Former CBS TV and Newsweek reporter, Hugh Simpson, discussed the need for preparedness in both economic and natural disasters. Getting prepared can be a fun project rather than doom and gloom, he stressed. For example, families can assess what type of disaster is most likely for their area, then practice escape routes, drills, and responsibilities that will engage the kids. A useful item of preparation that he said is worth considering is a tent-- two people with small children could stay in a good quality one, that is 170 square feet, and retails for around $200. By gathering supplies and making plans, people can be prepared when disaster strikes, rather than panicking or hoping the government will come to the rescue, he added.
Appearing for a segment at the top of the third hour, consultant Tim Crockett shared ways to assess risks and minimize negative impacts from various scenarios. He highlighted the importance of being proactive rather reactive, and suggested people review their local conditions, and spend time preparing and planning for the things that are most likely to occur. However, stockpiling food & water and knowing some first aid, will apply to any type of emergency, he noted. He also advised people to look at what critical infrastructure sites are in their neighborhood such as a power station or refinery, and consider what dangers they might pose.
Coach Howard Williams joined the conversation in the bottom half of the third hour, speaking about his experience as a catastrophe adjuster. He said Hurricane Andrew was the worst disaster he ever worked on. It was like a 50-mile tornado, and no one was prepared for it. "When I first got down there, there were police cars blown off the road, and no sign of emergency services; signs were gone, and there was no power or electricity. You found roads based on coming to recognize the piles of debris that were in the intersection," he detailed. Based on such experiences, he recommends that people scan irreplaceable family photos and documents onto a memory stick, and keep a copy of it out of the region.
JC Brown & Mount Shasta
First hour guest, writer Stephen Sindoni talked about the legend of JC Brown, a man who claimed to have discovered an ancient civilization in the hollows of Mt. Shasta. During the period of 1903-4, Brown said that while prospecting in the Cascade Mountain Range, he traveled miles into a tunnel which led to the remnants of a city, a skeleton that was 6.5 to 10 ft. tall, and the mummified remains of a King and Queen he believed were from Lemuria. Sindoni announced that he's planning to make a documentary about the mysteries of Mount Shasta and nearby caves.
News segment guests: John M. Curtis, Lauren Weinstein