A couple of weeks ago our San Francisco bay area Quake Cottage Earthquake Simulator paid a visit to Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California on the same day our Southern California Quake Cottage was at a navy base in the San Diego area. It was our fifth trip out to the island, and the 2^nd time we’d been to the Southern California base.

These trips come in the midst of other planned training exercises at United States Air Force and Marine facilities in the region. In fact, we’ve been fortunate enough to have trained hundreds of our troops and their families in the basics of earthquake readiness and the techniques of home fastening over the past several years. On top of that, the United States Navy actually owns two earthquake simulators that we custom-built for them. These units are in use over in Japan.

Why, you may ask, is there such a focus on earthquake preparedness in the armed forces?

I often get the opportunity to provide a training seminar during our Quake Cottage visits to bases. During one recent session I learned that a large majority of the folks stationed at the base don’t live at the base itself. That was a surprise. I thought most everyone stationed at these bases lived in barracks on the bases, like in the old Gomer Pyle show.

Times most certainly have changed. So apparently, like most everyone else, many military base folks have to commute to work on a daily basis. And it just won’t do to have members of the military not show up to work because of an earthquake.

Before I gave a recent presentation to about 300 people at military facility, the commanding officer stressed the importance of home readiness to his troops. While he did not mandate that everyone under his command prepare their personal residences for a major earthquake, he did stress that when such an earthquake strikes, failure by anyone to show up as directed to their post following such an event would not be tolerated.

It makes sense. The National Guard and Army Core are not the only responders in a major disaster. 

And, if a soldier is needed for the greater good, but the soldier or a family member is seriously injured by flying furniture within a few seconds of an earthquake, then that is a problem. Or, if any other first responder isn’t prepared at home, and home becomes a hazard in an earthquake, then that too is a problem.

The fact is falling furniture, broken gas lines and even wedged doors can cause significant ripple effects in an earthquake. The military seems to be doing something about that.

How about you?

Last week has seen a dramatic rise in folks “liking” Safe-T-Proof, on Facebook. Interest in earthquake preparedness products such as Safe-T-Proof fasteners and radios is at an all-time high, despite the fact that we haven’t experienced a significant temblor in the United States for many years, and the Napa earthquake of 2014 was small and had only a regional impact.

There was the recent San Andreas Movie. Did that get folks inspired to prepare?

Maybe it was the recent New Yorker article about the Cascadia Subduction Zone, or the earthquakes in Oklahoma and Nepal that have peaked interest.

Whatever the cause, social media, while not abuzz, has at least started earthquake humming.

Much has been documented about the effectiveness of social media immediately following a disaster. Check out this article in Scientific American:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-social-media-is-changing-disaster-response/

Amazing stuff!   Still, all of this attention has got me thinking. How can we best use social media to help folk prepare for an earthquake? I may be late to the party here, but my guess is that not only can preparedness tips and tricks be shared using this medium, but the latest in scientific breakthroughs in the geology of earthquakes, early warning system advances, and how-to instructional videos on preparedness techniques. It’s all good information, and needed.

Remember that earthquake preparedness matters, and significantly reduces damage causes by earthquakes.

I encourage you to check out our Facebook Page. Visit often, get the latest and share what you know.

Earlier this evening on my social media account someone had posted this week’s article from New Yorker magazine, which featured the Cascadia Subduction Zone and the immense earthquake threat in the Pacific Northwest.

I knew all about the article and have just returned from QuakeSmart Earthquake Preparedness summits in Seattle and Portland. I’ve been writing about Oregon and Washington preparedness for the last couple of months. What struck about the social media post was one comment, which read in response to the earthquake threat “Or, you could get hit by a bus tomorrow.” I wonder, do people really think like that? Do folks look at death-by-earthquake as a random, unpreventable inevitability? I don’t; nobody I work with does. Do you?

Earthquakes are a disaster in which the impact is quite often felt in direct proportion to preparedness, or lack thereof. The Napa earthquake bore that out, almost in textbook fashion.   The earthquake preparedness formula is basic and straightforward: Secure the structure, secure the space, get provisions, be part of the solution.

I am certain that not everyone in the Pacific Northwest has a “hit by a bus” mentality when it comes to earthquake preparedness. And though I doubt droves of people are moving away from the coast in fear of the estimated 100 foot tsunami bound for certain sections of the coastline, the New Yorker article has had an impact.

The phone at our Quake Cottage offices rang steadily all week, as people called us from Medford to Bremerton. Many folks who saw us two months ago in British Columbia contacted us as well.

This week we will coordinating a return trip to the region with the Quake Cottage. That is if we don’t all get hit by a bus first.

