From my Mom:

"Will car headlights work when there is a power outage?"

The power was out for her for about 4 hours. It never went out for me. (which is reverse of how it usually works)

Incidently, this really should come as no shock to New York City. They've been saying that something like this was likely for the last few years. They have to bring extra generators online when everyone starts using their air conditioning all at once. The only big shock to me was that it took so much of the rest of the northeastern power grid out.