I don't mean to preach at all, but isn't running up large credit card bills courting with disaster? I would be kind of disapointed to have to eat into my hard earned emergency rations for a credit card company. Not so long ago the CEO of Barkleys Bank (a man earning a 6 figure salary) told a House of Commons committee (kind of like a senate comittee/inquiry) he wouldn't borrow money from his CC he couldn't afford to pay back that month - the rates were in his opinion extortionate.
Having said that, I found myself in a similar position a couple of years back..I paid them back, then took the advice of the CEO...
Great post, your certainly sound a lot more prepared than I am.
Regards
Martin