My Experience,
I came out pretty unscathed, but one of my friends had their house literally cut in half. She was not home luckily. My neighbor got an 80ft tall ash in his kitchen and two houses on my block caught fire. People were burning garbage since pickup service was not available and things started to stink up fast.
Chainsaws, chains, generators, batteries, extension cords, propane, gas cans, coolers, cheap grills, ice, 30wt oil, bar oil, GAS, flashlights, not available for 75 miles, and that was if you weren't trapped by tree fall.
When the gas station opened up down the street from me they promptly had to close because of looting. They are now back open. Speaking of looting. Generators, gas and chainsaws were being snatched from people's yards. Someone even stold the generator from the local animal rescue. Someone also took all the solar lights in my neighborhood and I managed to intercept my neighbors from being robbed.
I am sickened by some of the local businesses taking advantage of this situation. The hardware store on the se side was charging $600 for the little Harbor Freight Generators that normally run for 149 and $1600 for The Predator 4000 generator which is normally $350. When the truck pulled up about 50 people were waiting for these but many had to turn away because some could just not afford it. I saw so many people just break down in tears right in the parking lot. I ask why they were charging so much and the answer I got was "Well, you need one right"
Not to mention they were charging $3.50 for a roll of toilet paper during covid. Since I live near the store, I am now going to let my dogs take a dump right on their front door whenever I walk them that way.
One of the Home stores sold my neighbor a generator for $750. I went back the next day and the same one, although available, was marked up to $999.
So I have vented my frustrations, this is an oil forum and I have hung my dirty laundry, but I hope others can learn from these events.