Dad was very handy.  Once he saw the situation he pulled a natural gas pivot motor with a generator.  Put a smaller pully on the generator.  Set by the power pull. We had natural gas on the farm place for drying and house heat.   Got an electrician out, so that it could be disconnected from the main power line correctly.  Started his motor and monitored the voltage for the correct RPM and we had power I think the 1st or 2nd day after the storm.  He would run it long enough to keep the house warm to 65 degrees or so and charge up the refrig and freezer.  Maybe 3-4 hrs per day.  We all just went to bed early.  Things were unpleasant, but never bad.  

Thanks Dad.