Warm Up to Tea(s) for Heart Health

 By Cal Orey, M.A.

Sip a Cup of Heart Wellness – February is American Heart Month

GIFT BOOK: THE HEALING POWERS OF TEA

 Did you know?  Black tea—the most popular tea in America—is touted for its heart-healthy perks? Stacks of studies show black tea can be your heart’s best friend.

Yep, black tea—the type likely inside your pantry--is worth brewing. Go ahead—savor a cuppa black flavored tea, such as spicy Constant Comment or Earl Grey with its sweet floral and citrus notes and enjoy its amazing powers.

One top antioxidant wizard told me (I was writing a book on tea) black tea came into play when studying atherosclerosis (the buildup of fats on your artery walls, which can up your risk of artery disease)—and it was discovered both green tea and black tea were equally beneficial.

Medical experts will tell you drinking black tea may lower the risk of developing bad cholesterol (the stuff that clogs your arteries, which can lead to heart attack) and high blood pressure, improve blood vessel function, reduce inflammation, and lessen the risk of blood clotting.  Also, it’s the combination of heart-healthy antioxidants in black tea and a healthy lifestyle that may protect you against heart disease.

Here three heart-healthy teas for you to sip to help keep heart disease at bay.

* Green. Past research in a noteworthy Ohsaki study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that men and women in Japan who drank about two cups of green tea each day reduced their risk of cardiovascular disease by a whopping 22 to 33 percent. The findings show green tea plays a role in staying heart healthy. Give credit to its flavonoid content.

*Rooibos, pronounced (roy-boss), is a red tea grown in South Africa. Researchers have pinpointed of polyphenols in red tea. These compounds act as disease fighters that are capable of destroying free radicals in the body. This depletes the immune system and makes it more prone to diseases, including inflammatory conditions such as heart disease. And rooibos may help your body fight back.

* White. This tea is an excellent heart-healthy tea because of its catechins (the good guys that can help lower cholesterol levels). Potassium in white tea helps lessen heart problems, including high blood pressure. And it does contain less caffeine than black tea.

These days, after an up close and personal cardiac event, I know too well how in the 21^st century, heart disease affects our health, well-being, and lifespan. There is no cure, but you can lower your risk of developing this disease (and stay healthier and happier if you already have heart woes) with diet and lifestyle—and that’s where the healing powers of tea comes into play.

STRESS-RELIEVING TEAS

Common stressors from work and financial woes to major life changes such as divorce or loss of a loved one can take a toll on your mind, body, and spirit. Constant stress without a tea break, however, can weaken your immune system and may cause poor lifestyle choices, leaving your body vulnerable to colds, infections, and even heart disease.

According to researchers, an amino acid called L-theanine compound found in black tea, in combination with caffeine, might lessen hormones such as cortisol, which can help induce a calmer feeling and increase mood.

What Tea Rx to Use: One 8-ounce cup of English Breakfast tea (popular in England), a black tea that may help you chill. Add a slice of lemon and/or a bit of raw honey to intensity the calming antidote. A Bonus Tip: Some popular calming herbal teas include chamomile and lavender.

*This article is based on The Healing Powers of Tea: A Complete Guide To Nature’s Special by Cal Orey and published by Kensington.

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventures, history, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the Healing Powers series, and the new Courage with Paws series, and The Ghost Ships trilogy. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com

Lose That Belly for a Healthier Heart

4 Tummy-Whittling Tricks for February American Heart Month

News | Feb 2, 2025

Cal Orey. M.A.

Forget stomach crunches and fad diets! Flatten your stomach – effortlessly!

In Lake Tahoe, locals and tourists, gain belly fat during the winter because they eat more and move less. The problem is the extra fat around the tummy can be bad for your heart. But there are ways you can help keep your belly and heart happy.

Did you know? Excess body fat that settles around the stomach – creating a body shape often referred to as an apple – puts you at higher risk for heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But with the right diet and lifestyle, anyone can tame the bulge, and have a flatter stomach and healthier ticker, too. Here are some tummy-whittling tricks.

