Every so often a big quake hits and people are devastated and killed by the disaster. All of my life I have been told about the big one expected in Oregon and Washington-- actually overdue now as it's been 311 years since the last megaquake off our coast and they come about every 244 years.
I've been in a couple of small quakes, nothing of that magnitude, but enough to know when the ground starts to sway, you get down on your hands and knees. When that happens and you are in a city, there are a few other things to know. This article also describes what one might expect if they live or are along the Coast regarding the resultant tsunami.
Some would rather not think about such things. My opinion is know what to do, release the fear, and then be ready to put your plan into action if the worse happens-- someday it could.
11 comments:
Natural disasters happen. They impact our lives, but we go on living. That's life...
I did not leave the above Anonymous comment; but, I would add that some people do not go on living - partly from lack of preparation/knowledge and partly from the throw of the dice. Of course, nothing makes a difference to those who did not survive. (Well, duh! to me!)
Cop Car
We just do what we gotta do. I have no idea when the last big earthquake was in Ohio. We get a lil' tiny ones now and again.
Always a good thing for EVERYONE to know, not just people in earthquake prone areas.
Truly it only takes a little time to stash away some sleeping bags, water, some food, and to keep your tank half full all the time. No power, no gas, no cash, whatever nature dumps on us. I used to live in Seattle and in spite of their evac plan I'd say you'd better be able live a week on your own, between the traffic and the fact its built on glacial till, no one will be going anywhere.
In the big quake (Loma Prieta/aka SF) I was stuck with barely any gas in the car and just a couple of disposable diapers for my 18 mos. old. Lessons learned!
Being prepared is good -- we were the few in our neighborhood to have battery powered radio so we could know what was going on in the outside world - and what they were saying about our quake ravaged area.
I need to get right on that preparedness again.
Those who are left go on living. Death is part of the human condition as is life. Natural disasters have been with us since day one. And they will continue to be.
With that fatalistic philosophy, do you just sit there then when one strikes or do you have a plan and implement it? The disasters of the past didn't have the possibility of understanding what was going to happen and doing that prep. Volcano, earthquake, storm, plague, they didn't know ahead of time it was possible and blamed all sorts of spiritual deities or thought one could protect them from the natural event. Today some still think that way but it's not scientific or using logic to do so. I believe in knowing what we can and taking reasonable precautions and it involves many things. I travel frequently to regions that have hanta virus and bubonic plague possibilities. There are things someone can do to cut down on the risks when doing so. Being prepared doesn't mean being a dooms-dayer. It just means knowing what is out there and using what we can know to protect ourselves as best we can if it hits.
We have earthquake coverage on the hazard policies for all our real estate. Though I fully expect that, when the Big One" hits, after the devastation, the insurance company will turn to to the Federal Government with tears in it's eyes pleading: "we didn't think it would cost SO MUCH!"
I guess I'm saving money on not needing flood insurance, though.
Of course I have a plan Rain, but when disaster strikes the plan generally is the first casualty. I use my wits and do what I have to do. The government can piss off. We know how they tend to mishandle things.
This article and the information it it had nothing to do with government, Paul. It was about what will happen physically and what can you do about it yourself...
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