Darrell wrote: “I started preparing when my 1971 Volkswagen Bug broke down in the desert between Grand Junction, Colorado and Green River, Utah. I was 16 at the time and had $15 in my pocket, no food, and no water with me. In 1985 people didn’t have cell phones, so I had to flag down someone and ask them to call my dad who was 2 hours away. After trying to stop many cars, one finally stopped, and I was “rescued”. Since then, I’ve been extremely committed to being prepared for difficult or unexpected circumstances that pop up in everyone’s life. I’ve been a Scoutmaster in various wards for around 20 years and loved teaching youth to be prepared. One of my favorite things to do is find new survival gear and test it out. Don’t be surprised if you see me lying down in the yard in winter with an emergency mylar blanket wrapped around me testing out the heat – reflective capabilities. I have more flashlights, solar panels, and 1 st aide gear than any one person should own, but being prepared to help those in need brings me a lot of peace.”