Disaster planning should be part of every single household across America, strike that, the world. When disaster strikes, people die or lives are changed. In times of plenty, forego the Playstations and buy extra food. You can explain a lack of toys better than a lack of food to your children.

Three years ago, our home caught fire. I spent time in intensive care and almost died, thus I know from whence I speak. 

As we go into our third season of "This Old Shack", disaster planning and survival episodes become more important. After all, that's what alternative energy is - the ability for you to survive without an infrastructure. All of our episodes of This Old Shack and our new show, "CSI:SALINE" will reflect this in 2009. Oh, of course there's going to be laughs and beer drinking - this survival crap is depressing to think about.

So, practice your fire drills with the crumbcrunchers, practice evacuating yourselves, your pets, your neighbors. Learn how to use a fire extinguisher. And watch our videos!

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NAVIGATION

But why solar power?

There were several reasons for the switch:

• Sprinkle of rain = power failure.

• Giving a little back by not using so much.

• Independent living.

Benefits:

• Renewable power.
• Learning about solar power.
• Own stock in the solar panel company. :-)
• I like batteries.
• I can sit around smoking a cigar because I'm an energy mogul!

Drawbacks:

• Maintenance.
• Installation.
• Bunch of black glass panels sitting around.

  National Weather Service Article