Recap

Preparing for Disasters

Preparedness experts and authors, Stan Deyo and his wife Holly Drennan Deyo, spoke about how to anticipate and survive various disasters, both natural and manmade. The next 5-6 years could give us some real grief in terms of global warming and natural disasters, as the sun is in a period of higher activity, said Stan. He currently foresees a possible major quake in the Australia/New Guinea area as there has been a build up of forces on the tectonic plates in that region. For more on weather and earth changes, see this list of articles, the Deyos have highlighted.

Looking at disasters from a post-Katrina perspective, Stan expressed concerns over the aging levee system in Northern California, and Holly noted that evacuating an area can take more time than you might think because of traffic jams and fuel shortages. You can't depend on FEMA or any other agency to come to your aid, she added.

They discussed building an "expedient shelter" in your home in the event of various disasters, in which interior doors are turned into a protective frame. Holly also listed the items a person should have for a 72-hour emergency kit, which included water, MREs, first aid, road flares, maps, duct tape, cash, and a portable toilet. Click here for Holly's complete list.

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Return of 'Stardust'

NASA's Stardust mission successfully returned to Earth with its capsule (carrying cometary and interstellar particles) landing in Utah on January 15th (pictured). For more, view a video report from BBC News, or visit NASA's Stardust site.