In past columns I’ve referenced a semi-natural event back in 1996 that blacked out ten western states and my own reaction to it. This last Sunday the Review-Journal published a piece by John Solomon entitled Americans Are Unprepared for natural disasters. (note:Link takes you to the original Washington Post piece.) In that piece Solomon quotes a Red Cross survey that 93 percent of Americans are unprepared for a natural disaster, a pandemic, or a terrorist attack.

I think that number, believe it or not, is low.

I believe that to be low because of the reaction to the 1996 power failure.

FLASHBACK: I was heading down Main Street on my way home (which now is the site of Steve Wynn’s employee parking garage) when I noticed radio stations dropping off the air...including mine! I hotfooted it to the station to find that I had left a disc in a drive and the on-air control computer wouldn’t boot. We also had satellite receiver failures, so I had to quickly assess the situation and throw on what programming I could find. Finally, I saw the first story trickle in over Bloomburg and (get this) the Xinhua news agency (that’s China, folks!) that there was a major power failure affecting the western US.

Not knowing the impact as to what was happening, and getting intermittent phone calls from people wanting to know as well, I went on the air and started taking phone calls, drawing on my years of experience in the Midwest on how to handle power failures due to tornadoes, floods, ice storms and the like. I stayed on the air talking with people and helping them through the failures.

It was hours later that the station owner, our esteemed publisher (who had been on a plane to Tulsa), called to find out what the new kid was doing to his station. Listeners were calling his toll free line and writing the station to thank us for what we did.

But really, it was no big deal. I was prepared.

Honestly, none of the other stations in Las Vegas knew what to tell people to do.

People were afraid for their food, their animals, their personal well being, and didn’t know to shut off their air conditioning and unplug their appliances until after the power came back on, lest all the neighborhood’s start up power at once blowing another transformer and keeping your neighborhood dark hours longer.

We had people listening for hours that night, and it sure gave me a good feeling knowing my information was appreciated.

I wasn’t surprised at all about the ignorance of the public, but had to really think as to where to send you to learn more about preparedness.

The fed’s ready.govis a good start, but I strongly suggest the Red Cross website for more detailed emergency information. They’ve been in the disaster recovery business a lot longer (and performed far better) than the gubmint.

One of the things you’ll need is a good source of self-powered lighting and communication. Battery operated equipment is OK, but batteries can become scarce in a severe situation and can deplete rapidly.

I first saw the Freeplayline of gear at the Consumer Electronics Show in 1997 and became a believer. Unlike other "crank" devices which use a Dynamo to charge a battery, the crank on a Freeplay device winds a spring which, as it unwinds, turns a small generator that creates immediate power.

I have two of the original units that I bought on eBay and would never part with them.

The Freeplay websiteoffers not only radios, but flashlights, lanterns, and alternative power sources for charging portable electronics.

In addition to the Freeplay sources, consider getting some of those flashlights you see on TV that you shake to charge.

Of course keeping some easy to prepare emergency foodon hand is a good idea, but how do you prepare it? Perhaps it might be a good excuse to buy a new propane gas grill– and don’t forget a manual can opener!

Do some research now, stock up now, and the next time the lights go

out, you’ll be prepared.