May/June 2013 60 PLUS In Omaha by Omaha Magazine

Mary Anne Vaccaro, Image Consultant

Style at 60 Plus

Express Your Creative Side RV Sweet RV

Three Couples Hit the Road in Their Homes on Wheels

Dr. Mike Sitorius Walks the Walk

Hearing Impairment

Need Not Be a Life Sentence

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Contents volume 1 . issue 3 Active Living: Dr. Mike Sitorius__ S4 Hearing Impairment_________ S6 RV Sweet RV______________ S8 Living on Wheels__________ S10

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Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: letters@omahapublications.com All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 68046-1208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. Subscription rates: $19.95 for 6 issues (one year), $24.95 for 12 issues (two years). No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha®™ is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine.

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60PLUS active living Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Dr. Mike Sitorius Walks the Walk

s a family physician for 33

years, Dr. Mike Sitorius spends time stressing the importance of staying physically active to his patients. And while the doctor, 61, logs 60+ hours a week on the job, as well as serves a leadership role at UNMC, he still finds time to practice what he preaches. Some might say he “walks the walk.” Literally. “I played a lot of basketball up until about my mid-50s when arthritis in my knees forced S4 60PLUS

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me to give it up,” Dr. Sitorius says. “Then I took up walking. I prefer to walk at work and try to get in 8,000 to 10,000 steps a day. I used to use a pedometer, but nowadays I have a pretty good gauge without one.” That may seem like a lot of steps, but Dr. Sitorius says climbing the stairs whenever possible, taking “the long way” to meetings, and walking the six blocks between buildings on the UNMC campus several times daily allow him to rack up steps pretty quickly.

“It’s good physical activity, but it’s the mental part, too…Walking allows me good thinking time,” he adds. He also enjoys walking with his wife, Marilyn, a radiologist, in their Omaha neighborhood two or three times a week when the weather allows. “It’s a great time for us catch up on things with one another.” Dr. Sitorius says he stretches and does balancing exercises regularly as well. “No tools or equipment needed…just my body.” www.OmahaPublications.com

Mental exercise is as important as physical exercise, especially for the aging body, he declares. “Mental activity creates a sense of well-being and a better perception of one’s physical health. I encourage everyone to read—not just a novel but anything—or do something mentally stimulating…Learn something new. Right now, I’m trying to learn all of the new technology out there, one small bit at a time.” One should not underestimate the importance of socializing to one’s health either, Dr. Sitorius says. “It’s easy to become disconnected to other groups, especially with all the technology today. Personal interaction is important. I love everything sports, and I always found time to socialize following my children’s high school and college sport teams (and with five children, that’s a lot of games!) and I’m a huge Husker fan—not just football but all [university] sports.” He also stays connected, both personally and professionally, with his peers, serving on the Nebraska Advisory Commission for Rural Health and the Bellevue Medical Center Board. Think balancing it all is tough with the doctor’s busy schedule? “My dad (who was a rural general practicioner) used to work 110-120 hours a week. He would have no sympathy for my schedule,” he says with a chuckle. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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60PLUS feature Story by Traci Osuna • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Dr. Ken Stallons, ENT Specialists

Hearing Impairment

Need Not Be a Life Sentence

he laughter of little chil-

dren, family chatter at the dinner table, a favorite song on the radio, or even the breeze rustling through the trees… All of these are sounds that we often take for granted. But for those who are struggling with hearing loss, even these simple occurrences take on new importance and are missed more than ever before. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (asha.org), “Thirty percent of adults 65-74 years old, and 47 percent of adults 75 years old or older have a hearing loss.” While that statistic can seem discouraging, the bright side is that, with today’s treatments and advances in technology, there is no real reason that hearing loss is a permanent condition. Britt A. Thedinger, M.D., of Ear Specialists of Omaha, says that there are several types of hearing loss, and they are not limited to seniors. Some causes of diminished hearing S6 60PLUS

