If that grid went down someplace like, Newark, Camden, Trenton, or similar, you would have scenes like New Orleans. I think NYC already proved themselves to be adults on 9/11. There wasn’t a crowd control needed. Matter of fact, the control that was needed was to turn away volunteers. Everyone wanted to be there to do something.
All due respect to their actions at 9-11 (was there looting we simply didn’t hear about? I’ve always wondered frankly...) there was nonetheless tremendous relief in all levels of government that things didn’t get ugly in NYC during the blackout. Flyover country simply doesn’t relate to that....or New Orleans either for that matter.
Personally, I have little use for most cities anymore, but that’s me.