Wishing Safety from Whirling Dervishes and other Natural Disasters

My friend just texted me and told me she's hiding out in her basement. She lives in Kansas City and a tornado threatens yet again. I am worried for her, yet thankful for cellars right now.

I have friends all over the country -- many in tornado alley. In particular, I am thinking of some dear ones in Missouri, New Orleans, Oklahoma, Alabama and Tennessee. I listen to the news and I see their faces. The violent weather that is either destroying or threatening their daily lives is beyond crazy. I wish I had a special power to stop it.

I wonder where the safest place on earth is. Or rather, is there such a place? I'm talking natural disaster rather than crime. A few years back a Forbes article ranked Hawaii among the safest places to live, with Santa Fe and Boise, Idaho close behind.

When I moved to Florida in 2002, I didn't think about weather systems. Hurricanes were not on my mental radar. In September 2004, however, after surviving Frances, but thinking we might not, I was obsessed with them.

With one week till the official launch of hurricane season, I am not raiding the shelves for water and canned goods quite yet. My preparedness style is to pick up a few things here and there. I don't want to get stuck in a panic like I did in 2004. I promise to keep 4 spare gallons of water, a dozen "c" batteries, and to keep my gas tank at least half full.

From my house to yours, wishing you safely through....................