Downtime doesn't sound so bad when your site is relatively unknown... What happens when your fortunate enough to get your first piece of good press that directs

Downtime doesn't sound so bad when your site is relatively unknown... What happens when your fortunate enough to get your first piece of good press that directs a flood of traffic to your site? Seems to me that's when downtime is most likely to happen, and when you'd have preferred to pay professionals to prepare you for it.