Surgeon General to West Coast: Buying Iodide Tablets A Precaution

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin is in the San Francisco Bay Area touring a peninsula hospital. When asked specifically about West Coast residents stocking up on iodide tablets, she replied, "It's a precaution."

Benjamin said it was appropriate that the California Emergency Center was open in preparation for possible radiation that may hit the west coast, from Japan.

She also said response teams have been notified and are prepared to be deployed, if necessary.