Because It's Friday
6 hours ago
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Earthquake awareness
I’m certainly no expert, but it seems like the world’s going through a period of big earthquakes.
If you live in an earthquake prone area, you should already know what to do. If the warnings haven’t penetrated by now, there’s no hope for you. People like myself who don’t live in major earthquake areas have no reason to be smug. While quakes may be rare in your area that doesn’t mean they won’t happen.
A moderate quake in an area no used to them suffers a lot more damage than places that get them regularly. Remember how a category I hurricane devastated New Jersey and New York? In areas used to hurricanes, they’d coast through a category I. (Of course, hit them with a snowstorm a week later and see what happens.)
People travel all over the world. We may be well prepared for whatever calamity is possible while at home, but on the road it’s different. Once again, a basic bug out bag should travel with you everywhere.
A buddy of mine lives in the Northwest. His job was just 15 minutes from home by car. He kept a fully loaded Alice pack in his truck at all times. Hi coworkers made fun of him at first, until he explained his logic. His work location was on an island, connected to the mainland by one bridge. Should that bridge go down, he’d be stranded on that island a long time.
Short trips by mechanized travel can be a long long way on foot. Throw in downed bridges, damaged harbors, buckled airport runways, and the trip gets even longer. In some cases leaving may be impossible for the short to medium term. Are you prepared for that?
Storms we see coming and can take precautions. Earthquakes give little to no warning. That’s why we have to do our thinking and planing before a quake hits.
-Sixbears
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Sound advice and worth heeding...
ReplyDeleteLife can be full of surprises.
DeleteLike you said, just because you live in an area not prone to earthquakes doesn't mean it can't happen. And for those who do, it would behoove them to remember that the further they are from the last one, the closer they are to the next one.
ReplyDeleteThat's something to keep in mind.
DeleteI've been lax of late keepin' my necessaries with me. I appreciate the reminder.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has their own pack list, but the item I use most in my pack, outside of my Browning .22 auto pistol, is a toss-up between my medical kit and superglue.
It amazes me that so few folks have even modest medical supplies on hand. My mate's sister is a nurse and her husband a doctor. I've never seen a medical kit at their home.
Now I'm distracted from paperwork readin' about the 1812 earthquake. One shouldn't worry about the future, but we should definitely remember the past.
DeleteI've usually got at least 2 kits in my vehicles: car, van or boat. One small backpacker kit and a bigger kit with more extensive supplies.
DeleteOne should be ready for any storm, earthquake, fire, ect...
ReplyDeleteNever think it won't happen to you.
Fortunately, the same basic kit of supplies is good for most emergencies.
DeleteWe seem to think that only those living on the west coast have to worry about earth quake but there are a lot of faults in the central and eastern parts of our country. In fact there is a huge fault that runs up the Mississippi River basin.
ReplyDeleteThe New Madrid one could cut the country in two if it ever let go, by destroying roads, bridges, and railroads. Probably wouldn't do the Mississippi any good either.
DeleteIt really takes so little time to put together some sort of an emergency lit.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, having some supplies is so much better than having none!