I’ve been through a few significant power outages in NYC. The gas worked fine, we just lit the stove with a match. For hurricane Sandy, I made a huge pot of soup with most of what would spoil in the refrigerator, then boiled it every couple hours for the next several days. Family was fed, food wasn’t wasted.

A bigger problem in NYC is electric water pumps: When the power goes out, the water stops when the water tower on the roof empties. This is mostly for buildings over 5-6 stories, older buildings were somewhat height-capped by municipal water pressure. No water means no toilets. Again, people don’t seem to know that toilets use gravity, a bucket will flush them. Big storm coming? Fill the bathtubs with water.