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may be overexposure to noise, the result of illness or disease, such as diabetes, or even fluid in the ear canal. “Most people just think, ‘Oh, I have hearing loss. I’m going to go down and get a hearing aid.’ Well, some hearing losses I see are corrected by a surgery,” says Dr. Thedinger. As a certified audiologist with ENT Specialists, Ken Stallons, MS, FAAA, says that there are a variety of treatments for hearing loss, depending on the cause. “There are times when we still put tubes in adult’s ears to correct the problem.” Surgical patches for the eardrum and prosthetic devices to replace broken bones of the middle ear are also options that may best suit the type of hearing loss. But often, the cause of hearing loss in seniors is just a natural consequence of aging. “Presbycusis is the medical term for hearing loss as one gets older,” Dr. Thedinger explains. He says that while hearing loss may not be

an automatic result of aging, “the majority of people, as they mature and get older, will have some degree of hearing loss. But then again, it’s an aging phenomena and genetics that cause progressive hearing loss…kind of like vision change.” Trish Morrow, Au.D. of Central Plains Ear, Nose, and Throat, and Audiology Center, adds that while presbycusis occurs naturally, “the severity of it varies from person to person.” It tends to run in families, she has observed. “There are certain hearing losses that are surgically treatable,” says Dr. Morrow. “But when it’s hearing loss due to aging, that’s not really something that we can treat, other than with hearing aids,” However, people should not be discouraged, as each of the specialists have stressed the great advances that have been made in hearing aids in the last few years. Not only are hearing aids much smaller and more discreet than in the past, but Stallons adds, “They just sound better…cleaner…in noisy environments and situations.” He goes on to say that in the past year, he has been able to help patients address even the mildest of hearing losses when, in the past, the outcome would not have been as desirable. “[The result] would have been an over-amplification and [the patient] wouldn’t have liked how it sounded. But now [the hearing aids] provide such a clean sound that you can start very early with the products.” Each of the specialists recommends not waiting until there is significant hearing loss to seek help, but to consult your doctor or audiologist as soon as you notice a difference in your hearing. “You’ll do much better with hearing aids if you don’t go a long time without having normal auditory stimulation,” adds Dr. Morrow. “But even if they do wait until it’s severe, they can most definitely be helped.” Cochlear implants are noted as the “last resort,” says Stallons, “when traditional hearing aids have failed to produce the kind of results we’re trying to achieve, or they are not an option.” The implants, which provide electrical stimulation to the auditory nerve, are placed in the inner ear during an outpatient surgery. “Actually, the criteria for cochlear implants is becoming much more lenient,” says Dr. Morrow. “It used to be that you practically couldn’t understand anything, even with the best hearing aids on. [Now] people are doing www.OmahaPublications.com

so well with cochlear implants that they’ve loosened up the criteria to become a candidate for one.” Dr. Morrow adds that the implants are so advanced that they are actually now able to save some residual hearing in patients, whereas in the past, “[patients were] totally reliant on the cochlear implants.” Dr. Thedinger explains that hearing loss can impact other aspects of a person’s life, such as their overall social and psychological wellness, as well as their health in general. “If you’re not treating your hearing loss, you tend to be more reclusive,” he shares. “So improving [your] hearing improves your social outlook, and your psychological wellbeing. [In addition to] processing sounds, hearing stimulates your brain, keeps it active, and keeps those cells in your brain working.” Husband and wife Doug and Pat Durbin of Omaha each have two hearing aids and say that the little devices have changed their lives. Pat shares a story that is undoubtedly a familiar one among seniors experiencing hearing loss. After repeatedly asking her grandchildren to repeat themselves during conversations, Pat says, “Finally, two of them were brave enough to say, ‘Grandma, we’re not going to repeat it anymore.’” She continues: “I thought it was a nice way to say, ‘Grandma, do something about your hearing.’ So, I did.” Pat wears a hearing aid that also works as a mini-microphone. With a separate transmitter that can be placed in different locations, the sound becomes clearer. “One of the problems [of traditional hearing aids] is peripheral noise…you can’t zero in on the [speaker].” But her new hearing aid allows her to enjoy dinner conversations with friends, as well as attend large speaking engagements. “I just love it. It’s made a world of difference.” While Pat’s hearing loss involves diminished clarity, Doug’s is diminished volume. Six years ago, he started wearing a hearing aid. “When [the doctor] did an audiogram, one ear was more deficient than the other, so I only wore one hearing aid. I was reluctant to put both in my ears,” he admits. When his audiologist told him that by only using one aid, he was doing more harm than good, he reconsidered. Eighteen months ago, he started wearing the second aid. “The nice thing is, it turns up the sound just a little bit and then clarifies the language as well. It makes a lot of difference.” www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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60PLUS cover feature Story by Carol Crissey Nigrelli • Photo by Bill Sitzmann and provided by The Johnsons.

