Actually, if they can't figure out something on their own, maybe it's best if they don't play with matches or Sterno or Coleman fuel or propane tanks... etc.

Every time there's a disaster or a storm, there's at least one story about people who do dumb things trying to cook and end up killing themselves (and their families). They're in a tightly closed camper and run the propane stove for warmth until they die. They don't have power, so they drag the propane BBQ into the living room and die. They bring a cheap BBQ and charcoal briquets onto the kitchen table and die of carbon monoxide poisoning. They try to heat something with candles, walk off for an hour, and burn the house down. They try to start a fire with gasoline and set themselves on fire.

Cold food is the only answer for some people. Of course, that's if they have the food.

And if they happened to have some armadillos around (not likely in NY and PA), and managed to catch one, clean it and cook it, they'd probably show up with leprosy.

Sue