Table of contents

COVER
What's next?
Earthquakes, hurricanes– the disasters have been coming fast and furious these last weeks, but you'll be ready for your next natural disaster with tips from the experts, including local chefs and other notables who'll help you stock up in style for your next power outage. (Caution: you're on your own for comet strikes and sinkholes.)

NEWS
Tritium trouble?
A week after the 5.8 earthquake that rocked the East Coast, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Committee's sent a specialized team to inspect the still-closed North Anna power plant. But one activist says he's not comforted– the inspection might not uncover one of the most likely risks: contaminated drinking water.

BRAZEN CAREERIST
Write right
You might think you're just jotting a meaningless note, but people can tell a lot about you from your handwriting. Are you projecting the right image? Penelope Trunk offers tips.

ESSAY
Saved by socialism
Anyone who complains that Medicaid is socialism might want to take a hard look into their own future. Janis Jaquith paints a grim picture of what can happen if there's nowhere for the elderly to turn for healthcare when the money runs out.

Omitted this week for space reasons:
Movie times & capsule listings
Sudoku
Black&White by Bill Emory

Cover image:
Aerial photo by Tom Daly.