RV Sweet RV Three couples hit the road in their homes on wheels.

ritz and Cheryl Steinhoff spent a lifetime teaching high school students, their

longest tenure in Scribner, Neb. Fritz taught agriculture while Cheryl shared her talents as a music and piano teacher. They raised two sons. In 2005, when both were in their mid-50s, they started thinking about retirement and started looking at recreational vehicles. “We like to travel, so we thought it would be a great way to do it,” said Fritz. Three years ago, they made good on their plan, sold their “stick and brick house” and now spend half the year—the cold half—in their home-on-wheels in Mesa, Ariz. When the snow and frost are gone, the warm Nebraska weather beckons them back home where they set up at the KOA campsite in Gretna to be close their sons and grandchildren.

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r. Marvin Johnson and Joy

Johnson met in a mental hospital in Clarinda, Iowa, almost 40

years ago. “That’s appropriate, don’t you think?” cracked Joy, who went on to explain that Dr. Marv was the chaplain there while Joy conducted a program on death and dying. “I teamed up with the chaplain, and then we really teamed up!” The couple founded Centering Corporation, the oldest and largest bereavement resource center in the country. As authors and lecturers on the grieving process, their lives were busy enough. But then Joy had to go and write a series of successful mystery/comedy novels set in Omaha called The Boob Girls (Burned Out Old Broads), which forced a change in their lifestyle.

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Left: Linda and Dean Erickson. Top: Dr. Marvin Johnson and Joy Johnson with their travel companion, Barney, at an Orlando campsite. “We lived in the Mayfair Building at 12th and Howard in Omaha,” said Joy. “We were on the road so much because of my Boob Girls speaking engagements that we decided to go full-time in an RV.” The Johnsons use Orlando as a base of operation during the winter and return to Nebraska in April, staying off I-80 at the Pine Grove RV Park in Greenwood.

inda and Dean Erickson,

both in their mid-60s, are busy downsizing and getting their duplex in Blair, Neb., ready to sell. Years of weekend camping in state parks in Nebraska and Iowa as members of the local Jayco Club led them to the next stage in their lives. “We’ve decided to go RVing full-time,” explained Linda, who retired in February from the local phone company, while Dean finished up a long career in the HVAC industry. They are the parents of two sets of twins, born nine years apart. “We’ll probably be in Texas or Arizona pretty soon,” said Dean. “We’re looking at RV sites around McCallum, Texas. From what I understand, there are hundreds of RV parks

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within 50 miles of there.”

he three couples don’t know

each other personally, but they have a lot in common. They are among the estimated 30 million RV enthusiasts in this country, according to the Recreational Vehicle Information Association. The mobile home of choice for each couple is a fifth wheel—a large trailer that hitches onto the bed of a pickup truck and is towed. They love the freedom the RV lifestyle affords them. All are instinctively outgoing and have no problem making new friends. “We aren’t parked more than two minutes before 10 to 15 people will be knocking on our door. Doesn’t matter where we are,” said Fritz Steinhoff, who adorns their $85,000 Mobile Suite by DRV with Nebraska logos. “And you’d be surprised at all the people from the Dakotas and Iowa who are Husker fans.” Perhaps the most endearing similarity among the couples is they still love each other. “[Marv and I] are great travel buddies,” said Joy Johnson, 75. “That’s the most important part. You have to enjoy each other.” The Johnsons also enjoy the company of

