Just when you think you've got it all under control...

The sidewalk's shoveled, parking spaces are plowed, door locks are thawed, and the chatter of a store full of customers is drowning out the incessant but disregarded humming, whirring and bubbling sounds of tanks full of happy, healthy fish.. Then, instantaneously and without warning, the whole scene is plunged into an eerie darkness and silence.

A loss of electrical power is a nuisance for people: we might miss a rerun of "Crocodile Hunter" or a Rush Limbaugh monologue, or the toaster pastries might never get done. But for a tank full of fish, an outage means their life support systems are no longer functioning, and catastrophe is right around the corner. And while a few of the best-prepared shopkeepers and managers will not only possess but know how to use a gas-powered generator, most of us will just tough it out and hope for the best.

The first rule in any emergency is to step back and take a moment to assess the situation before making a first move. Many situations are not nearly as dire as they first appear, and actions taken during a moment of panic are often more disastrous than no action at all. Due to the grace, or perhaps self-interest, of the local power company, businesses often seem to be near the top of the list when it comes to restoring power, and a few minutes to an hour without electricity should be no cause for alarm. Some stores even remain open for busin ...