(Distributed 05/26/08) If your family has a plan for what you’d do in case of a hurricane or other disaster, now is the time to pull it out and review it. If you don’t, there’s still time to write your plan, LSU AgCenter disaster preparedness specialist Pat Skinner says.

(Distributed 05/22/08) LSU AgCenter housing specialist Dr. Claudette Reichel says not to forget the relatively easy steps you can take to protect your home from hurricane damage. “Although changes like structural reinforcements, installing hurricane shutters or replacing windows with impact-resistant glass require more time, money and planning, there are some things you can do at a lower cost and with less effort,” Reichel advises.

(Distributed 05/22/08) Wind is the most common and most costly cause of damage to homes and other “light frame structures” in the United States. The 75-mile-per-hour-plus winds experienced in hurricanes put tremendous pressure on the roof, walls and foundation, and windblown debris can significantly increase the damage. But LSU AgCenter disaster recovery and mitigation specialist Pat Skinner says there are steps you can take to protect your home in the long run.

(Distributed 05/22/08) The weak economy and food inflation have hit struggling households hard. The U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Stamp program is designed to help such households, but, nationally, the program misses one in three eligible people, according LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Annrose Guarino.

(Distributed 05/22/08) Now that food costs more and fuel prices are higher than ever, cost-cutting strategies are important to households across most income levels. LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Heli Roy offers ways to save money when heading to the grocery store.

(Distributed 05/22/08) Whether you’re a senior taking care of yourself or caring for another, every senior can save money when buying food, an LSU AgCenter nutritionist says.

(Distributed 05/22/08) What do rising food and fuel costs and volunteerism have in common? “Maybe more than you think,” says LSU AgCenter volunteer expert Dr. Karen Overstreet.

(Distributed 05/20/08) Finding ways to save on groceries is always a good idea, but especially now when simply driving to the store costs more. You can stretch your food dollars in many ways, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Gloria Nye.

(Distributed 05/20/08) If you're one of the many people who is buying and freezing foods in quantity to help combat rising food costs, don't let freezer burn defeat your efforts, advises LSU AgCenter nutritionist Dr. Beth Reames.

(Distributed 05/20/08) Increases in fuel and transportation prices continue to hit consumers hard at both the gas pump and at the grocery store. Over the last 12 months, the food and beverages index advanced 5.2 percent led by a 6.3 percent rise in prices for food at home, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index.