the available power or components to switch to indoor farming with sunlamps (and hydroponics not researched yet) so I might be screwed if my food runs out.
I read online "plague is a very unlucky roll early-mid game" and I got it twice in a row lol. Plus a toxic fallout immediately after. Sometime this game just decides to come and get you.