By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
We are nearing the anniversary of the Northridge earthquake which occurred Jan 17th 1994. Earthquakes are far from most of our minds as the Covid – 19 and other viruses emerge, political unrest, crime, cost of living and other world events, take center stage. It is easy to forget that another threat that is looming underneath us and can strike at any time without warning.
Twenty-eight years ago, January 17th was when the Northridge earthquake struck, killing fifty-seven people, and causing $44 billion in damage. Those of us who lived through it will never forget the chaos and destruction. Though we have had others, this was the last “significant” quake that has caused such damage and death. We are over-due for an earthquake, and we cannot let our guard down and be unprepared.
And yet, experts consider Northridge a moderate earthquake — at 6.7-magnitude, it fell below what seismologists warn could be coming. In late 2017, seismologists stressed that Southern California is overdue for a 7.8-magnitude quake along the 800-mile San Andreas Fault. While such an event would hit the Los Angeles area the hardest, experts say it would be felt throughout the state, causing up to $300 billion in damages. The effects would spread nationwide, as business and travel are affected.
Are you prepared?
OK, that’s a bit flippant; no one can truly be prepared for what the Big One could bring. But we can take steps to better position ourselves. Accept that natural disasters are a constant threat.
If there is one constant when it comes to natural disasters, it’s that we cannot control them. An earthquake could hit anytime … and if not an earthquake, what about flooding or fires? No matter where we live, we face the constant possibility of natural disasters. In fact, the prevalence and intensity of weather-related events is likely to increase due to climate change. Since there is much, we can’t predict or prevent, we must be prepared.
Build and maintain emergency kits for yourself and your family.
Emergency preparedness surveys indicate 40 to 80 percent of people are unprepared to face emergencies. You should have emergency supplies in your vehicle, at work and your home. If the prospect seems daunting, just start small. Think about being stuck somewhere for an extended period. What would you need? Items to consider include a first-aid kit, nonperishable food, bottled water, medicines, flashlights and blankets. Do not forget how important our smartphones and other electronic gadgets have become to us — invest in spare batteries and keep them charged and ready to go in all your emergency kits.
Prepare your family emotionally and strategically.
All families should create and practice disaster plans. In an emergency, you may have to stay at work and/or be separated from family. Is your family emotionally prepared for that? Are you? Do you feel you could perform your job while worrying about the safety of your loved ones?
It will never be easy, but it can be a little less difficult if you prepare them. Show your family members how to shut off utilities. Identify places where you might reunite if separated. Talk to your children about how their phones will not work, and how all of you must be prepared to go several days without talking to one another. If it happens at school, where will they head after the immediate event is over? Will they have the awareness to empty their backpack of schoolbooks and stuff anything useful — coats, first-aid supplies, food, water — into it before heading off on foot? If your spouse is at work, where will he/she go? Assume roadways will be inaccessible and public transportation not operating.
These are not easy scenarios to work through, but if you do so as a family — and not once, but several times a year — it can provide reassurance when the Big One hits.
Review your organizations relevant policies.
Most organizations develop detailed response plans for Covid-19, weather, and other related events. You should review these on a regular basis, especially because events like earthquakes are not seasonal. Do you know what is expected of you if you are at home when disaster strikes? If you must evacuate your work, what critical facility operations should be conducted before evacuating, and who is responsible for them? Are your generators serviced and ready to go?
As you did in your family planning, walk through some scenarios. If you are building you work at was destroyed, what would be the best way for you to stay safe but still be useful? What does “risk a lot to save a lot” mean when coming up on a residential high-rise building that has suffered a pancake collapse? Note: The point of these exercises is not really to produce a specific plan, because you cannot anticipate the exact circumstances you will face. Rather, as with the planning you do with your family, such exercises help to develop the mental and emotional resilience you will need to successfully function when a disaster hits.
We have a responsibility to be prepared. Do not be part of the problem. If we cannot take care of ourselves, we are going to have a tough time taking care of others.
