I think there's a philosophical shift in people.

I really believe people want to give and like to give locally. It was great to send money to people who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. But it's even better to help these children and their families right here in Pennsylvania.

Thon is an integral part of Penn State, but it's more than that. It's an integral part of State College.

Although we will implement our emergency plan as soon as the event occurs, it will still take time to get assistance out to all who need it. The logistics are simply to wide spread in the east county. I cannot overstate the need to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours. Assistance can come earlier, but you should always be prepared.

That doesn't mean emergency services won't be available, but demands on them may be so great that not all calls will be responded to immediately. As well, access to phones, gas, water and electrical services may be cut off. Learning how to be prepared is vital.

In the event of a disaster, residents would most likely be on their own for at least 72 hours.