Your propane option is exactly what I was saying. Liquified Petroleum Gases (LPG)include butane, propane, iso-butane and iso-propane. All of these may be blended to produce a fuel that has specific temperature ranges and vapor pressures. The BTU content of butane is about 1400 per Cubic foot. Propane BTU content can be as high as 3,000 per cubic foot.

Propane is better than butane in cold climates due to its higher vapor pressure. Butane will liquify and have little gas at temperatures below 20 degrees F. Propane is also used to blend winter grade gasoline to improve the vapor pressure.

Natural gas (methane), if available, should be used to heat a building. With the right equipment, a generator set can be run on methane. Pipelines are underground and less likely to be damaged in a storm.

You are lucky in that you have a 24″ natural gas line North of you at Lambertsville and a 30″ line South and East at Linden. Getting natual gas should not be a problem.

Local people helping each other along with church and civic organizations are the ones who get things done. There is plenty of help from caring people living in areas outside the damaged area. Right now the cleanup effort is taking the time. Get the Red Cross out of the way and let the churches run the aid and food efforts.

The electrical systems in the NE are very old and in need of rebuilding. This has been known for at least forty years. Rights-of-way are not being kept clear of tree limbs and old brittle trees are not removed when they are known to be sick. The same is true of old power poles that get dried out and weak.

I appears that the snow was not as much as was predicted. Hopeful that things will improve soon. It is going to take a year to clean up the mess on the Jersey coast and on Staten Island.

There will be other storms that will affect the area in the near future. Weather operates in in cycles. We are now into a cycle that is the same as the 1930′s in temperature and rain. The storm cycle is very close to that of the 1950′s. The storm cycle will bring other storms to the area and the Sandy conditions may never be repeated. The next one could be a real hurricane of cat 4 winds that will make Sandy feel like a walk in the park.

Being prepared with food, water, fuel and medical supplies is the only way. Getting away from the coastal waters in plenty of time will save lives.