What to do before an Earthquake. part 5 of 6

This is the fifth installment in a series of six

ways to plan ahead.

What to Do Before an Earthquake

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, and following local seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact of earthquakes.

Develop an Emergency Communication Plan

• In case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake (a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school), develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster.
• Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the “family contact.” After a disaster, it’s often easier to call long distance. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address, and phone number of the contact person
• For more information go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.shtm

• Michael Skyler is the owner of the Earthquake Supply Center, an earthquake and emergency preparedness supply center. For information and supplies contact him at 415.459-5500  or visit http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.comKeep a survival kit with you in your car at all times!

What to Do Before an Earthquake Part 4 of 6

This is the fourth installment in a series of six

ways to plan ahead.

What to Do Before an Earthquake

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, and following local seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact of earthquakes.

Have Disaster Supplies on Hand

• Flashlight and extra batteries.
• Portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries.
• First aid kit and manual.
• Emergency food and water.
• Nonelectric can opener.
• Essential medicines.
• Cash and credit cards.
• Sturdy shoes.
• Emergency Preparedness Survival kit

For more information go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.shtm

Michael Skyler is the owner of the Earthquake Supply Center, an earthquake and emergency preparedness supply center. For information and supplies contact him at 415.459-5500 or visit http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.com

Keep a survival kit with you in your car at all times!

What to do before an Earthquake part 2 of 6

This is the second installment in a series of six

ways to plan ahead.

What to Do Before an Earthquake

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, and following local seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact of earthquakes.

Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors

• Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table.
• Against an inside wall.
• Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.
• In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways.
• Secure all furniture and other items that could fall or become missles that could injure people

For more information go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.shtm

Michael Skyler is an owner of the Earthquake Supply Center, an earthquake and emergency preparedness supply center. For information and supplies contact him at 415.459-5500 or visit http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.com

Keep a survival kit with you in your car at all times!

What to Do Before an Earthquake

This is the first installment in a series of six ways

to plan ahead.

1- What to Do Before an Earthquake

Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently and without warning. Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and advance planning can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, and following local seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact of earthquakes.

Ways to Plan Ahead

Check for Hazards in the Home

• Fasten shelves securely to walls.
• Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
• Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
• Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds, couches, and anywhere people sit.
• Brace overhead light fixtures.
• Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections. These are potential fire risks.
• Secure a water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor.
• Repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Get expert advice if there are signs of structural defects.
• Store weed killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves.

For more information go to http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_before.shtm

Michael Skyler is the owner of the Earthquake Supply Center, an earthquake and emergency preparedness supply center.  For information and supplies contact him at 415.459-5500  or visit http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.com

A Big Quake and Your Phones

A Big Quake and Your Phones

After the coming big quake, if your phones work, use the phone and
not your car! A few tips:

– Change your voice mail message to state that you are safe

– Before the quake, make sure that all your family knows a single
relative or friend who lives outside California that you can
contact to say you are fine. This way, fewer calls are needed on
jammed “in-State” phone lines.

– You may have to wait a bit longer for a dial tone after a quake.
Be patient. Don’t just hang up and try again.

– Keep change or a pre-paid phone card in your wallet.

Make your home secure and your family safe.

Michael Skyler is the owner of the Earthquake Supply Center an earthquake preparedness consulting service and emergency preparedness survival kit and supplies center. Contact him at 415.459-5500 or visit http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.com

Thank you to Larry Guillot of Quake Prepare for his contribution to this blog

Earthquake Preparedness: KEEP A KIT IN YOUR CAR

Triangle of Life. Does it work?

“Triangle of Life” – Watch Out!

Every so often I get an email from someone passing on information
from a person named Doug Copp, who is a self-proclaimed “expert” on
disaster management.

He says that, in a serious quake, the “drop, cover, and hold on”
advice from the Red Cross and other American disaster agencies is
wrong, and that instead you should find some “triangle of life”
area in the room to protect you.

