"We don't charge extra if we take a half an hour longer like most companies," boasts president Daniel Norber. "We do whatever we can to maintain the price no matter what; we care about our reputation more than that extra $50." Sweet! Because quite frankly, we do care about that $50.

Joanne Russo felt a sense of panic when she awoke on October 29 to a rain-soaked, wind-battered city and reports that the worst was yet to come. “The last thing we wanted was to get stuck,” said Ms. Russo. “We were afraid the movers would bail on us and then we wouldn’t be able to leave for days.” She was relieved when Imperial Moving called at 8 a.m. to say that they would be there in an hour. As businesses shut down and traffic vanished, the movers emptied the women’s two-bedroom on East 31st Street and carted their belongings to their new sixth-floor apartment at 20th Street and First Avenue. They finished shortly before the electricity went out and the elevator shuddered to a stop. Calling it a rough week barely begins to describe New York after Hurricane Sandy.