With fires, you get a warning often hours or more in advance. Same with hurricanes. And floods (unless a dam breaks). Earthquakes? Nope. No warning. Tornadoes. Maybe minutes. Let me tell you all what happened yesterday. I live in a mobile home near O'Hare airport. I have three dogs, a cat and five ferrets who free roam. I was asleep. One of the ferrets had died the night before and I was exhausted. I also have no car. I don't even drive. Does this mean I shouldn't have pets? I have a disaster plan. My friend next door grabs the kids and her car; I grab the pets and we all throw ourselves into the car and run like hell as soon as the sirens hit. Yesterday? Her car was in the shop. I was asleep when the sky went black and the sirens went off. Should I have taken drugs to stay awake? Should I not have pets because I was exhausted? Should my friend have a second car they can't afford 'just in case'? Fortunately, I keep the dog harnesses and leashes in one spot; leashes & harnesses attached to each other. The power died. It was dark outside from the storm and branches were flying. All I had time to do was wish the ferrets luck, grab the dogs and run to the laundromat barefoot (the only brick structure in our park). *That's* how much time someone may have to implement a disaster plan. Seconds. *That's* reality. There was *no* time to hunt down the ferrets, even though I knew where they were sleeping. There was *no* time to stuff them in the prepared carriers. There was simply *no* time to do *anything* but run. So those of you out there saying smugly to yourself that *you* are prepared, that *other* people who abandon their animals can't possibly love them as much as you love yours, take my advice. Don't say *anything* until it happens to you. And try for a bit of well deserved compassion for your fellow pet owners. anne Oh, yes. We are all fine. Without power for 24 hours, but fine. [Posted in FML 5710]