Well - the power is on (for now) and me and all the dogs really had no problems with the power outage due to our preparedness. We had a major icestorm here in '98 and it was quite a wake up call to many people and it did make me more aware of the need to think ahead and have an emergency plan for home and kennel. We operate in remote areas in the winter and are well equipped headlamps, stoves, oil lamps and because we are rural have a woodstove and an "outhouse". I live about 100 yards from a river so water isn't a big problem. BUT I realized I am prepared for winter power outages better than summer - two freezers full to the brim with meat(beef on sale due to mad cow scare) I was having thoughts of having to pitch all those lovely cheap beef roasts to the dogs! I am pretty lucky in my situation here but it could be very different for somebody else. There have been terrible fires in BC and Alberta causing evacuations etc. It got me to thinking - could I "bug out" of here with all the dogs (16)safely in 15 mins or less if I had to? I am now making sure I am well prepared and the dog truck is as well packed and ready to go in the summer as it is in the winter. I am making sure that there is enough food, water, piquet lines, bowls, first aid eqpt and fuel in the truck to allow for a speedy departure. Just something to think about.