Please don’t listen to this advice. His observations are based on
buildings in third world countries and, even if his ideas may have
value there (who knows?), they DO NOT have value here. Engineering
researchers have demonstrated that very few buildings collapse or
“pancake” in the U.S. as they might do in other countries.

If you want more info on the “Triangle of Life,” google “triangle
of life hoax.” You’ll learn a lot.

Michael Skyler is the owner of the Earthquake Supply Center an earthquake preparedness consulting service and emergency preparedness survival kit and supplies center. Contact him at 415.459-5500 or visit http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.com

Thank you to Larry Guillot of Quake Prepare for his contribution to this blog

Earthquake Preparedness: KEEP A KIT IN YOUR CAR

Your Car is the most important place to keep an Emergency Preparedness Survival Kit

The most important place to keep your emergency kit is in your car! The reason being that during an earthquake or other emergency, you may be across a bridge, stuck in a traffic blockage or too far away to be able to get home. The only supplies you will have available are the survival supplies with you in your car.

You cannot count on government agencies to help you for at least the first three days and as we know from the fires in California as well as the FEMA response, or lack of it, to “Katrina” it could take 7 days or longer for help to arrive.

Fortunately in Marin county people are able to take advantage of the GET READY MARIN training, provided by the local Fire Departments and volunteer Disaster Councils that help people understand what to do and how to prepare for earthquakes and other emergencies/disasters.

Supplies should be arranged, stored and located where personnel will be able to access the materials quickly and easily after a disaster strikes. Supplies should be stored in backpacks, duffel bags and other containers with a high degree of mobility in case you have to move to another location.

The Disaster Supply Center offers a large selection of emergency kits for your car, home and they even have a kit for your pet. Their Premium Car Emergency Kit includes a hand crank radio which is also a flashlight and cell phone charger, jumper cables, ponchos, water pouches, food and much more to help in any situation. These premium emergency kits make wonderful gifts as do all the kits offered by the Disaster Supply Center.

They also have individual supplies available to augment and upgrade your current preparedness cache of supplies including many items that also make excellent gifts. These include portable radios and flashlights that contain solar panels and dynamo hand cranks where no batteries are needed. Also sold are water filters, purifiers and storage containers to enable people to store 1 gallon of water per day for each person which is now the recommended amount of water to have available. Food rations and water supplies all have a minimum 5 year shelf life. The Disaster Supply Center employees are knowledgeable and able to advise you on a wide variety of subjects and preparedness needs.

Michael Skyler is the Owner and Found of the Earthquake Supply Center

How Much Food and Water should I store to be Prepared?

How Much Food and Water?

If you’re someone who wants to be prepared for the major earthquake in our future, you’ve probably done something about having food and water available for you and your family. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Some disaster preparedness groups recommend having 3 days worth of food and water (1 gallon per person per day). I agree with the ones that say be ready for a full week, 7 days (think Katrina).
2.Except for our “Get Ready” kit which is a 2 person, 7 day kit, I’ve never seen an emergency kit that has enough water. You really need to supplement the kits with extra water.
3. The best plan for water is a food grade water storage container, sizes 2.5 gallons to 55 gallon water barrels with either a siphon or spigot, which you treat with 5 year water preserver so it will last for up to 5 years. Otherwise, you should replace your stored water every 6-7 months to avoid leaching from plastic containers as well as bacterial build up.
4. Have plenty of long term foods on hand like 5 year food bars, MRE’s (5-10 year shelf life) and other similar foods with a 5+ year shelf life.
Remember most canned foods have a 12-24 month shelf life and need to be replaced often. Also most canned foods contain a high level of sodium and are thirst provoking, requiring a larger supply of available water.
Starting off with food and water that have a 5 year shelf life is a lot easier than replacing these items every 6-12 months. However good our intentions are to replace these items once or twice a year.

Michael Skyler is the owner of the Earthquake Supply Center, an earthquake preparedness consulting and survival kit and supplies service. Contact him at 415-459-5500. Visit http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.com to receive more information.