Use tapered pail like containers and let partially thaw so the ice releases.

I don't think I made myself clear.

Imagine there's no utilities. They were cut off, so no heat. No hot or cold running water.

Just frozen water in round, tapered 3qt. containers.

How do you then thaw out the contents of the containers for drinking water?

You could put the pail in the direct sun. You could also put a metal one on your propane camp stove or fire pit that you may now plan for.

If the ambient temperature of the air is above 32 degrees expose it early enough so it melts a little bit.

I do have a compact Lopi wood stove which I don't know how to use. Bought it years ago. It involved blood,sweat,tears, and now realize its useless for me since I'm too weak to clean the flue, and barely have much wood available. It proved way more trouble than was worth, but I'd gotten it upon advice of well-meaning guys on a message board.

So now I have alot of 3qt round containers filled with water.

So how do I safely thaw them assuming I'd get the wood stove working, in the event of emergency?

Wouldn't the plastic of the containers warp, if upended into a pot resting on the wood stove?

Lopi is a pretty good brand and you can look around for a person to clean the flue for you although I used to do it with no trouble at all. If you get the stove going, just set the bowls around it to melt them.

Why is the water frozen? It will keep in gallon jugs without freezing it.

OK. Hang on a minute. You are planning ahead. You may need water and I guess, don't have a bath tub. You have stored water. You have a very good wood stove that you apparently don't use. If it isn't in regular use, the flue certainly doesn't need cleaning except for a possible check to look for a bird nest if the flue cap is not a screened cap. You could even light some newspaper and a few little sticks to check instead of actually looking.

You don't likely need a season of wood, but only enough for a few days. If you needed more and strength is really an issue, you likely would have more issues that would overwhelm your situation and rescue would be a better approach.

The simple solution is to find someone to provide a pile of wood. You could buy it, but if cost is an issue, many people have extra scrap or cut wood and if you can find a friend with a pick up truck, you would likely be in business. The wood does have to be cut small enough to fit into the stove! Get a tarp to protect the wood. Build a test fire to make sure you can run the Lopi. You could also plan ahead and check your water heater drain to see if the drain will actually let water out into a pan (easier than getting those containers).

I'm talking about a scenario in which any stored water might freeze due to lack of heat. Imagine frozen pipes. Imagine grid shut-down including water. I have approx. a quarter of a cord of wood in basement, as well as some tiny-length logs piled on a pallet in backyard, from when I had a tree guy over to cut down a tree and branches encroaching the house. Please understand that there are some situations that are very unconventional such that I'm constantly set back - counter to most advices. (i.e. uncannily consistent "wrong.guy wrong.time scenarios".) Do not assume anything. Do not assume there is anybody available to help me. Do not assume I'm surrounded by your average type of social and geo environment - not least of which is one's anatomy. Whew...now that's dispensed with, I may as well say that I've been very tempted to consider solar energy with battery backup. Is that a preferred option? But I'm so tired by now of my cumulative life, that I just feel like crawling into a fetal position and resting. (as if life lets me do that..

Well, sad to say, sounds like you are just going to curl up in a fetal position and die.

Presumably you would be able to find someone to get the stove going so you will have a place above 32* and if you bring in some bowls of ice they will sooner or later thaw out.

Learn how to do stuff for yourself; it is not hard at all. If you are so incapacitated that you can do nothing for yourself, move in with someone or have someone move in with you.

Well, I certainly assumed grid failure and danger of frozen pipes. The wood stove with fuel that you already have, will prevent the frozen pipes. And no, off grid battery backup sounds like a loser for almost everyone considering the expense and continual maintanance. Since you have already provided sufficient heat and water, you are already set.