October 15 at 10:15 am is The Great California Shakeout.
Living in California, one of the biggest natural disasters that occur here are earthquakes. We get earthquakes in California everyday, we just don’t feel all of them since they are small. According to the California Department of Conservation, “Each year, California generally gets two or three earthquakes large enough to cause moderate damage to structures.” With that being said, it is best to always be prepared. We don’t know when the “big one” will come, but at least we’ll be ready for it.
Photo Credit: Fletcher Stewart via Compfight cc
So how do we prepare for an earthquake?
Participate in The Great California Shakeout! “Drop, Cover, and Hold On!”
For more information on how to participate in The Great California Shakeout, go to http://www.shakeout.org/california/
Here are a few tips provided by the Red Cross and Ready.gov:
- Pick a safe place in each room of your home, workplace, and/or school away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture than can fall on you.
- Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person’s bed.
- Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation.
- Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs
- Learn to shut off gas valves in your home and keep a wrench handy for that purpose
- Keep and maintain an emergency supplies kit in an easy-to-access location.
- Store critical supplies, such as water, medication and documents
- Plan how you will communicate with family members
Contact Kaplan Construction at 562-495-0483 or via email to check your home’s foundation.
For a complete list of the earthquake safety checklist, you can find it at: http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240216_Earthquake.pdf and http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
Sources:
http://www.shakeout.org/california/
http://www.conservation.ca.gov/index/earthquakes/Pages/qh_earthquakes.aspx
http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/earthquake
http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
