Check out this site and his podcasts for interesting info on being prepared. He is an interesting fellow and while I don't believe in or support some of his views I do enjoy his podcasts.
http://www.thesurvivalpodcast.com/
Unfortunately it doesn't sound as though you were "prepared" at all. Not really surprising considering what you went through waiting to move in, etc.
Having portable, potable water stored in the house is always wise for emergencies as well as easy to prepare foods, etc. There won't be a lot of showering going on but it works for a while.
Propane/kerosene heaters have been used in my home area...Southern MA...for a long time. We always had emergency kerosene lanterns in the house and used them frequently in the winter months when storms would take down power lines. But as you have learned, heating with them is only good for one room and generally a small room...plus you still need adequate ventilation.
Living in Norhtern NY we have a large portable generator that will power most of the house. It runs on gasoline and I have an adequate supply not including what is in the cars tanks. We have not had a serious power outage in some time but during the last ice storm...15 years ago?...my area lost power for two weeks in the winter...gets -30 without the wind chill up here at times, brrrr...the generator did a good job providing emergency power for heat, etc. I had our electrician run a line from my garage to the house's circuit board. When the power goes out I shut off the main from the power lines to the house, shut off all non emergency circuits, connect my genny to the emergency line, start her up and power what I need when I need it.
That along with emergency water, food, etc. will get us through a couple of weeks during storm related emergencies, etc.
These are the basics. You can do a lot more and if I lived in the boon docks up here I'd have a lot more too but village life is fairly easy.
Good luck and keep us informed on what you do.
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