This is probably the reality now. Unless we're going to make the investments to actually maintain and upgrade the grid and infrastructure, preparedness and whatever amount of self-sufficiency that can be achieved is going to be necessary. It is a horrible cliche, but failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Possibly this is a case of California climate biting them. A lot of the big research universities in the Northeast have steam plants, originally for heat, but often with cogen facilities as well. Usually not much, a meg or two, but it is something.