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So when an atheist has an emergency, and sacrifices have to be made for the good of another, day in and day out, making your own future uncertain, where do you find hope, solace and joy, if you do not believe in a higher power?

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I find hope in people -- as hard as it is at times. I generally like people. They make me happy (not always, but moreso than not). I treat people how I think they want to be treated -- as I would like that in return. Mutually cooperating brings happiness. To those that I'm very close to, I would make almost any sacrifice, because they mean so much to me -- if I didn't, I would be unhappy knowing that there was something I could have done to save/help them, but didn't do it. It's not altruism, it's compassion (literally, "suffering with another"; when they hurt, I hurt; when they are happy, I am happy).