Not if, but when the big quake's coming

Valley Press on ^ | Saturday, February 10, 2007. | DENNIS ANDERSON

[BenLurkin]

The idea of a great quake occurring along the San Andreas Fault that runs through the Antelope Valley is not a question of if, but rather, of when.

Red Cross emergency preparation expert Bob Wood related ... expect a fissure about 30 feet across and an earth slippage that rises up a dozen or so feet.

The last big area quake, he said, was in 1857, and the San Andreas has been pretty steady at making a major movement around every 140-year interval through historic geologic time.

Instead, he advised, make preparations for smaller-scale catastrophes.

Civil unrest, for example.

Or big fires.

Or flu pandemics.

Or a hazardous materials spill from the rail traffic continuously moving through the Valley.

The San Andreas Fault features the "Palmdale Bulge," where it runs by the 14 Freeway, and it also traverses the California Aqueduct, "which is going to break," Wood said.

But flooding from that will not be too severe, kind of like spilling a big glass of water on the desert.

"First thing is to have a family meeting," he said.

"When you have a family plan, it removes some of the panic. You need to communicate."

Keep emergency supplies, such as a tray of bottled water, a first aid kit and some food in your personal transportation as well as the house.

There might be functioning cell phone service, but circuits will overload and that will cut people off from early communication with each other, Wood said.

And money at home in small denominations.

Wood advised people to ensure that they store some nonperishable food of a kind that they like.

[BenLurkin]

Be prepared.

[xcamel]

Catastrophe!!

[somemoreequalthanothers]

Keep emergency supplies, such as a tray of bottled water, a first aid kit and some food and several full clips for your semi automatic weapon to ward off the panicked hordes that will swarm upon you to relieve you of your supplies.

[Mr_Moonlight]

panicked hordes that will swarm upon you to relieve you of your supplies

[Not now, Not ever!]

Funny how all these disaster prep folks always forget to mention that.

[SunkenCiv]

Geeeeeet reaaaaaaaady to rummmmmmmmble!

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[Fred Nerks]

Wood advised people to ensure that they store some nonperishable food of a kind that they like.

Now who would stock nonperishable food they DON'T like?

[SunkenCiv]

Dehydrated broccoli lovers try to pull that one on the rest of the family.

[glaseatr]

It's not IF but WHEN I die...WHo F'n cares. Not me anymore.

[SamAdams76]

One thing you should consider is sardines. I try to keep at least 144 cans of King Oscar Sardines (packed in olive oil) on hand at all times. But in earthquake prone areas, I would stock at least 10 times that amount. 1440 cans would provide a lot of nutrition for a long period of time for those in a disaster area.

These sardines are packed with good stuff that will provide sustenance over the long haul. Besides, they lower cholesterol, contain zero trans-fats, and the olive oil has plenty of benefits as well.

[ThomasThomas]

One thing you should consider is sardines.

This also would be a deterrent to the hoards trying to take your supplies.

[Fred Nerks]

ARTICHOKE!

[AndrewC]

Wood advised people to ensure that they store some nonperishable food of a kind that they like.

[roaddog727]

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

King Oscar Sardines.....

My absolute Favorite!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Have plenty of Ritz andoor saltines on hand as well upon which to eat said sardines.

[BenLurkin]

You say that ... but I bet you have done at least some disaster preparation.

[glaseatr]

Not really, I have never felt an earthquake where I live. The If and When things are buggin the hell out of me these days. All the so-called experts saying the sky is falling is nothing more than BS.

[Cvengr]

Another Friday the 16th is approaching. We'll see.

[diamond6]

Sigh.

My inlaws live in Palmdale. (Love my inlaws).

[diamond6]

I've never eaten sardines; how do you prepare them?

[SunkenCiv]

"Did you hoard all those supplies yourself?"

"No, my sister hoard half of them."