Posted on 08/01/2008 1:33:11 PM PDT by BenLurkin
"Whenever we have a little earthquake or something happens, it always reminds us to remind our citizens - are you prepared?"
...
Smith said the city's No. 1 priority is the safety of its citizens. He urged residents to consider "what if" scenarios in order to prepare for a disaster.
...
"I'll tell you what: When you're thinking about those three things when the building starts to shake, it's too late. Because if you're not prepared before then, you won't be prepared for the catastrophe that you may be facing," he said.
Metro said dealing with a catastrophic event has three components: preparation, response and recovery.
As individuals we can prepare ourselves to confront emergency situations, while the response component is handled by the sheriff's and fire departments, the assistant fire chief said.
...
Metro dared everyone in the room and all residents to do three things within the next 48 hours ...
He said people should collect three gallons of water for every member of the household; have three days' worth of nonperishable food in their homes; and create a plan where family members can meet if they are away from home or even only in different parts of the house.
"If this happens and you're working in Los Angeles and your kids are in school, what are they going to do?" he asked.
Metro suggested families establish a meeting place and, if possible, have an out-of-state telephone contact number with a family member so people can call and check in to let someone know their locations and that they are safe. He said simple instructions such as telling your children to remain at school can help.
(Excerpt) Read more at avpress.com ...
"It's each person's responsibility to ensure that you are properly prepared," Henson said. "If we have that 7.8 earthquake, the Big One that we're supposed to have anytime in the next 30 years, it's going to be a huge disaster. We don't want to scare you, but at the same time, you need to be prepared."
If anyone thinks ANYONE will be arriving anytime before a week after a huge earthquake, they havent been paying attn. Northridge will look like a picnic if an 8.0 hits.
Here’s a hint. There is no defense against an 8.0 earthquake. Six cans of tuna won’t do it.
You are on your own, and it doesn’t matter if you’re “prepared” or not. When the building collapses and the gas and water pipelines rupture, simply sipping some bottled water and nibbling on your tuna will not get you very far.
http://urbanearth.gps.caltech.edu/wp-content/uploads/shakemap_intensity.pdf http://www.shakeout.org/scenario/index.html
That simulation reduces Oxnard (I’ve always loved that name) to an eternity of shaking.
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