State licensed electricians, not power company workers, are having to go house to house in the flood zones to ensure breaker boxes etc. are clean, dry, and operable.

There are far fewer available NY licensed electricians to do these home inspections than there are power line workers, who can be drawn from all over the country.

Fear of wrongful death or class action lawsuits in case of a preventable death(s) is part of the reason why this is a good idea.