their 125-pound Bernese Mountain dog, Barney. He happily sits in the backseat of their diesel-fueled Chevy pickup as it tows the 40-foot-long Jayco Pinnacle— a rolling testament to American engineering and design. The hundreds of motor home manufacturers in the U.S. (Winnebago is still the largest) have listened closely to their customers since the recession hammered the industry. According to the RV Association, sales are surging again thanks, in part, to features like cherry cabinets, oodles of flat-screen TVs, convection ovens, top-quality countertops, surround-sound systems, satellite dishes, and washers and dryers. A standard floor plan for a fifth wheel includes living room, dining area, kitchen with an island, and a master bedroom with a full bathroom. “We call it camping, but in reality we think it’s roughing it when we can’t get satellite reception,” chuckled Dean Erickson. Their upgrade to a $38,000 used, 37-foot Jayco Designer with four slides (rooms that slide outwards to expand living space once you’re parked) nearly resulted in disaster. “First time out, I’m going down Nebraska Street (in Blair) and a guy passing by starts waving his arms like crazy. I stop and say, ‘What’s going on?’ And he says, ‘One of your slides is still out!’ Didn’t realize I had so many.” What about the all-important economics of RVing vs. owning a home? “It’s been fantastic,” said Fritz. “There are less taxes. No upkeep. And if the wind isn’t blowing at me, I can average 13 mpg.” “Fuel economy has definitely gotten better over the years,” added Dean, who figures he and Linda will be better off economically. Short-term campers usually pay a flat fee to plug in at a site while those who stay in RV parks for long stretches have a meter and pay for electricity, along with rent of $300-$400 a month. Most commercial campgrounds provide Wi-Fi. For those who still may be on the fence about the RV lifestyle, final words of wisdom from Joy Johnson: “If you don’t like the place you’re staying at, you can just leave.”

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60PLUS feature Story & Photos by RL Lemke Retirement Community

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Living on Wheels he full-time RV life isn’t for

everyone, but it is perfect for more than 1 million Americans. Why? Here are a number of the many attractions that draw people from their homesteads out to the open road. Youthful: The first benefit I hear from people who have made the transition to fulltime RV life is how they have reversed their aging. How they look and feel younger. How can this be? I credit the reduction in stress offered by RV life, and the opening yourself to new experiences on a daily basis. Exploration: Most people crisscross America on freeways in a hurry to get to a destination. Full-time RVers learn to slow down and take the backroads to actually see America. To focus on the periodic stops by exploring the area for days at a time, rather than making good time. This opens one up to enriching experiences. Economical Lifestyle: While it is certainly easy to experience the full-time RV lifestyle in high style, it’s equally easy to live in a very frugal manner. I have visited RV communities that require a $1 million commitment in the purchase of a deeded parcel, to huge communities where you can purchase long-term federal permits from $40 to $300. There is a luxury resort I visited where for the price of a $3,600 six-month lease on a fully developed site, you may leave your RV there for the rest of the year. The Easy Life: Full-time RVers always comment on how it was freeing to get rid of the accumulated stuff they were tied to. Much like the TV show Hoarders shows, we become trapped by our possessions. The RV lifestyle is one of few possessions, and just

the essentials when it comes to stuff. There may be a sealed container with a single suit and dress, as your wardrobe only needs to be t-shirts and jeans or shorts, as you can always be in great weather. Family & Friends: As full-time RVers make their annual loop around the country to visit family and friends, life becomes one big party as it is so enjoyable to visit in a manner that isn’t imposing on those being visited. You stay in your own home, sleeping in your own bed, and yet being able to be a part of their lives on a temporary basis. When it is time to leave, simply unhook and motor on to the next anticipated visit. New Friends: When RVers pull into the next destination, the first thing is for those around you to walk over, introduce themselves, and invite you to evening gatherings. Sitting around on foldout chairs sharing stories of where you have been and what you have seen. This lifestyle pulls you out of your shell and allows you to make many new friends. Travel With Physical Limitations: As a result of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, campgrounds have built more ramps, paved more pathways, and created handicapped-accessible bathroom and showers. There is one resort I know of where there is a section that offers skilled care in your RV. This allows you to recover in your own “home.” Interested in trying this lifestyle without a big commitment? There are hundreds of camping areas across the U.S. with fully equipped cabins. This allows you to experience the lifestyle from your auto. Try it, as you may find the RVer experience compelling. www.OmahaPublications.com

60PLUS style Story by Mary Anne Vaccaro • Photo by Jim Scholz

NOT Dressed for Business but…for Ari Seth Cohen & Bill Cunningham.