1. Eat the heart-healthy Mediterranean Way. A diet high in dietary fiber and low in saturated fats can cut belly fat. Here’s proof: The heart-healthy Mediterranean diet based on traditional diets in European countries was touted in a large study of people for its link to decreased risk of weight and belly fat.

2. Limit Sugary Beverages. Sugary drinks appeal to visceral fat (found inside the abdomen, and around the vital organs), points out The Heart Foundation.

3. Reduce Alcohol Intake. Drinking too much alcohol can cause you to gain belly fat — the beer belly. However, beer alone isn’t the culprit. Drinking excess alcohol can boost belly fat, because alcohol contains calories, according to The Heart Foundation. To banish belly fat, limit your booze intake (1 drink per day for women, 2 drinks per day for men, advises the American Heart Association, or AHA).

4. Chill. The American Institute of Stress states when we are stressed out it triggers cortisol (a hormone that redistributes body fat to our gut). To destress the AHA recommends — staying physically active, [take the dog for a walk] getting enough sleep, and keeping a Pollyannaish attitude. And these are tried-and-true tricks to blasting belly fat – painlessly.

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, nutrition/health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series (based on the Mediterranean diet), and Courage with Paws: The Heart of a Siamese Cat, (Book 2) Time-Traveling Tabby, and a thrilling co-authored sci-fi series–The Ghost Ships to be released this winter. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is http://www.calorey.com

My Golden State is Burning... Why?

 The Scourge of SoCal WILDFIRES

Cal Orey, M.A.

My Golden State is Burning…

When the Southern California wildfires ignited in the winter of this new year, my empathy went out to all of my home state’s people, pets, wildlife, infrastructure, and our environment. I recalled when I was out in the field as a young journalist covering the deadly Oakland Firestorm. And, the recent SoCal wildfire(s) triggered flashbacks of our Northern California ongoing wildfires, including the Angora Fire, and Caldor Fire (it almost consumed my hometown of South Lake Tahoe). And I will never forget my evacuation one year later; getting caught in gridlock on a mountain highway in the eye of the hazardous air from the Mosquito Fire.

 The fact is, wildfires are no longer just a seasonal thing. Climate change is making it a thing year-round—and Southern California is not immune…

Once upon a time, I called the vibrant stretch of Hollywood Blvd. my home. My adventures led me to the sun-kissed shores of Malibu Beach, where I indulged in the art of pool hopping, soaking up the California sun. Fate smiled upon me when I adopted a water-loving lab in sunny San Diego, who became my loyal companion. Decades later, I returned to Southern California on an earthquake book tour, eager to revisit the eclectic towns of Los Angeles. However, in January 2025, my heart sank as I watched the news of devastation wrought by relentless wildfires and fierce winds—echoes of challenges faced in my hometown in Northern California.

Here, take a real look at why my Golden State is burning, from one who speaks from real experience.

SO, WHO’S TO BLAME? What Caused the Recent SoCal Wildfires (January 2025), Anyhow?

The recent wildfires in Southern California have been linked to several factors, including climate change, Santa Ana winds, and drought conditions.

THE INCONVIENENT TRUTH: Percentage Due to Not Thinning Forests

It’s difficult to assign a specific percentage to the contribution of not thinning forests as a cause of these fires. However, forest management practices, including prescribed burns to thinning, are recognized as important for reducing intensity and spread.

WARNING: Arson and Other Causes

Some of the recent fires were attributed to arson, while others were exacerbated by the environmental conditions.  Specific ongoing investigations into each fire will provide clearer insights into their causes.

WHERE’S THE WATER? Better Resource Management, Please!

Indeed, the Santa Ana winds, ongoing drought conditions, and the impacts of climate change are interconnected factors to the wildfires in Southern California in 2025. Some politicians have suggested that the lack of water management is a big issue, implying that better water resource management could mitigate wildfire risks. However, experts including the U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, argue that while water scarcity worsens drought conditions, it isn’t the sole cause of wildfires; rather, it’s a combo of environmental factors including high temperatures, dry vegetation, and strong winds that create ideal conditions to fires to ignite and spread.

