So how's your earthquake kit?

[Auggie]

Images from Nepal are a good reminder to stay prepared. I reviewed/updated mine a few weeks ago.

[darkangel218]

1. I have a "hurricane kit". ( Florida here )

It's always good to be prepared for natural disasters. You never know what can happen.

[Runningdawg]

2. Help a poor Okie out

we are new to earthquakes. We prepare for tornadoes, but lately have been anticipating something larger than these dozens of small ones we have a day. We live within 80 miles from the epicenter of most of them. Is there something we are more than likely missing from our supplies?

[Cleita]

4. First, you need some kind of lights, like Colman camp lights and flashlights, because it seems

most quakes come in the dark often the early hours of the morning or so has been my experience and I've been through many earthquakes above 6 mag. That's the first thing you are groping for. Then a portable radio to keep in touch with the emergency broadcasts and of course batteries to operate all of those things. Next a first aid kid and fire extinguishers, water and food of course. If you have pets, make sure the kennel crates you use to take them to the vet are handy to confine them in until you are more certain of your situation.

[Runningdawg]

5. I think we are good then

we have all those supplies you mentioned and more, ready in case of a tornado. Thanks.

[LeftyMom]

9. Whatever tools you need to shut off your gas.

Figure out in advance how to do that, you don't want to be improvising in an emergency.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Quake and tornado kits are essentially the same

Major difference. Them sturdy shoes live by my bed.

Oh and don't hug doors. That is old advise. Under a sturdy table ad secure your book cases and shelves to the wall.

[bananas]

7. Unlike a tornado, there is very little warning before an earthquake.

When a tornado is coming, there will be warnings on the radio, and maybe tornado sirens.
Also tornados usually happen during storms, so the weather itself is a warning.
These warnings give you time to prepare, to get into your tornado shelter, etc.

With an earthquake, there won't be more than a few seconds warning, if any.
If you are close to the epicenter, there won't be any warning.
If you are further from the epicenter, you will feel the P-wave first, shortly before the S-wave hits.
So when you feel an earthquake, you have to act rapidly.

Here are instructions on what to do:

http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/earthquakes/Pages/qh_earthquakes_what.aspx

http://emergency.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/during.asp

Also, if you are outside at night look for "earthquake lights":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthquake_light

[Runningdawg]

8. After never having

experienced an earthquake in my first 50 years in OK, I have now experienced enough for a life time. Granted, so far, they have all been small. Yes I know they come without warning. We use the small ones to practice for the big one. I know someday, what I feel on a weekly basis now, will be just the Pwave.
Thanks for the info.

[Cleita]

3. Wouldn't make any difference to me.

With nuke plant El Diablo fifteen miles from here and built only to withstand a 7.5 mag quake, or so the PTB assure us, a 7.9 quake would pretty much be the end for those of us who didn't have enough warning to leave. Most earthquakes come without warning.

[SoapBox]

6. Uhhhhh...what kit?

Ya, ya...and when I need it in LA, maybe I'll regret fooling around and not having one.

Actually, I have never been sure where I would put one...I have a storage shed but it sits in the sun and gets hot in the summer...can't put it under the house, in case it collapses.