Neo Emolga, I don't think the game has level scaling, which is why it can be so hard early on. If you go somewhere meant for end game level players early on, you're going to get wrecked.

I met my first Deathclaw though (aside from the script encounter one). And I wasn't wearing power armor. Luckily, there were some raiders nearby to help. And by help, I mean their heads stayed on their shoulders long enough to distract it for about five seconds. So yeah, be careful, because Deathclaws will literally take your head off in one hit.