Earthquake

When it comes to natural disasters, it's best to prepare for the worst, then hope for the best: experts recommend storing enough emergency resources for at least three days. This includes food and drink!

Here are seven shelf-stable provisions that I recommend you have on hand:

1. Canned fish. This isn't just limited to tuna, but also includes salmon, herring, sardines, anchovies, and shellfish; it's rich in calories, protein, and healthy fats like omega-3s. Keep a manual can opener around for the good-quality stuff from Matiz España. Can't stomach those little metal cans? Try making a fresh homemade version.
2. Nut butters. Peanut, almond, cashew, and sunflower seed butter make for great sweet and savory plant-based protein sources given their extended shelf life.
3. Crackers. What else are you going to eat alongside peanut butter and tuna? Stock up on the most whole-grain, nutrient-dense crispbreads you can find, with a high amount of fiber and/or protein and low sodium (so you won't constantly be hogging that water supply).
4. Ramen. Instant ramen is delicious, whether there's an impending earthquake or not. Keep a box favorite brand (mine's Nong Shim Neoguri) around just in case.
5. Dehydrated fruits and vegetables. Where else are you going to get your daily dose? Have packs of dried apricots and bananas at the ready for quick access. Those dehydrated vegetables will come in handy for snacking — and those packets of ramen, too.
6. Sports bars. High-protein sports bars are easy to keep on hand, light and compact, and already preportioned. Get busy buying up your favorite.
7. Canned meals. There's nothing like sauce-laden comfort food to get you through tough times. Best bets: barbecued beans and ravioli.
8. Water! The most important provision of them all. Account for one gallon of H20 per person, per day. Drinking water tablets, for portable water purification, aren't a bad idea, either.

What foods are in your natural disaster preparedness kit?

In addition to some of the already-known iOS 5 features, citizens of Japan will get a potentially life-saving inclusion: earthquake warnings. Apple has included a built-in feature that connects Japanese iPhones to the national earthquake warning system and will allow users to opt in to push notifications that alert them of an upcoming earthquake within minutes or seconds before it hits.

Since Japan sits on three different tectonic plates, it sees an average of 1,500 earthquakes annually. And as we saw earlier this year, Japan's warning system can help save lives.

Need to catch up on the other features coming with iOS 5? Check them out after the break.

My office sent my colleagues and me to an earthquake training 101 class yesterday — it was very interesting and a little bit terrifying. For one, the presenter showed us a simulation of what the Bay Bridge in San Francisco will look like if there was an earthquake that rated a 7 on the Richter scale rippling through the city. Suffice to say, the image of the bridge bending like playdough seriously scared me. I'm going to start being more prepared for natural disasters, and you should do the same with these tips:

• Sensible Footwear: If you're a heel-loving gal, make sure you at least keep a pair of sensible shoes with thick soles at the office. This is so when you walk home, your feet will be protected from the rubble and glass bits.
• Masks: If parts of buildings have collapsed or fallen, the air is bound to be dusty. Get a mask that will filter the dust out so you can walk home.
• Food and Water: Make sure your office has a storage of water and food to sustain you for 72 hours (it's the most critical time for an earthquake).
• Duck, Cover, and Hold: The most dangerous thing that can happen indoors is falling objects, so make sure you get under your desk when the ground shakes and hold onto it.
• Wait For It: Check with your building if this applies to you, but they should have earthquake announcements that will inform people when it's safe to leave by the stairs. Although your immediate impulse will be to go home and get away from your office building, wait for the building to announce if it's safe to leave. Sometimes the stairs might not be reliable, and your building will let you know if there are any problems with it.

For more tips to get you prepared for an earthquake, read on.

In a move to help its countrymen, Shiseido has donated 100 million Japanese Yen (approximately $1,239,000) to provide relief to those affected by last week's devastating earthquake and tsunami. In addition, the Japanese brand is also giving needy people 10,000 bottles each of its dry shampoo, medicated hand soap, and two different sizes of quick-drying disinfectant lotion.

To find out how you can lend a hand, too, head to the Red Cross's website, call 1-800-RED-CROSS, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Photo courtesy of Shiseido

On Tuesday afternoon, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake, an aftershock of the 7.1 magnitude quake on Sept. 4, collapsed buildings in Christchurch, New Zealand. Initial reports suggest that damage and fatalities far exceed that registered in the initial quake. Scary stuff indeed. Here in the Bay Area, a major earthquake in the next 10 years is nearly an inevitability. Whether your home is located in an area that's in danger of experiencing an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, or major snowstorm, it's smart to be prepared. The American Red Cross recommends having enough food and water on hand to support every member of your household for at least three days. They've also got a great list of other must haves you may not have thought of, including bleach and a non-electric can opener.

• Water. The Red Cross recommends one gallon per day per person, including pets. If you don't have any stored, why not make a habit of picking up a gallon or two every time you go to the supermarket?
• Food. Concentrate on ready-to-eat canned fruits, veggies, juice, and meat, as well as protein-rich snacks like trail mix and granola bars. Don't forget vitamins and special supplies for any elderly family members, babies, and pets.
• A first-aid kit with Band-Aids, latex gloves, gauze pads, a thermometer, over-the-counter drugs, and necessary prescription medications.

For the other essentials, read more

Come October, Macy's will launch an exclusive new home décor collection, The Heart of Haiti, to bring trade and aid to Haiti. Created by artisan survivors of the 2010 earthquake, the line will include traditional handmade Haitian décor items and will be available online and in 25 Macy's stores across the country.

To kickstart the initiative, Macy's has been funding more than 200 local craftspeople with money needed to buy materials to return full-time to work. Macy's has teamed up with existing local artisan groups such as a women's quilting cooperative in Cite Soleil and a blacksmith community in Croix des Bouquets, so the line, including quilts, metalwork, ceramics, wood-carvings, paintings, and more, will have a long history in the region.

Macy's already has an ongoing relationship with Fair Winds Trading, which creates sustainable businesses in impoverished areas. So the department store currently stocks some handmade Haitian products through FWT, including for example this Coral Candle Holder ($60) and Multicolor Vase ($40). You can expect to see this style of décor in The Heart of Haiti, but they are two separate initiatives.