We've all been there many times:

You're sitting in the living room, watching television with your family, and  the lights flicker and are gone.

It's dark and the kids are scared. So, you get  some flashlights, get out a game or two and make the best of it.  You turn on your battery-powered radio to hear what has happened and how long you'll be in the dark, then switch over to some nice music.  It's kind of fun, even, and you have a chance for some real time with your family.

A couple hours later, you get everyone ready for bed in the dark. You hand each of the kids a cyalume light stick and tell them the power will be on before they wake up the next morning.  And, it usually is.

But, what if it doesn't come back on the next morning? What if it's already been hours...what are you going to do for breakfast? How will you save the food in your refrigerator?  How are you going to fix your hair, iron your clothes, take a shower in cold water, get everyone off to school and work?

And, what if it's not back on in a couple of days?  How will you care for your family? And, what about the pets? It's getting awfully hot in the house and tempers are getting short.  How do you keep YOUR cool?

Most of us are nowhere near prepared for any emergency, let alone a long-term one. 

If a typhoon is in the forecast, or you've heard that the bird flu is a reality, you'll have time to prepare (see Typhoon Countdowns and Bird Flu).  However, if it's something like an earthquake or terrorist attack you will have no warning at all.  The only way to get through it with your sanity intact is to always plan for the worst.

Emergency preparedness requires knowledge, forethought and action. It's so easy to think nothing will happen to us, but it can and does.

Assuming that you have not completely stocked your emergency locker, things are going to be tough - but you can manage.  You can usually get to the store and buy what you need, hit McDonald's for a few meals, and maybe even check into a motel for a warm shower.  On the other hand, let's assume that you put off preparing your emergency kit because you "have plenty of time to do that"  and you're trapped in your house for a few days. It happens.  Emergency personnel sometimes take 72 hours to reach a disaster area - your roads may be impassable - the outside air may not be safe to breathe - or worse. 

You know that you won't have air conditioning, refrigeration , lights or television. Be prepared, though: you will not be able to get gasoline from a service station or get money from an ATM. Without power, your water supply also may be lost (and if running, it may be contaminated).

If you lose power, be sure your house is not the only one. Call the power company if your neighbors have power. Try to keep your refrigerator and freezer closed for the first day, in case your power comes back on.

Turn off all lights and appliances to prevent surges when the power returns (but, don't try this during a storm!). Try to avoid candles and lanterns (fire hazard) - use flashlights or battery lanterns instead.

To keep the heat down, keep the windows open for maximum cross-ventilation and use plenty of wet cloths for head, neck, wrists and ankles. Try not to sleep on a mattress or couch - use a hammock if you have one. My husband slept on the hard tile floor for over a week, just to stay cool.

Be sure to drink plenty of water - you may already be dehydrated before you feel thirsty.

COMING SOON: FOOD PREP WITHOUT POWER

* You can make Jell-o without a refrigerator: reduce the amount of water down to one-half and allow it to sit longer. It will set up for a dessert.

*get some dry ice if you can - it'll keep your freezer cold

---- Remember, in many emergencies, your computer will be inaccessible, so a hard copy of any Paradise Organized chapters you find especially helpful is a good thing to have on hand! ----