I was also without power during Rita. That was a horrible experience as leave notices were in effect from Houston down to the coast. The freeway a couple of blocks from my house was stacked with cars that couldn't move. The exits were blocked so they couldn't get off. That Hwy. 45 through here at that time was two lane on each side. They started tearing that highway up shortly after Rita and now it's four lanes both sides. I felt so sorry for those trapped on the highway.
I know you remember several people died on that road. Gov. Perry fixed that - now, gasoline trucks are stationed along exit roads if a large number of people have to leave.
Houston got smarter with Ike and told people to stay put unless they were in low lying areas. They stayed home which gave the folks from Houston to Galveston a much smaller amount of cars on the roads out.
We used our propane grill just like you did. I also have enough canned heat and several Sterno stoves to last a year. I've got enough jar candles for nighttime use to last a year.
Having a plan can save your life.
Its amazing how many people have food that needs heating stored, but little idea how they’re going to heat it.
And candles are far more useful than many realize for the times that you need just a little light. Bought a bunch of them when a store was going out of business, and had lots of odd colored candles left after people had scarfed all the white ones. Paid about 10 cents each for them.