This is an email that was forwarded to me... and is pretty much the way I received it. Hopefully it only inspires us to continue our efforts...

This is a true story of a family who had to evacuate their Texas home in early January 2006, due to high winds and fast moving grass fires. We live in a "new time" of unheard of disasters happening nearly every day to communities in the U.S.A. Do you have your action plan in place? Perhaps, you will get around to it later, and be a reactor to every crisis that comes your way. Maybe you'll expect FEMA, or the Red Cross to provide for your every need?

I have seen and read lots about it happening to other people, and just like everyone else, I never thought it would happen to me. On Tuesday, 12/27/05, the Hood County, TX Sheriff’s Deputies and volunteer fire dept., evacuated the area where I live due to grass/brush fires burning out of control. We had about 30 minutes notice. We removed the two rear seats from the Tahoe, loaded the pets in their respective pet carriers, packed what clothing we could get into travel bags, gathered up a few precious items, and grabbed most of the Christmas gifts for the kids. My wife collected all of the required medication (she is diabetic and keeps extra insulin and such at home). I grabbed my pistol, my big rifle and a shotgun. I grabbed a couple of cases of bottled water and a case of MREs that I keep handy. Each of my children had an assigned task, which they carried out without question or hesitation, and I’m proud of them for that. I have insurance on everything we left behind, so I was not too worried about it. And then we went on down the road to a church as instructed by the deputy. Once at the gathering point we checked in. I noticed a whole lot of unprepared people and a Red Cross van. These nut cases (other evacuees) were actually in a huge panic. I noticed a lot of guys standing around speculating about what may happen, and where the fire might go and so on. I had no intention of joining their banter session. I gave my cell phone number to a deputy that I kind of knew, and took my family on into town to have dinner. We waited at a friend’s house for a few hours and then drove back to the church where we had originally stopped. The place was much like the messes we see on TV where it is all but utter chaos. I was embarrassed by the lack of planning from some of these people. Just ridiculous. I was just about to leave again, when a deputy announced the particular areas where it was safe to return home. We were very lucky. We were allowed back on our street, and the house was still there. 27 homes within about a mile of our home were lost, completely gone. The fire had come within about 200 yards of our place. The electricity was out, so I fired up the little generator so we could run the refrigerator and the freezer along with having some lights. I had neighbors wanting to know how I had lights and they did not. Silly people. I didn’t sleep much that night, and we kept a close eye on things for the next couple of days. As of right now, things are fine, but the danger of more fire is still very real. What I do not understand, is why people cannot prepare themselves for emergencies and then act in a responsible manner when necessary. ESPECIALLY when there is ample warning ahead of time.

This story is from a nonmember. We as members of the Church have had ample warning of what will come, and excellent guidance of how to prepare. Will we be prepared, or will we be making excuses?