It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat, a Republican, or a Traditionalist for Puce. If you live in Earthquake Country, you could be troubled by yesterday's revelations in the front page story of the New York Times, "When storm hit, National Guard was deluged too."

Among other morsels, the story says the Guard has available for use just 34 percent of its equipment--in the whole country. The rest is in Iraq. So are 3,200 New Orleans guardsmen, leaving 5,700 ready for hurricane duty.

I wonder what would happen after a major quake here. It's all the more reason to get your supplies ready, your plans set, and the REACT training behind you.