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So, did they prepare by buying a generator for such times? No.

I agree. I have no sympathy. I actually feel a great deal of scorn for them.

The worst part of it, Cutress said, was that Edison kept signaling that the power was on the verge of coming back on. Every day he would use his iPhone — charged by his car engine — to check the utility's website

For a few months of phone charges he could of had one of these:

DuroMax XP4400E 4,400 Watt 7.0 HP OHV 4-Cycle Gas Powered Portable Generator With Wheel Kit And Electric Start - $440 (Free Shipping).

Now for one month more of phone charges he could have one of these:

Siemens ECSBPK07 Generator Standby Power Mechanical Interlock - $57 (Free Shipping) and Reliance Controls PB30 L14-30 30 Amp Generator Power Cord Inlet Box For Up To 7,500 Watt Generators - $65.

There is also some sweat equity and about $30 of misc. cable and parts. The bottom line is for less than half a year of phone charges he could of been prepared.

I do not feel any sympathy.

It seems that all parts of the country have their own region specific disasters. Either blizzards, ice storms, hurricanes, toronados, floods, fires, whatever they have regularly, they should be prepared for with electric generators, LP gas camp stoves, woodburners, etc.

I bought a used (for only one day) 5k watt generator for $350, and stumbled upon this site http://www.propane-generators.com/ where I can convert my generator to LP gas, which my home has, and tap into a gas line with a flexible hose and run the generator from the large tank behind the house, releasing me from the trouble of chasing after gasoline every few days to keep the generator happy at a rate of approx. 5ga per 8 hours run time. Plus, there is no rule that says you can have only one generator!

People should prepare, not wait for the utility companies or gov to fix things. The cost of one refridgerator or freezer of food saved would counter the expenses incurred.