 ALERT! Main Causes of Recent SoCal Fires

This California wildfires and the causes are a political debate that is nothing new. Not thinning the forests is a significant factor but not the main cause. The mishmash of extreme weather conditions (like Santa Ana winds), prolonged drought, and climate change plays a more critical role in creating an environment conducive to wildfires.

As of late January, the report is at least 29 people have died in the January 2025 Southern California wildfires. Meanwhile, rainfall is a threat to mudslides, and, of course, Southern California is known for its earthquakes and the Big One is long overdue.

Sadly, as wildfires continue to regions including California, the Northwest, Alaska, Hawaii, the Southwest, and Canada as well as other countries around the world, nature plays a big role. But the truth is without a doubt, while the frequency of wildfires in my Golden State worsen in the 21^st century, both Mother Nature and mankind continue to be a threat that can’t be ignored.

NEWS FLASH: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRE INCIDENTS

These January 2025 wildfires are nearly contained on January 29, 2025, thanks to the heroic firefighters from Southern California, Northern California, Canada, and Mexico.

Palisades Fire, Los Angeles, 1/07/2025, 23,448 acres

Eaton Fire, Los Angeles, 1/07/2025, 14, 021 acres,

Hughes Fire, Lost Angeles, 1/22/2025, 10,425 acres

Border 2 Fire, Los Angeles, 1/22/2025, 6,625 acres

(Source: https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents)

First published in Oracle Visionary Magazine (February 2025; Wildfires In Southern California)

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Courage with Paws. (Book 2) Time-Traveling Tabby, and an electrifying co-authored sci-fi series--The Ghost Ships to be released this winter.  She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com  

TIME-TRAVELING TABBY--A Quick Peek of a New Novel (Book 2, Courage with Paws)

Sci-Fi-Fantasy Story

(Inspired By True Events)

By Cal Orey

The story revolves around a young orange tabby cat adopted by a seasoned scribe who takes "Gatsby" on a journey through time, visiting the 70s, 80s, 90s, and the 21^st century, and eventually, into the future. The feline narrator tells the tale of his adventures, which are deeply connected to his owner’s past experiences and the stories she shares with him about her previous cats. As the cat listens to these tales, he feels a sense of obligation, inadequacy, and a strong desire to prove himself.

The Cat’s Journey and Sci-Fi Fantasy Elements

As Gatsby time travels with his owner, he develops a keen intuition that allows him to sense an imminent earthquake, which he warns his owner about by scratching at a closet door for two days before the BIG event changes his life. The act of courage and loyalty wins over his owner’s heart, and she begins to appreciate the great Sir Gatsby's wonderful listening skills and the special bond they share. The cat’s ability to sense the earthquake and his journey through time with his owner are the key sci-fi fantasy elements in the story, showcasing his uncanny powers and the unique connection he has with his owner. The cat’s experiences and the stories this owner tells him about her past cats create a rich and immersive narrative that explores the themes of time travel, intuition, and the human-animal bond.

Conclusion and Sci-Fi Fantasy Themes

The story is a heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of the sci-fi fantasy genre, with a unique twist of having a feline narrator who travels through time and experiences the world in a way that is both familiar and strange. The cat’s journey and his owner’s stories about her past cats create a sense of nostalgia and high-tech wonder, highlighting the idea that animals can possess a deep understanding of the world and the people around them. The story’s use of time travel and the cat’s intuitive abilities adds a layer of sci-fi fantasy that makes the narrative engaging and mesmerizing.  

2025 Spin on Cheap Eats with a Bohemian Flair

2025 Spin on Cheap Eats for Millennials and Boomers in Tahoe

By Cal Orey

In the heart of Tahoe, where the mountains meet the lake, I reminisce about my youthful 20th century adventures with Stone fox, my loyal black lab. Back then, it was all about savoring low-cost peanut butter and honey sandwiches washed down with water enjoyed under the towering pine trees and trails.

