October 31, 2007
Your Earthquake Review
Either under the table for protection or hiding from someone sporting a fiendish fannypack-khakis combo, Catherine Kilkenny of San Jose's Willow Glen looks scared as all hell, doesn't she? Many people were. Last night's 5.6 earthquake, which we didn't feel but hear the majority of you did, tore nerves to shreds, shook the ground, and sent magazines flying to the floor.
In a little over 12 hours, it managed to cause quite the stir. Some people were in the middle of dinner when it happened. Others blogged about it. Some from a faraway land called Walnut Creek broke down local media coverage of it, and liqufaction was threatened.
But it's all over. For now.
-- For more safety information about emergency on tips surviving an earthquake, here are some handy do's & don'ts.
-- For free training in disaster and emergency response, visit NERT -- Neighborhood Emergency Response Team
-- Tips on making your pad safer, go to Quakeinfo.org.
-- Federal Emergency Management Agency, 415-923-7100
-- American Red Cross, 415-427-8000
-- 72Hours.org
Speaking of them, here's 72Hours.org's suggestion for building an earthquake emergency kit:
After a major disaster the usual services we take for granted, such as running water, refrigeration, and telephones, may be unavailable. Experts recommend that you should be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least three days. Store your household disaster kit in an easily accessible location. Put contents in a large, watertight container (e.g. a large plastic garbage can with a lid and wheels) that you can move easily.Your basic emergency kit should include:
* Water – one gallon per person per day
* Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
* Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
* Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
* First Aid kit & instructions
* A copy of important documents & phone numbers
* Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
* Heavy work gloves
* Disposable camera
* Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
* Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
* Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
* Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
* Blanket or sleeping bag
* Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
* Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly. Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.
* Flashlight
* Radio – battery operated
* Batteries
* Whistle
* Dust mask
* Pocket knife
* Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
* Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
* Local map
* Some water and food
* Permanent marker, paper and tape
* Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
* List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
* List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
* Copy of health insurance and identification cards
* Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
* Prescription medications and first aid supplies
* Toothbrush and toothpaste
* Extra keys to your house and vehicle
* Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.


Also:
condoms
pipes and related supplies
vodka in shatter proof bottles
chocolate
ear plugs to minimize interuptions from those screaming nearby
roach spray [bugs will be displaced too]
body bags [lysol spray optional]
patchouli [hippy bath]
battery operated tsumani detector
This is one of the best fright map sites I've found.
It has multiple hazard maps [various shake models, historical info, landslides, tsunamis, fires...] and allows you to zoom in, even to a specific address.
Spend some time at the site for a truly scary Haloween:
http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/mapsba.html
As an east coast transplant, I spent the better part of an hour on the phone with family explaining the general location of San Jose, the actual epicenter 9mi outside of it, San Francisco in relation to both and trying to generally convince them that the city hadn't snapped off into the Pacific.
Is it wrong to be turned on by that "chick being used as a table support" image?