How to pack for a disaster, reining in social media chaos, fighting skimpflation: Catch up on the day’s stories

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👋 Welcome to 5 Things PM! It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the noise and negativity on social media. CNN Science and Wellness writer Madeline Holcombe said she woke up most mornings with a sense of dread, but one little change made a big difference.

Here’s what else you might have missed during your busy day:

5 things

1️⃣ What to pack: When hurricanes are bearing down or floodwaters are rising, you and your family members need to be ready to evacuate. A “go bag” full of emergency supplies can save you critical time when you’re rushing out the door. These items could mean the difference between life or death.

2️⃣ Signs of skimpflation: Sometimes it’s hard to spot when a company makes tweaks to cut costs. But fans of Whole Foods’ iconic Berry Chantilly Cake caught on quickly when changes were made to the beloved dessert.

3️⃣ Crash probe: A European spacecraft and two shoebox-size satellites launched to survey the aftermath from NASA’s DART mission, which intentionally slammed into an asteroid and altered its orbit two years ago. The Hera mission lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

4️⃣ Fungi farmers: You’ve probably seen ants carrying tiny bits of plants back to their nests, maybe in a nature documentary or at a science museum. Turns out these insects have been some of the world’s tiniest farmers for 66 million years.

5️⃣ Mind your arms: Certain positions commonly used for blood pressure readings may lead to inaccurate results, a new study found. Experts explain the right way to do it.

Watch this

👀 Tumbling down: In a tradition dating to the 1800s, teams in Spain try to make the largest human towers at the Castells Competition in Catalonia. Things don’t always go smoothly.

Top headlines

• Hurricane Milton explodes into a Category 5 on track to Florida Gulf Coast
• One year after October 7 attack, family member of hostages says life will never be the same
• Supreme Court won’t let Biden administration force Texas hospitals to provide emergency abortion care

Check this out

🏖️ Personal paradise: A home on this private island in Belize could be yours – for a cool $4.5 million. The new luxury community, set to open in 2025, includes a five-star hotel and a championship golf course.

$200 billion

💰 Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg just joined that exclusive club in net worth and is now the second-richest person in the world behind Elon Musk.

Celebrity corner

😷 ‘I didn’t have a pulse’: Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino revealed that he nearly died of Covid-19 during the pandemic and shared his view on what happens after death.

Quiz time

🏈 A rookie quarterback has the NFL buzzing with his strong play for the Washington Commanders. What’s his name?
A. Caleb Williams
B. Jayden Daniels
C. Michael Penix
D. J.J. McCarthy
⬇️ Scroll down for the answer.

Sports spotlight

⚽ Trailblazer: Viv Anderson made history as the first Black player to represent England’s national soccer team. “It was a massive thing at the time,” said Anderson, who also played for several top clubs, including Manchester United.

Good vibes

🚁 We like to wrap things up on a positive note: About 100 volunteer helicopter pilots are flying several hundred relief missions a day over North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Operation Helo is delivering essential supplies including food, water, diapers and insulin.

Thanks for reading

👋 We’ll see you tomorrow.
🧠 Quiz answer: B. Jayden Daniels has played like a veteran in leading the Commanders to a fast start.
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5 Things PM is produced by CNN’s Tricia Escobedo, Meghan Pryce and Kimberly Richardson.

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