Utilities helping other utilities goes back further than that. Some of my earliest childhood memories go back to Hurricane Carol in 1954 in southern New England. We had no warning, my Dad was at work, the fall school term had not started yet and my Mom gathered us all to the front of the house or cellar away from the tall trees. She was obviously distraught because my Dad did not come home for hours because he couldn't get through on the roads. We were without power for seven days and saw the power and utility companies from Virginia and mid-Atlantic states working on the lines and eventually power came back on.
I was one years old during that storm in CT. My father told the story about how he had not heard about the storm and was traveling with me and couldnt understand how the weather was so rough... took him hours to make it home.
Somehow I don't think your mother was out stealing diapers for you. Some freepers seem to think it would be okay. It's a legitimate need.
Reminds me of the time I was traveling through Indianapolis on 465...Was difficult to see the car in front of you....finally pulled over under 71st street underpass....Just then the announcer came on radio...."A tornado had touch down....at 465 and 71st Street".....No wonder driving was so difficult.