The recent swarm of small earthquakes, followed by Tuesday’s
6.0-magnitude temblor centered in the Central Coast should prod
even the most reluctant among us into becoming earthquake
proof.
The recent swarm of small earthquakes, followed by Tuesday’s 6.0-magnitude temblor centered in the Central Coast should prod even the most reluctant among us into becoming earthquake proof.
Scanning a wider geographic region, seismic activity has been on the upswing in the so-called Pacific “ring of fire,” with reports of seismic and volcanic activity in Washington State near Mount Saint Helens, in the Hawaiian Islands, in Bali and Japan in recent weeks, among others.
Of course, there are the usual warnings for homeowners that bear repeating here:
Prepare and maintain and earthquake kit. It should include a first aid kit and essential medications, canned food and can opener, at least three gallons of water per person, protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags and a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
Bolt bookcases and other tall furniture to the walls, and install latches on cupboards.
Strap your water heater securely to wall studs.
Practice the “drop, cover and hold on” technique and use it during a quake. Find a safe place in every room – such as under a sturdy table – where you can “drop, cover and hold” on without fear of anything falling on you during a temblor.
Know how to disconnect the gas to your house in case of a post-quake leak. Know how to use your fire extinguisher to put out small fires.
But homeowners aren’t the only ones who need to be earthquake ready.
Property owners, especially those who own historic buildings built before modern seismic codes, owe it to the community to make sure their buildings are safe as well.
We know seismic retrofits can be expensive and disruptive. But as last December’s quake in Paso Robles showed, unsound buildings can be deadly. We call upon city and county officials to make it more painful for building owners to be out of compliance than in compliance. That means inspections and citations enforcing current laws. It might also mean stiffening penalties so that the cost for being out of compliance with seismic safety rules is higher than the cost of being in compliance.
We’ve had numerous wake-up calls – big and small, nearby and far flung – over the last few months. Let’s make sure South Valley is ready when a big quake, capable of inflicting damage and injury, hits our region. It’s just a matter of time. We have a duty to minimize the destruction the “big one” causes when it comes.
Let’s heed the warnings.
