I just finished Community Emergency Response Team training for the town I live in. The firefighter who taught the course had a mantra for the fire department’s role after a disaster: “We Ain’t Comin’.”
Not that they don’t care, but the definition of a disaster for them is an event that overwhelms public resources. So, in the event of a big earthquake or other natural disaster, do not plan on the fire department saving your bacon.
Keep five days food and water on hand at all times. Water is one gallon per person per day. Remember supplies for pets as well.
Get a good first aid kit and take a first aid course. It may be days before you can see a doctor or go to a hospital. Keep extra prescription medication on hand, and if possible, an extra set of glasses.
Know where your utility cut-offs are. Anything over magnitude 5.0 intensity where you are, and you should cut off utilities. Cut off gas if you see, hear, or smell it. Home Depot sells a wonderful $10 wrench that has all the utility gizmos on it. They stock it in the plumbing department.
Half of all deaths after the immediate catastrophe are those of would-be rescuers getting in over their heads. Be completely honest with yourself about your abilities and the situation. If in doubt, do not go in.
Scored a 75. That’s what happens when you survive a 9.0. The food in the vehicle question didn’t bother me, as we have a motor home parked in the driveway that has food, water, heat, and electricity.
63 for me. It’s hard to pick the stupidest question, but the last one is my stupid favorite right now: I know that preparing for a major earthquake is the single most important thing I can do for the safety of my family and friends?
I’m thinking smoke alarm, seat belts, not driving drunk, a whole bunch of things higher on the list than earthquake preparedness.
I got a -33, which is odd as hell, because I’m the one constantly lecturing my out of state friends who are recent CA transplants about Earthquake safety. I assume this is because I don’t have a kit in my house or car, which I admit is stupid.
I see one for $50 on the Red Cross site. Anybody have some links to others?
While I have a first aid kit and some blankets and flash lights in my car, I do not have any food or water in it. But we do have our camping gear boxes, one that has a more robust first aid kit and other items, and one mostly canned and dry food items, a water purifier, etc. Fire extinguishers, our basic camping gear, ham radio, bottled water on hand, etc. We’re mostly prepared I’d say.
I got a 68. I know I got the one about how I must have my hands free wrong. I’m not leaving my cats behind in a crumbing house if I can grab them. We also don’t keep a full 3 days stocked in the cars-- honestly, if you’re stranded on the road, help is probably coming to you sooner than that. Flares, blankets, first aid kit, couple power bars and some water is really all you need (I think)
Also, I live in Earthquake Central, and I still don’t think Earthquake Preparations are the most important thing that I can do for my family’s safety.
(I also think everyone should have an emergency kit-- nature does nasty things to every part of the country, and you never know when something could happen that will knock out your power/water/roads. It’s much more likely to be a bad winter storm that a Major Disaster, but it’s nice to know you won’t have to drink out of the toilet tank and stumble around in the dark.)
It’s a misleading question. In a serious earthquake, you’ll likely never make it out of your house before it’s all over. You’re safer ducking into a bathroom or narrow hallway than trying to run for a door that has become a moving target and trying to dodge flying objects.
Not only that but depending on where you live, going outside could be more dangerous than remaining inside. In some places, there’s plenty of shit that can break and/or fall on you when you’re outside.
Scored a 66 here. Considering I teach plate tectonics and earthquake safety, and my husband survived living about ten miles from the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta quake while his house and neighborhood sustained significant damage, I’d better.
That said, I do not have 3 days worth of food in my car or at work. I’m thinking, though, that the dressing room in my horse trailer is a good place for a second kit. I have one by a door in the house, but the trailer makes sense as a second place in case the home is too damaged to be entered.
I scored a 66, but I live in San Francisco, so earthquake preparedness is a major issue. I was docked on the car question, since I don’t own a car. I do have a Red Cross emergency kit, though, sitting in my living room where I see it every day and can easily access it.
I scored 50, in spite of the fact that right now, I am in the most tectonically-stable area of the North American continent (the Canadian Shield), I have never felt an earthquake even when I was in California, and in an actual earthquake situation I’d probably be like one of those people falling into the giant holes in the ground in 2012. But I noticed that a lot of the questions were about attitute, and basically if you’re willing to learn, you’re better off than those who aren’t. And we’re used to having preparedness equipment in our cars, though it’s for wiinter survival, not wearthquakes.
Totally agreed. Chances are, if you’re stranded in your car after an earthquake, you’ll be near some place to loot.
I got -142, despite choosing all the “correct” answers. The only difference was saying “Yes” to the question, My attitude is: “Oh well, if the earthquake comes there is nothing I can do - whatever happens, happens.” Changing that answer to “No” gave me a -40. Oh well, guess I’m dead no matter what. :rolleyes:
Still not going to take the test.
But after hundreds of aftershocks <can feel the earth move several times an hour, still> I am going to stock up on Dramamine.
Seasickness on land is some kind of special hell that I am certain I did nothing to deserve.
