RE: the threat briefing for civilians.
This is a very good idea, broken down by state, and disseminated across the web.
I'll do one for Texas, and I'd very much appreciate one for Tulsa, Oklahoma.
ETA: Threat briefing page http://www.disastersrus.org/emtools/threats_briefing_sequence.htm

I followed that link to the "Nuclear Power Plants and Energy Assurance Daily". It links to daily NRC reports on events at nuclear power plants. Gives detailed information on each event. Check out October 24, 25 and 26 relating to events at the St. Lucie Nuclear Power plant.

Interesting read...

Why not? It is the neighborly thing to do. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In school, every year, we had people from south of here who had no idea what winter really was. Many of them thought we were pulling thier legs, but that delusion went away by eary March. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> The smart ones believed us when we said that snow by Holloween was possible, days where you are praying for a high of 0 are normal, and it really was possible to loose a car if you use a certain back road in the spring.

Refreshing! Glad that you're back and all is well.

You hit the nail on the head with the "learned helplessness" comment. I think one of the few good things to come out of the Katrina debacle is that a LOT of people saw firsthand that no one is going to take care of them but - themselves.