Express Your Creative Self

his is my third of a series of advice articles for women 60+ who want to style

themselves fashionably and age-appropriately. In my first article, I gave women guidelines and a must-have list of fashions and separates that work in any wardrobe and could be personalized with accessories. In the second article, I talked about the fact that there are no rules in fashion, just relationships…meaning you can make almost everything work if you know how to properly coordinate and accessorize. Now it’s time to address the women over 60 who are not comfortable dressing like their counterparts…the ones who have a want and need to express their unique selves through fashion. These are the women who don’t care what their friends are wearing because they dress for themselves. Women who have advanced style…which is also the title of a blog and recently released book by Ari Seth Cohen. Advanced style has stunning photos of older women—some into their 90s—all dressed www.ReadOnlineNow.com

to express and entertain themselves. They don’t all look good because there’s a fine line between fabulous and foolish. In New York, many creatives of all ages dress on the wild side every day! They keep Bill Cunningham of the New York Times dashing from one corner and event to the next so that he can photograph them for his New York Times stories and videos. The harmony of exceptional clothes, attitude, and flair makes them interesting and attractive. I love being creative with pieces I know are exceptional. If you have the flair, the right pieces, and the courage to dress as a work of art, do it! But it’s not easy to do it right. Most people spend years collecting before they have enough to work with. You don’t just go out shopping one day and find amazing, one-ofa kind designs in Omaha, or anywhere, and internet finds worth having can be costly and not guaranteed to fit. Another very important thing is that if the pieces you play with are not quality, you end up looking like a clown rather than a woman of advanced style. It was fun styling me for my picture (above). The hat is one I bought in 1981. I designed and made the silk taffeta jacket in 1983. I had the gloves custom made in New York in 1985. The skirt is the bottom half of a dress I designed and made in 1997. Each piece individually looks proper in my everyday wardrobe. Together, they become artistic expression! Think about the following quotes from the book. They’re all true. “It always pays to invest in quality. It never goes out of style.” “Style is about the right clothes, the right jewelry, the right know-how, and the right attitude.” “Fashion says ‘me too,’ style says ‘only me.’” If this is what you’re about, go for it at any age! I welcome your feedback and invite you to send questions to sixtyplus@omahapublications. com. Mary Anne Vaccaro is a Designer and Image Consultant to Businesses and Individuals. She designed clothing and products in Omaha and New York and ran a Fashion Advertising business in five states. She also writes and speaks about Image, Fashion, Art, and Style. www. maryannevaccaro.com www.invisibleapron.com 402-398-1234 may/june • 2013

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60PLUS feature Story by Nadine Vodicka and Chris Wolfgang • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Mable Rose residents Alene Dytrych with her poodle, Star, left, and Jane and Dale Sparling with their daschund, Hayward, above.

Seniors and Animal Companions—Just Good Medicine

id you know that including a pet as a part of your family brings huge health

benefits, especially for those over 60 years of age? The list of healthy side effects from pet ownership is long. Walking a dog and even simple grooming practices mean just that much more physical activity for the pet owner, every bit of which improves circulation and slows bone loss. And, according to the Pets for the Elderly Foundation, a not-insignificant benefit of pet companionship is combating loneliness. Fighting off depression and loneliness is a benefit of pet ownership acknowledged in all parts of the industry, including by the Purina’s Pets for Seniors program. Locally, the Nebraska Humane Society plays a huge role in providing pets for seniors. “We have a very specific program for seniors,” says Pam Wiese, Vice President of Public Relations and S12 60PLUS

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Marketing at the NHS. The shelter’s website describes its Program for Seniors program as follows: “For this segment of society, the unconditional love and constant companionship of a pet can be a lifeline. That’s why the Nebraska Humane Society works fervently to help elderly residents adopt and keep companion animals.” Making use of the program is easy: Call the NHS and ask for assistance with adopting a pet for a senior. “For seniors on a fixed income,” the NHS’ site states, “one emergency can mean the difference between paying the electric bill or feeding the dog.” To assist seniors with the cost of feeding their pets, the shelter will deliver free pet food to any senior, with a licensed pet, who qualifies for the NHS’ Meals on Wheels program. “Ask about qualifying for Animeals at the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging,” reads the site, “when you sign up for Meals on Wheels at (402) 444-6766.” “Companion animals provide peace and pleasure for seniors,” says Wiese. “It is a beautiful symbiosis!” But the benefits of pets are not limited to only those in a private home. Mable Rose Estates, an assisted living facility in Papillion, allows some of its residents to bring their dogs or cats with them to their new home. This is a win-win for everyone, says Lisa Summers, Director of Memory Support at Mable Rose Estates. Not only do new residents benefit www.OmahaPublications.com