There was a lot of news coverage of recovery efforts following the 2011 Japan earthquake. In addition to the search for survivors following the massive quake and tsunami, relief efforts were coordinated and organized provision distribution stations were established.

I remember television commentary on the orderly nature of the distribution proceed. Everyone was so calm, so well behave. Experts wondered how Californians would behave faced with similar circumstances.

Would our line look like this?

Or like this?

I wonder. Still, when I think about my life post-mega quake I really would prefer to avoid any type of distribution line at all—peaceful or not. Think about it. Even in the most orderly distribution system, someone from the family would be in line all day. Get in line at dawn to get breakfast. Eat breakfast. Get in line for lunch. Eat lunch. Get in line for dinner. Eat dinner. Go to bed and do it again tomorrow. I don’t know if things would shake out like that, but why would I want to get in line anyway?   I prefer the attitude of the late comedian John Pinette: Get Outta Line!

So today is Independence Day.   Independence from depending on others to help my family after an earthquake. Independence from waiting in line.

Last week’s blog introduced the real potentiality that some services and infrastructure may not be available for more than a year after a major earthquake. I don’t think a 72 hour kit is going to cut it. At the most recent QuakeSmart summit the audience was told that a two week supply of food and water would be more likely what the average family should keep on hand.

I see a problem here. If the water out of the tap takes months to come back on, and I have three days, or even two weeks of water on hand, and it’s not raining, and I need water; I am faced with the real probability of having to get into line. I think I’ve been clear. I do not want to get into line.

Everything about this preparedness effort my family is on has been progressive in nature. We have water for two weeks for everyone (including pets) in the household. How did we get there? Let me walk you through the step by step process:

First we got three days’ worth of water. We had at the time four adults, two cats and one dog in the house. The recommended amount is a gallon per person per day. So, four adults times three days is twelve gallons. I added a quart per day for each pet. This would add a bit over two gallons to the total. So, for starters, we purchased a 15 gallon food grade barrel, and added a cool preserver to it and the water was ready for the next five years.

But, as is the case with many families, things change. Uncle Don moved in with us, and we added his dog Pickles to the clan. Plus, we now want enough water for two weeks minimum. The math is the following: Five adults times one gallon times fourteen days. We now need seventy gallons of water on hand for the humans, and a little more than three gallons for the pets.

Our water on hand today takes on many forms. We have that original fifteen gallon barrel with the preserver in it. We’ve added a 55 gallon barrel, and a case of liter size water in plastic containers. We are accumulating full cases of the five-year pouch water as well.

My guess is that the powers that be may eventually recommend folks keep months of provisions on hand. I am no prepper, and really would rather not drop off the grid and construct a seven thousand gallon water tank or two. In the end my guess that despite my efforts, I may need eventually to get in line if the earthquake is catastrophic. And if that occurs I promise, I will behave.

We rolled north across the border into southern Oregon yesterday, headed to Seattle for a seismic anchorage project and a couple of QuakeSmart preparedness summits. The pickup is loaded with earthquake readiness display pieces and bracing products – rails, struts and fasteners. We’ve got the “Safe-T-Proof Disaster Preparedness Co.” signage on the rig, and we attract attention all along the route.

When we stop for gas or a bite to eat, we’re invariably asked what the heck all of this gear is for. And, when we bring up the fact we’re here to help businesses prepare for earthquakes, the common question we get is: “Do you know something we don’t know?”

I certainly hope not.

Oregon and Washington are both situated smack dab on the “Ring of Fire”. The Cascadia Subduction Zone makes the region prone to a significantly larger earthquake than could ever happen on the famous San Andreas Fault. How large an earthquake?

The Cascadia Region Earthquake Workgroup is a coalition of private and public representatives working together to improve the ability of regional communities, businesses and homeowners to reduce the effects of earthquakes. They’ve done a lot of research regarding a major Pacific Northwest earthquake, and published a startling scenario about the event called “Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquakes: A magnitude 9.0 earthquake scenario”.

And while this type of mega-quake would no doubt devastate the area in a multitude of ways, it is not the only earthquake that could cause real and lasting problems.

The diverse earthquake threat facing Oregon and Washington has been publicized for several years. Yet, I dare say, that Oklahomans are more earthquake aware these days than people in this region. The reason, nothing brings earthquake preparedness more into the public eye than actual earthquakes.

Enter QuakeSmart. This new FEMA program is designed to help businesses take needed steps to systematically prepare for earthquakes of all types. This coming week, earthquake experts will present critical information to local businesses regarding the specific seismic threat, the expected first responder response, and the QuakeSmart program itself. Initial QuakeSmart summits will take place in Seattle and Portland, and will no doubt be the first of many to come.

My hope is that when we return for preparedness efforts in the future, folks will know why the heck we are here.