In the last edition of this
newsletter I said that the Earth would continue to shake thanks to Pluto in
Capricorn. Since that time we've had
earthquakes in Chili, Taiwan, and the recent Easter Sunday quakes at the California/Mexico border
and northern California.
Don't think that just
because you live somewhere other than California that an earthquake can't happen to you. There are fault lines all across the country
and the world; my first earthquake was
in Atlanta, GA. And if you do
live in California, don't get caught off guard because you've "heard it
all before!" Are you ready? If not, what are you waiting for? You owe it to yourself and
your family to be as prepared as possible.
Following are some
suggestions to get you started on preparing for an earthquake / natural
disaster. This list is by no means
comprehensive but it's a start. Many of
us put things like this off because it seems overwhelming, or we think, "I'll
do it some day." This is to help you
jump start your disaster preparedness plan so you'll at least be moving in right direction.
For Your Home:
Water: 2-3 gal per person in your household
Canned goods and a manual
can opener
Energy bars and other non-perishable
food
First aid kit
Flash light
Sturdy shoes near your bed
For Your Car:
Water
First Aid Kit
Flash light
Energy bars / snacks
Blanket
Jacket / warm clothes
At least half tank of gas
in your car at all times
The old "get in a doorway"
is no longer valid. From the American
Red Cross website: "Doorways are no stronger than any other part of the
structure. During an earthquake, get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold
on. This will provide some protection from falling objects that can injure you
during an earthquake." Remember to: "Drop, Cover, Hold On"
Schedule a family meeting to discuss what
to do in the event of an emergency. Do
practice drills so everyone has a feel for what steps to take.
Other helpful hints can be
found here:
Taking steps now to prepare
for these types of events gives us a small measure of control and comfort in potentially
chaotic situations. Don't be one of
those "Shoulda, woulda, coulda" people who wished they'd taken the time to
prepare. Get started now!
Namaste,
Debbie
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