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Hwy 370 & 48th Street, Bellevue (402) 291-9777 from having their animals with them, so do the other residents as they become acquainted with the newcomer pets as well. “We have all sorts of animals at our facility, including chicks,” says Summers. “We have an egg-hatching event every year. The eggs are brought in, and the residents get to watch over them until they hatch. We also bring in caterpillars in the spring, and when they morph into beautiful butterflies, the residents get to release them into our courtyard.” It is spectacular, says Summers. Another event at Mable Rose is the annual dog show, which includes dogs living at the facility as well as those belonging to volunteers who bring their dogs in just for the show. The dogs are all dressed up in costumes, and everyone has a great time, says Summers. In advance of the show, residents help bake doggie treats for the entrants. “Petting zoos are also brought in [to the facility] for our residents, and it is a wonderful time for all,” says Summers. “And we take residents to local farms in the spring and summer. It is a great experience, as many have either grown up on a farm or spent time at a farm as children.” Mable Rose is also host to a bulldog named Rosie that serves as a hospice volunteer dog. Rosie is a very loving animal who provides comfort and peace to the seniors and their families, Summers adds. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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60PLUS column Story by Danielle Knudson, National Safety Council, Nebraska

There’s No Place Like Home Tornado Preparedness

f you’ve spent time in the Midwest,

you are no stranger to tornados. Many of us could share a story of “the Big One” or a storm we’ll never forget. Hopefully, with stories come memories of survival and preparedness. The following tips can help you prepare for when the next tornado strikes. Who’s at Risk?

Tornadoes strike most often between March and June in the central U.S., but they’ve been reported in all 48 continental states, at all times of the year. Older adults need to take additional actions like having their medications accessible and giving themselves plenty of time to get to shelter. What to Do if a Tornado is Coming:

Seek shelter immediately! If you’re away from home, your best bets are basements or interior corridors of office buildings, tunnels, or underground parking lots. Avoid auditoriums, upper stories of office buildings, trailers, and parked vehicles. And stay away from windows. If you’re out in the open, lie flat in a ditch or other low-lying area and protect your head. Stay away from poles and overhead lines.If you’re driving, drive at right angles to the tornado’s path. If you can’t escape the S14 60PLUS

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path of the tornado, get out of the vehicle to avoid being overturned and crushed. If you’re at home, head for the basement and take cover under a heavy table or workbench. If you don’t have a basement, go into a windowless room in the center of the house. If that’s not possible, stay away from windows and cover yourself with a rug for protection against flying glass and debris. Know the Difference Between a Watch and a Warning:

A tornado watch means conditions are right for the formation of a tornado. Stay alert, and be prepared to take shelter. A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted in your area. Take shelter immediately! What to Prepare:

Here are suggested items for your emergency kit: One gallon water per person per day for at least three days; a three-day supply of non-perishable food; battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert, and extra batteries; flashlight and extra batteries; first aid kit including a whistle to signal help; prescription medications and glasses, including medical equipment like test strips or syringes, if needed; pet food and extra water for your pet; a sleeping

bag or warm blanket; change of clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy shoes; fire extinguisher; matches in a waterproof container; personal hygiene items; moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties for personal sanitation; disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer; and paper cups and plates, plastic utensils, paper towels, and a can opener. FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) recommends preparing a survival kit of basic needs (food, water, etc.) for 72 hours for the home and car. Visit www.ready.gov for a complete list of emergency preparedness items. When a tornado strikes there is often little time to gather items or get to a store. Make your own kit and store in a plastic tote, or purchase a kit from National Safety Council, Nebraska for $45 or $69 at www.safenebraska.org or 402-896-0454 Adapted from National Safety Council. NSC makes no guarantee as to and assumes no responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency or completeness of such information or recommendations. Other or additional safety measures may be required under particular circumstances. www.safenebraska.org www.OmahaPublications.com