You know, everybody thinks they're prepared until they get knee deep into the emergency and realize they forgot something. At the last NARC meeting, we discussed what we did and didn't do, our level of preparedness, and what we could do to make things better during the Hurricane Rita Event.

GO KIT: DAILY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS GEAR IDEAS - This site is one of the best I've seen so far on gearing up for an event.

Here in East Texas, we also discovered the need for battery powered fans. When the power is out, and its 97 degrees outside, just a little circulation can mean the difference between miserable and tolerable. A 12 volt DC accessory fan (available at Wal-Mart for less than $10) can be attached to your 12 volt gel cell and make a huge difference in your comfort level.