Today, my wife and I live in Western Washington State, a land of many rivers, streams, wetlands, and rain. So, the danger of flooding concerned us as we searched for property. The house we built sits atop a large hill. Several times the hill has become an island in a sea of flood waters, but the house has never been touched. For me, prepping is like insurance. I buy what I think I need. Our land on this hill is my flood insurance.

The next day we knew much more about the situation in the Denver metro area. Thousands remained without heat and light. Many roads were washed away or flooded. We knew all of that about Shaffers Crossing because we were living it. According to radio reports, hundreds of repair crews were working to fix the problems around Denver. No one seemed to be aware that we were also without power and phones. Perhaps, since there were so few of us, we were merely low on the priority list. Armed with more questions than answers my father left to try and find a way out of the hills and valleys where we lived.

In a crisis, what you expect from the government depends upon your political viewpoint. In 2005 as hurricane Katrina reached New Orleans, Mayor Ray Nagin directed residents to shelter at the city convention center without any provision for food, water, or medical care. Within a day, many were desperate for drinking water.