Fast forward to 2025, and millennials have transformed this rustic retreat into a haven for Bohemian foodies; now, we savor artisanal avocado toast topped with hemp seeds or guacamole with whole grain chips to organic smoothies bursting with superfoods and gourmet java prepared at home. I can’t help chuckle at how my granola roots have evolved. Here’s five cheap and tasty eats that are nutritious, and edgy enough to appeal to those in their 20s and 30s and anti-aging baby boomers while steering clear of the mundane.

1. Steel-Cut Oats: Say hello to a classic and excellent base for breakfast. It’s versatile, affordable, and can even be jazzed up with foods that are nutritious and flavorful. 2025 Spin: Try making oats with almond milk and top them with seasonal fruits like apples or pears sprinkled with nuts, dried cranberries, drizzled with raw honey for a cozy winter meal.

2. Quinoa: Welcome to a protein-packed grain that fits into the Mediterranean diet. It’s gluten-free and offers essential amino acids. You can make it as a salad base or side dish. 2025 Spin: Create a “quinoa bowl” topped with roasted seasonal veggies like carrots or squash and tahini sauce for a trendy meal that feels indulgent yet healthy to warm you up this season on a chilly day.

3. Greek Yogurt: Yogurt is rich in protein and probiotics, making it a good choice for breakfast or snacks. opt for plain brands to avoid added sugars. 2025 Spin: Create a “yogurt parfait” layered with seasonal fruits like bananas, grapes, strawberries and orange slices with homemade granola—a trendy treat that feels like comfort food in wintertime.

4. Dried Herbs: While fresh herbs can be pricey in winter months, consider using dried herbs instead—like cayenne and thyme—which pack flavor without the cost burden. Sprinkle on baked red potatoes drizzled with extra virgin olive oil or sweet potato fries topped with parsley. 2025 Spin: Use dried herbs liberally in your cooking to elevate simple dishes like baked salmon (buy it when it’s on sale) or try homemade nutty butter on green apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon; they add depth without needing fyresh herbs year-round. Speaking of sandwiches…

5. TreeHugger Burger: Typically made from a variety of plant-based ingredients, are a super source of plant-based protein while low in saturated fats compared to traditional meat burgers. These burgers often include legumes (such as black beans, lentils, or chickpeas), whole grains like brown rice, and vegetables. 2025 Spin: Creating your own TreeHugger burgers at home can be both economical and rewarding. Include kale, tomatoes, red onion, and put it on a multigrain bagel. 

In 2025, focusing on exciting foods that are seasonally available, you can enjoy new age meals that nourish the body and soul while being mindful of cost despite inflation. (Heart-healthy Mediterranean diet recipes can be found in The Healing Powers of Superfoods and The Healing Powers of Herbs and Spices.)

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Courage with Paws. (Book 2) Time-Traveling Tabby, and a thrilling co-authored sci-fi series--The Ghost Ships to be released this winter.  She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com 

Nature's Rx to Unplug and Chillax

 Nature’s Rx to 

Chill Out

News | Tahoe Daily Tribune

Cal Orey

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – Instead of turning to unhealthy behavior, there is a natural remedy that offers fast chillaxing results.  Getting back to Mother Nature is a prescribed medicine. Tuning into “green” environment is the new “nature pill” for relaxation and well-being. Take a peek of how nature’s finest remedies can work for you.

