We had a flood 5 years back, no road, no phone lines or elec for 3 month; it was a change for those 3 months. We did fine with the Honda Generator. It was tough without internet though.
I don' think most of America is as prepared as we were when the Yukon came in 1/4 of a mile from where she usually is.
Those of us that have been living through all of the hurricanes that have hit us in Mississippi since Betsy are prepared. Some parts of America will never be prepared.