16-Hour Survival (or "The Little Events that Become Emergencies") - A Way of Life

The power just came back on a couple hours ago, after having been off for a little over sixteen hours. It went down while we were gathered around the idiot-box last night watching, of all things, Survivor.
Now, this isnt uncommon out here. I live an average (there's two ways out) of 45 miles from a paved road, and about 60 miles from any town of more than 1,000 people. There is one power line that runs out here - it serves about 18 homes, and was put in in 1998 on the condition of a 15 year fixed-rate contract (average of $500 a month) to pay for the installation costs.
The reason the power goes out a lot here is thus two-fold: Its a single line, with no backups or ways to re-route power around a problem like in the city, or even rural areas surrounding a city. So, if something happens, until its fixed we're without power. The second half of the equation is that its 40 miles of line, strung between poles, through some pretty rough and busted up country that can wash like crazy when it does rain. It stands alone as a major attraction for lightning. So, if lightning doesnt hit it, the rain washes something out, and so on. A myriad of problems can happen in 40 miles of isolated, and ignored (until there is a problem) line.
So, what happened this time? A power-pole washed out in the large rains we've had recently, and they couldnt get any trucks into the location (yes too rough for even 4wd) so they had to walk in with their gear to fix or replace the dislodged pole. Sixteen hours later, the power is back.
Most people probably think of that as a long time. Its not, not here. But, part of the reason its not is that we are prepared to deal with it better than most, especially those who dont live like this.
My family has been in this place pretty close to 100 years. My great-grandparents were homesteaders, and eventually expanded the homestead into what is the ranch of today. My grandparents lived here and maintained the ranch for many years until it came under the control of my mother, and she and my dad have maintained it since then. Until the 1980's there was no phone out here - and we didnt have one for many years after that - and until 1998 the only electricity came from generators and most light was provided for by kerosene lamps, the cooking done on gas or wood stoves, and heat from gas heaters or the wood-burning fireplace. We relied heavily on dry-storable foods because of the limited reliability of gas fridges. When the electric line came in, we didnt get rid of any of those things we just phased them out of primary usage.
So now, when the power goes out - we're fine. We have light, we have heat, we have food.

The largest issue created by the power going out is medical - two family members are on full-time oxygen, and use Concentrators (sort of like a "scrubber") as the source for that. The problem is that those machines run on electricity. The solution? Reserves of compressed-gas or liquid oxygen. There's always enough for a few days without power.
In this most recent event the medical issue was compounded by the road conditions thanks to the rain - dirt roads tend to become very hard to pass after a lot of rain. In the case of a medical emergency, you might not make it out or you may spend several more hours driving slow and digging out of mud holes, than the normal hour it takes to drive out in good conditions. A well stocked medical kit, and the skill to use it can go a long way to make anything that happens under these conditions more survivable. And once again, this is one of those things that several generations of living out has guaranteed is available.

If you are not prepared the 16-hour events can become major, even fatal, emergencies or survival situations. If you are prepared, 16 hours or even a few days "stranded" 45 miles from town without power becomes a lot easier. When its just part of a way of life, it really doesnt bother you.
I think the ideal "survival skills" should put you in between the "prepared" and "way of life" mindsets - unless you live like this, it isnt a way of life, but if you put your skills to use, get out and be out, then you should be able to improve your comfort level. If you're more comfortable with a situation you are clearer headed and more rational when actually having to make decisions under less-than-ideal conditions.