• Take a Whiff of Nature’s Scents. You can also alleviate stress by smelling nature’s scent-sational smells. The olfactory response is directly linked to the emotional center of the brain. The smell of pine trees provides a feel-good boost. Research reveals feelings such as tranquility that stem from smell and the limbic system—or pleasure center of the brain that controls your memory. Nice smells like fresh spices like cinnamon and herbs such as rosemary or clean mountain air provide a sense of calm.
• Enjoy the Great Outdoors for R&R. Getting out into in nature, absorbing natural light, can boost your spirit, too, thanks to serotonin, doctors will tell you. Escaping a work environment can help you to get out of your mind, release stressors, and connects you to nature. Past research discovered that people walking in a forest had lower blood pressure and levels of cortisol (the stress hormone). The findings: Twenty minutes spent walking outdoors connects you to nature and can lower the levels of stress hormones in the body.
• Stress-free Bed Behavior. Did you know lack of sleep depletes energy and frazzle nerves? To fall asleep, follow these basic bedtime rules: Listen to a sleep sound machine for sound sleeping, or enjoy the tinkle of an early fall rain to sounds of silence. Drink a cup of herbal tea. Keep the temperature at 60-67 F. Open the shades to wake up to natural light....
• Chillax with Calming Plant-Based Foods. Stressful circumstances can trigger the need to reach for comforting foods. Nutritionists recommend munching apples because these natural tranquilizers”—can trigger “happy chemicals” such as dopamine and serotonin. Studies on superfoods that contain feel good chemicals show this may be true. Also, spicy foods like hot chili peppers, a super herb, can boost your brain’s release of feel-good endorphins and reduce anxiety. Credit is given to its compound capsaicin. Plus, a cup of Joe (in moderation due to its caffeine) which comes from seeds of a tree, stimulates the release of dopamine, the brain neurotransmitter when released can lessen stress. What's more, past research shows potatoes, a root vegetable, revs up levels of serotonin — nature’s Prozac.

Simply put, eating fresh food, inhaling nature’s smells, tuning into savoring the great outdoors whether it’s going to the lake, park, or woods and your yard or porch can work wonders. Nature heals. It’s the new chill pill prescription doctors are prescribing in the 21st century.

Pawsitive Vibes           

Researchers say dogs and cats can help you chill. Four-leggers can help reduce anxiety and stress by providing “the relaxation response”—in other words, a physiological state of deep rest. Dog walking is a great physical activity for you and your best friend; getting regular exercise helps boost feel-good endorphins just like when you swim or workout. Also, felines and canines can help us slow down. In doing so, blood pressure is reduced. A cat’s purr or dog’s companionship can actually cause a sense of calm.

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, Soulmates with Paws, and Book 2 Courage with Paws to be released this February. She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is http://www.calorey.com

It Is National Hot Tea Month! The Healing Powers of Tea Gift Book

 

January is National Hot Tea Month

  The Healing Powers of Tea (Must-Have Gift Book) TEA is a Cup of Winter Wellness...

Courtesy Cal Orey

 Disease-Fighting Antioxidants — Tea’s Healing Powers Are Remarkable

Dear Reader,

What if I told you just by sipping the delicious “medieval miracle” you could . . . 

• Relieve throbbing back pain . . . 
• Drop 7 pounds of fat and flab in 3 days . . . 
• Lower the risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer . . . 
• Stave off viruses, colds, and superbugs . . . 
• Curb insatiable sweet cravings . . . 
• Shrink painful hemorrhoids . . . 
• Relieve aching joint discomfort . . . 
• And much more . . . 

With this powerful healing elixir — backed by 3,000 modern-day studies — you could . . . 

Finally end the frenzy of buying a mountain of assorted pills, needless ointments, serums, and syrups.

Odds are you already have it in your kitchen cupboard.

I’m talking about tea. YES, TEA — grandma’s favorite beverage is today’s red-hot superfood!

Right now, you can get dozens of tea remedies that really work in Cal Orey’s book, The Healing Powers of Tea. And you don’t have to buy it . . . 

Newsmax is giving you The Healing Powers of Tea — a 292-page book — absolutely FREE!

Inside this blockbuster book you’ll discover 50 tea “cures” for everything from anxiety and constipation to dermatitis, coughs, depression, warts, insect bites, sinusitis, memory lapses, cavities, digestive troubles, diarrhea, and so much more.

There are also do-it-yourself beauty recipes . . .  household remedies to detox, clean, polish, even “destink” your home of dog . . .  and dozens of delicious tea-infused recipes from breakfast to dessert!

But not just any tea will do . . . 

While it’s packed with powerful disease-fighting antioxidants, flavonoids, and polyphenols, you can’t just pour a cup, sip it down and expect it to work.

It all boils down to this . . . 

There’s a special secret to making the “medieval miracle” work to transform your health and your home . . . 

