The government’s trying to scare me — for a good reason this time — and it’s succeeded. Watch the short video below to find out what scary things will befall Angelenos in the case of a 7.8 earthquake on the San Andreas fault — an earthquake we’re already long overdue for! (via LAist)
Come 10 am tomorrow, we all get to practice our earthquake readiness skills thanks to The Great Southern California Shakeout, a massive fire drill that many schools, businesses, Metro, the Big Blue Bus, and many others will be participating in. Sign up to join in, like I did, and get your own virtual earthquake HQ.
Before 10 am, let’s both work through these 7 steps to earthquake safety. I’ve got a fire extinguisher and first aid kit already, but it looks like I’m gonna have to go out and buy 14 gallons of bottled water!
In case you’ve forgotten what to do when an earthquake hits, see the image or above, watch an animated illustration, or read this long description of how to drop, cover and hold if the process still isn’t clear to you. This page has info on what to do in various situations — i.e. driving — where dropping and covering isn’t immediately possible.
In any case, please don’t go running out of the house, whether to flit about in aimless terror or to meet god on his way down because you’re convinced it’s the apocalypse — because that may result in death.
So ready for the quake you’ve got time to kill? Play the Beat the Quake game.
Image via dropcoverholdon.org
doesn’t the boy at 2:32 in the video look like this picture of barack obama as a toddler?
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/06/06/article-1024773-0022F2D400000578-859_233×423.jpg
Comment by Jody — November 12, 2008 @ 6:07 pm
thanks siel! this is an awesome resource that i totally needed and learned things i didn’t know (like, living so close to the beach i have to walk 2 miles east if the quake is more than 20 seconds. need to figure out how to cart a cat and dog for that!)
Comment by alex — November 12, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
i think the Government is getting so good at scaring us, we run the risk of not listening so closely these days. but “the flitting about in aimless terror” thing was actually my plan, so i really appreciate the resources here. thanks siel.
Comment by mk — November 13, 2008 @ 10:00 am
i don’t have 14 gallons of water, but I do have an MSR water filter (for camping) and a nearby reservoir. I’m hoping that, if the Big One comes, the reservoir will hold and I might be able to access water from there. If not, I’d have to hike/bike to a nearby stream in the San Gabriel Mtns. That would be tough.
Comment by tany — November 13, 2008 @ 11:42 am
Ha! Cute comparison, Jody :)
And glad I could help, mk and alex. I’m about 1.5 miles in from the beach, so luckily I’d only have .5 miles to go.
tany — Have you gone on a trial hike/bike yet? :)
Comment by Siel — November 17, 2008 @ 9:51 pm