But what you wrote simply underscores my point.  These are people who may be experts in what they do, but their knowledge appears to be limited to just that -- what they personally experienced.  If one has not lived in an area where the power grid has been compromised in a major way, one cannot know what this would mean -- UNLESS one reads and chooses to inform oneself about what goes on in other parts of the state, country, world.  One cannot know how to prepare for this, unless one goes through drills, or, again, unless one reads, etc.  
Each of us is limited in what we know.  But it seems to me that we ought to try to learn about what is happening around us.  EFC pointed out caustically that I don't read First Amendment cases, and that's true.  However, if there were a First Amendment case in the Supreme Court, I would become much more knowledgeable than I am at present.
cont'd