To bring out its magical healing powers, you need to know which variety of tea to drink and which special ingredients you need to mix with your tea.

And it’s not just the wildly popular black, green, and herbal teas as you’ll discover here.

The good news is you don’t have to guess or work your way through a sea of endless tea boxes and canisters!

Everything you need to know for finding the right tea and the right combination, steeped at the right time, is inside The Healing Powers of Tea.

Your FREE BOOK is waiting. Click here.

When you get your FREE BOOK, be sure to open it and discover which tea banishes belly bloat, heartburn, and gas . . .  helps you empty your bowels easily again . . .  staves off hunger pangs . . .  boosts energy . . .  keeps skin looking younger and more beautiful . . .  lowers artery-clogging cholesterol . . .  helps you get a good night’s, sleep and more.

One more thing . . . 

Be sure to look for the simple tea plan to help you lose up to 7 pounds in 3 days! Click here to claim your FREE BOOK now.

Earth Changes 2025 -- Forecasts Are Coming True! Shakers, Weather, Northern Lights

 EARTH CHANGES 2025—What Will the New Year Bring?

By Cal Orey

As I predicted for 2024... West Coast Earthquakes, Strange twisters, Southeast Hurricanes and Mega Blackouts to Northern Lights and Northeast Flooding! And now, for 2025 the year of The Snake--look forward to transformation, renewal--some good some bad. Most of all, be prepared mind, body, and spirit.

It’s here! The New Year promises political changes and Earth moves. Looking ahead to 2025, there will be Earth changes and human-caused disasters. Activities such as urbanization, deforestation, and industrial processes will contribute to environment woes and may lead to more frequent natural disasters.

Astrologically speaking, periods such as Mercury Retrograde—there are three this year—come linked with communication disruptions to mega blackouts. Also, events like Full Moons and New Moons can influence human behavior and environmental conditions.

So, the combo of wildfires, increasing earthquakes, potential surprise disasters (such as oil spills to quakes on hidden faults), may create chaos and challenges for the nation. But there is an upside:  environmental management, disaster preparedness, and looking at scientific data can help provide you with peace of mind even though you can’t control Old Man Winter and Mother Nature.

 WEATHER WATCH

 ·       West Coast: The NOAA forecast for the West Coast in 2025 shows a higher change of above-average snowfall in the Sierra Nevada region. Blame it on La Nina (Pacific Ocean cooler temperature anomaly) which triggers more precipitation during winter months. The Farmer’s Almanac supports this outlook, predicting a snowy winter for the West Coast… Caveat: Snowfall forecasts for the winter 2025 suggest that while higher elevations will see above-average snowfall due to La Nina (Pacific Ocean cooler temperature anomaly), lower elevations around Reno-Tahoe are projected to experience below-average precipitation and potentially drier conditions. This controversy arises from warmer temperatures that can lead to more rain and less snow at these altitudes, particularly during critical storm events. 

·         South: For the Southern United States, forecasts suggest a mix of normal to slightly above-average temperatures with potential for drought in some regions. The NOAA claims some regions may experience below-average rainfall, with dry spells.

·         Northeast: The Northeast is projected to have a colder-then-average winter with increased odds of snowstorms. Both NOAA and the Farmer’s Almanac show that this region may see snowfall events throughout the winter months.

·         Midwest: In the Midwest, forecasts predict a variable winter with periods of cold and snow and milder weather. The potential for severe weather such as ice storms are noted by both forecasting agencies.

SHOCKING SHAKERS

·       The West Coast was on rock and roll during the latter part of 2024.  In December, an offshore Northern California 7.0 with a tsunami warning happened; a strong and shallow 5.8 temblor hit Yerington, Nevada and was felt in the sierras, Sacramento to the SF Bay Area; and tremors hit Southern California throughout the year.

·       The San Andreas Fault Zone continues to be linked to northern California earthquakes and is overdue for the Big One. A 7.5 or greater is likely to happen in 2025. Regions likely to be the epicenter include Offshore Northern California, San Francisco Bay Area, and Southern California.

