Here is my experience from Hurricane Fran in 1996, in Raleigh, NC.
The storm hit at night, power was out by 10 or so. Battery powered radio broadcast the local tv station, so we got weather reports as the storm went overhead. Next morning, we surveyed the damage, lots of trees down, no electricity, streets blocked from trees and power lines.
Neighbors helped each other make temporary repairs, cleared trees from the streets, and generally had a neighborhood "meet and greet".
Power company employees came by later that day, and told us that it would be days before the power was restored. Radio reports told of the few areas that did have power, what supplies were available at which stores, and gas stations that had power. No big deal, kind of like camping.
Second day, food was starting to go bad, so we had group meals to use up the food, and neighbors continued to get to know each other. Gas grills are a great way to cook all that food before it spoils. Generators are starting to look like a good purchase about now, but they are all sold out. No ice available, food is getting tossed. Yard cleanup began, if folks didn't start the first day.
No help from Red Cross, National Guard, etc. Local authorities are beyond swamped, understandably.
Third day, grocery stores started shipping truckloads of ice and bottled water to the area, much appreciated by all. At that point, I had gotten some ice from work (hospital), and was sharing with the neighbors and friends. Hot water ran out, and I remembered reading about solar showers for camping. Now I realized that I didn't have a non electric can opener, other than a P38, which my 9 month pregnant wife nominated me to use. Okay, cooking on the grill was still working okay. Batteries held out for the radio, but flashlight batteries are in short supply.
Candles are working okay, and we start going to bed earlier. The lack of air conditioning in the hot and humid southeast is starting to wear on the pregnant wife. We heard on the radio that a local cafeteria had power, so we drove there to get some hot food, and cold sweet tea. My wife sat at a booth and drank tea for two hours, and no one said a word to her. She was grateful for the break.
Day four, some of our friends got power back, so the wife hung out at their house. I was working during all this, and we got in touch with her OB/GYN to find out what to do if the labor process started. Neighborhood cleanup continues, and some relief aid starts to arrive. Still cooking on the grill.
Day five, and power returns! Restock the fridge, enjoy air conditioning.
Hot showers! Starting planning on how to do things better next time.
Cable tv was out for three weeks. No rabbit ear antennas available anywhere.
Local radio simulcast the news for about a month, if I remember correctly.
Much price gouging occurred on chainsaws, generators, gas, and ice.
Many people were injured or killed using chainsaws they didn't know how to use.
Many people drowned driving into flooded areas.
Yellowjackets were out in force, as a lot of the nests were flooded, and snakebites were up also.
People drove up from unaffected states to sell us generators at 5 times normal price, and people gladly bought them.
Crooks charged little old ladies $15,000 to cut down single trees, and they went to jail.
And most of us helped each other as best we could, and despite some inconveniences, we got by, and are stronger for it.
And we had power going when our baby boy was born 10 days after the storm. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />