NYC 911 and EMS radios went down for 30 minutes when power went out. And they kept going out for the rest of the night. Uncle Sam couldn't get fuel to generators and ambulances because nobody knew where everyone is. Anyway even if uncle sam was ready to take care of all the unprepared I will do my part and ease the load by being ready.

Matt

Would an ARC AAA and an ARC LS count? I was in the subway when the power went out - Got lucky, the train was in the station. I helped folks out of the station with my ARC LS. The AAA is on my keys, but I figured I'd be better off with the LS

Bravo! That is truely what it takes for a society to be prepared! It isn't enough to realize our individual needs for preparedness - we also need to look around and see what impact we can have individually on the level of societal preparedness!

Firstly, be individually prepared - that will ease the load on the overall society in every case

Secondly, As possible / reasonable help others by shining your preparedness light in the stairwell of surprise and fear when the unexpected becomes reality. This may be the light of reason and education shared over coffee at work while discussing the recent news or it may be the light of your innova X5 lighting the path out of a subway and providing an example for others to pick-up on the value of helping others with your personal preparations. Who knows if the other-guy would have bothered to help others if you hadn't. Perhaps he would have used his little light to get home without waiting for others to be helped by shining it down the stair.

I applaud all who bothered to use their preparations for the general good rather than holing themselves up with their own.

It is too bad that there are so many in need of so much so often. It is great that there are some - like those who frequent this forum - who are well enough prepared to offer so much to so many when the need arises!

thats what i used to try to tell people, but it is a waste of tme... they think i'm paranoid or something. Wenn i said that thing on mine keychain was a led light, after someone asked what it was, she replies: oh, just in case the world ends.... ( in a sacastic way )

Sure, they count! Excellent.

Seems as though we humans specialize in closing the barn door only after the cow runs out.

I guess being prepared is close to being a nerd, or maybe Boy Scout-mindedness is passe. Anyway, no one wants to be compared to a nerd. My preparedness must be well known now. Whenever something happens, I usually hear, "Go ask Craig, he'll have one."

I agree with you entirely. I simply don't understand reasoning like that. Yes, the Fed will help or at least try, but they are not omnipotent. They cannot be everywhere and do everything. Only Superman can. Grin.

My outlook is more like, okay, help is probably on the way or it's being organized. Until some help arrives or the situation resolves itself, I'm on my own.

Carrying a Photon II, which I always do, may become moot if the trend toward cell phones with built-in flashlights continues. BTW you can use a cell phone's illuminated screen as an emergency light. My Nokia gives off a barely usable light if I keep on hitting a button every minute. This is enough light in very dark rooms or stuck in an elevator.

Some cell phones are bright. The people in the movie theater at the end of the row I was in Sunday sure had a bright one <img src="images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />