I have not had such a tramatic wakeup call but I have had many much smaller mundane wake up calls. My training started as a Boy Scout and was fostered thorugh years of being a member of the Fire, EMS, and rescue services. Y2K prompted me to increase my families preparations. Extreme weather causing state wide flooding, week long power outages, and virtually closing town the down for a week due to ice and snow, have allowed me to practice and use my supplies. <br><br>As a responder, I have seen on a daily basis how well meaning and otherwise knowledgable people are caught without necessary supplies and plans, sometimes through no direct fault of their own. The constant reminder of seeing how others are effected, has encouraged me to try and prepare for the unplanned event. <br><br>Even after years of research, I constantly come across new ideas and techniques that make my preparations obsolete or in need of adjustment. <br><br>I look forward to your insights.