·       Northeast quakes despite being smaller magnitudes than the West Coast are often felt more and farther. Expect at least two noteworthy shakers…

·       …And the New Madrid Zone may be hit by a strong jolt with aftershocks that’ll rattle nerves and make international news. Ditto with the Southern states, not excluding Texas or Oklahoma.

 

HURRICANES, TWISTERS, OH MY!

·       HURRICANES: Superstorms (including blackouts) will happen and in the Gulf States like they did in 2024. While that year Texas and the Carolinas were ground zero, in 2025 Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida are in the line of destruction.

·       TWISTERS: will come with hurricanes in these regions but also the Midwest and even the West Coast; it got its first tornado alert ever on Friday the 13^th, December 2024. On the 14^th in the afternoon, Scotts Valley, Northern California was struck by a twister like a disaster film.

·       WILDFIRES: up and down the West Coast will continue to wreak havoc on people, pets, infrastructure, and the environment. Not only do the flames threaten lives but the poor air quality will become more of a reality.  Staying indoors to using air purifiers will become even more common for health’s sake.

 ON THE FRINGE

Yes, more solar events (solar flares to solar storms) like in 2024 will happen and come with the Northern Lights in unlikely states. But remember, these light shows come with blackouts, communication disruptions, and delays in flights and road travel causing inconvenience to woes depending on the severity of the happening.

As the United States faces unpredictable political changes and discord, Earth changes will encourage people to work together to survive severe weather and earthmoving events. Political parties will be a moot point (like it is on a small island in Alaska where people band together during shake-ups to maintain shelter and forage food). It will be survival and helping your neighbors first—unifying us to be one. The end results? We will be a happier, healthier and safer nation.

SHAKING IT UP

While the West Coast (Hawaii, Alaska, California, and Nevada) is more apt to experience tremors, the New Madrid Zone, East Coast, and even the South are not immune to shaking. As fracking will be continued around the nation, it’s time to prepare. Here’s a checklist:

Before the Shake: Get Ready!

ü  Sign up for earthquake alerts on your phone: (Watch your cat or dog’s odd behavior, too! —so you’ll know when a quake may be coming.)

ü  Make an Emergency Kit: Prepare a health-focused ER kit with water, non-perishable snacks, first aid supplies, and any med you may need for you and your pet.

ü  Do Pet Prep: Keep your pets’ essentials handy—food, water, cat crate, dog leash, and comfort items. Animals (like my cat) can often sense changes in the environment, so let them have a safe space.

During the Quake: Stay Safe!

ü  Drop, Cover, Hold On:  When the shaking starts, drop to your hands and knees to prevent falling down or being in harm’s way with glass or heavy furniture. Cover your head and neck under sturdy furniture if available or use your arms to protect yourself.

ü  Think Pet Safety: If you have pets with you, keep them close and reassure them with a soothing voice.

ü  Chill Out: Don’t log onto your computer during the tremor, wait until the shaking stops and you are safe.

After the Tremor: Check-In!

ü  Explore Your Surroundings: Once the temblor is over (remember, aftershocks can and do occur), check for injuries (to yourself and others) and ensure it’s safe to move around.

ü  Hydrate & Nourish: Drink water (calms the nerves) and eat something light (if you feel queasy like I did) to maintain energy levels after the stress of an earthquake.

ü  Tune In Mental Health Matters: Talk about what happened with friends or family; sharing experiences can help reduce anxiety.

By following these health tips before, during, and after an earthquake, you’ll be better prepared to handle tremors. (Find out more about earthquake preparedness and animals sensing oncoming earthquakes in The Man Who Predicts Earthquakes, by Cal Orey, published by Sentient.)

CAL OREY, M.A., is a bestselling author-novelist specializing in topics such as adventure, health, romance, and science. She holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in English (Creative Writing) from San Francisco State University. Her books include the popular Healing Powers series, and Courage with Paws. (Book 2) Time-Traveling Tabby, and a thrilling co-authored sci-fi series--The Ghost Ships (Book 1) to be released this winter.  She is a South Lake Tahoe local. Her website is www.calorey.com