Not sure if you've seen the news recently but the problem your friend has isn't just a weather cancellation from a minor event like a passing line of storms, it's the super typhoon that struck Taiwan causing no small amount of destruction and disruption. So it isn't that all of the flights are just full for the next 3 days (though the flights that do start going out will be, no doubt), but the domino effect from this major weather event!

If the airline you're on can't or won't re-accommodate you on something else and you have to be home sooner, then it's a choice between shelling out the cash (or perhaps redeeming miles at an anytime/standard level) for a walkup fare on a flight that gets you home in time or waiting it out. That's where either having plenty of cash reserves or adequate travel insurance would potentially help. Of course with your friend's situation none of that would help if there simply aren't flights operating any sooner.