Of course, it’s prudent. Do you see any signs of the disaster getting smaller? I, myself, have predicted a very limited exposure to radiation in the United States but I still think it is prudent and intelligent to prepare for a very difficult time. The situations seems to get worse every few hours, sometimes a lot worse. So, I don’t think there is any reasonable certainty about American exposure. And without certainty, precautions are wise.

James Pilant

From Investment Watch –

The fear that a nuclear cloud could float from the shores of Japan to the shores of California has some people making a run on iodine tablets. Pharmacists across California report being flooded with requests.

State and county officials spent much of Tuesday trying to keep people calm by saying that getting the pills wasn’t necessary, but then the United States Surgeon General supported the idea as a worthy “precaution.”

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin is in the Bay Area touring a peninsula hospital. NBC Bay Area reporter Damian Trujillo asked her about the run on tablets and Dr. Benjamin said although she wasn’t aware of people stocking up, she did not think that would be an overreaction. She said it was right to be prepared.