After Hurricane Charley went through Central Florida on 8/13/04 we went without electricty for 7 days. It was a VERY hot and humid time of the year to be without power. Try sleeping in 85 degrees - 95% humidity with no AC or fan, and the neighbors' noisy generators as loud as lawnmowers going all night long.
We had prepared by having cash on hand (no ATM power), gas tanks and gas cans full of gas (no gas pump power), several tanks of propane (propane sold out), prescriptions filled (no power at pharmacy), carboys and C-kegs full of drinking water, a swimming pool full of water for flushing toilets and bathing (tap water was not affected, but best to be prepared).
Plus food storage - but I can't talk about that, or risk being branded a terrorist...
