Kitteh has a smart.

This kitty has it half right.
To be “Preparedness Geek Specific,” kitty should:

DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),
Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and
HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

But, we still give the little guy props for covering his head, not running outside, AND for performing [...]

Loma Preita, 20 years later

I wasn’t here in 1989. In fact, I was 2200 miles away from here. I was also far too preoccupied with My Little Ponies to watch the national news or the World Series (I was 8). Hence, I didn’t even know that it had happened. But in October of 1989, this town that I’ve come to call home was shaken to its very core.

Wildfire Awareness Week, May 3-9

Did you know that this week is Wildfire Awareness Week? After a rainy start, its hard to imagine that we’re heading straight into another Wildfire season, and that CAL FIRE is already ramping up their training.

Swine Flu information and resources

Everyone at the Red Cross knows that the best way to keep your anxiety in check about emergencies is to be prepared for an emergency. And with all of the media-hype surrounding the outbreak of Swine Flu, you might need something to bring your nerves back to ground level.

Gosh, we’re clever.

There’s a good chance that if you don’t know CPR, you’ll be eaten by a bear.

“LOST” in Translation

Despite my growing admiration for the show, as a proud Red Cross Employee and self-certified Preparedness Geek, I feel that I must bring to light some misconceptions about CPR and First Aid that LOST has been perpetuating. OK, apparently there’s some “mystical force” on the island that keeps saving everyone… but in the absence of a mystical force (or lucky appearance of a doctor) in your emergency situation, here are some mystical misconceptions clarified:

Pandemic Flu

“I thought that whole Bird Flu thing was over!?” you say…

CPR in The Office…

Did anyone see The Office on Sunday? I, unfortunately, missed it because I had fallen into what I could only assume was a Nacho Cheese Coma (I’m out of football watching shape…). It was only a few days ago that I learned of the Red Cross mention – and the CPR class of doom…

Another Dry Year?

While the heat wave last week was great for some mid-winter outdoor shenanigans, it is worrying those who keep a watchful eye on the water supply here in Santa Cruz County. The numbers are bleaker this year than during the 1977 drought, when Santa Cruz County received only 2.4 inches of rain.

A rumble to the east…

In the last week (or so) there have been several small earthquakes in the Hollister area. It could be that the fault is just letting off some steam… or it could mean a larger earthquake is on its way.