February might change EVERYTHING. Somehow, somebody calculated/speculated a magnetic shift during the first half of March (especially the 15th?...Beware the ides of March), but it looks like the solar flares that started this week will bring alot of changes also...(I originally wrote the following post in another forum, but I think the effects will concern EVERYONE severely).
Solar flares have been reported all week long. Mount St. Helens and other volcanos have been very active this week. Magnetic pole shifts have always been common, but are now receiving more attention.
Mount St. Helens (active on Feb. 14) and many strong earthquakes have changed the environment recently in ways we don't realize (Yellow Stone park has a SUPERvolcano).
Flashlights, batteries, fire extinguishers, sterno stoves, wind up Cell Phone chargers, etc. from the camping store might be the minimum you should prepare with even if the power goes out for two weeks. How long will repairs to the utilities take in this economy?