The Big One in San Fransisco and Other Thoughts About Those Escaping Danger

I received an email today from a reporter friends who I have worked with on a few preparedness article. He asked me about those who escaped the fires and complete destruction after the 1906 earthquake in San Fransisco.  Just yesterday there was a report on the national news about the dangers and possibly imminent chance of a massive earthquake in California.

I know most of you don’t live in California but may have friend and family here or would love to visit the beach, Disneyland or Yosemite, (my backyard) or go skiing in the Sierra. I remember growing up in New Jersey that everyone wanted to visit California. We all had visions or everyone playing volleyball on the beach and surfing. I love it here but unfortunately the political climate is terrible and this has become the number one welfare state in the country. Much of this is what will  spell disaster when the “big one” hits.

After the 1906 earthquake my husband’s grandparents lived on the “highway” near Modesto, California. They would often tell stories about the great quake more than 70 miles away. In those day most people traveled by horse and buggy and a trip to the city took days. Yet, in the aftermath of the quake the road in front of their home was crowded with those escaping the Bay Area. They came with very little and relied on the generosity of strangers for a place to sleep and something to eat.

Grandma said the day of the quake they felt the earth move and knew something had happened but in a day of no television or radio they did not begin to imagine the destruction. By the next night the sky glowed in the direction of the city as it burned, remember it was 70 miles away. Finally on the third day the refugees began pouring in.

Each time we make the trek over to the city I wonder what will happen when the next big one comes. I have some idea. We saw a preview during the Loma Prieta quake in 1989. Many assumed that was the big one at a 7.1 but they are wrong. Not only is a bigger one expected but it is expected in a more populated area.

So what do those of us close to, but not in the bay area, need to know and to do?

First, there will be fires. After earthquakes there are always fires and more fires in more wealthy areas, such as the Untied States, compared to Haiti. We have lots more gas lines, petroleum facilities, and power lines to spark a fire. People will be looking to get out.

There will be civil unrest. We have seen that this week in Chile even more than we did in Haiti. People will want to get out.

There will be flooding. The Sacramento/San Joaquin water system in comprised of thousands of levees, many or which are failing. It is expected that many will fail when the earthquake occurs. What this means for those in the nearby areas is that we may have those evacuating because of the quake from one area and those evacuating from the central valley for another, all coming our way. This will also cause water shortages in the LA area since they get their water from that same Delta system. People will want to get out.

The ports will be closed for weeks. Much of the food, clothing, and other items we import come through the ports of California. There will be shortages for everyone who depends on those ports, everyone in the United States. Hours may be reduced for workers in industries who cannot get the supplies they need.

Sound grim? It is. The situation is not any better in  LA  where ports will close, much or their electricity comes in across fault lines and most of their water comes from northern California through a pipeline which also crosses fault lines.

Before and after Katrina many, many, evacuated. In one church building 40 miles from New Orleans the power went out as a result of the hurricane. The evacuees were once again in the dark.

Yesterday we began to stock our General Store with non food items. This week was dental care, toothbrushes and dental floss. I encouraged you to add a few extra in case you are asked to provide refuge. With modern means of travel evacuees can now travel many, many miles to find help and we need to be ready in case they come our way. They will empty the store shelves of everything from food to clothing to medical supplies and then they will become desperate, just as we all would under those circumstances.

I am very frustrated that we have not been given the information we need to properly prepare. Even those who are able to grab a survival kit and a few other items will never be able to carry enough to sustain themselves, yet, we are told over and over to prepare a three day supply of food and water. Who are they kidding?

In the March issue of the Totally Ready Newsletter there are tips for preparing to provide refuge. We will discuss these throughout the year but get a jump start by reading the article today and making a copy for your preparedness notebook.

That’s right the Newsletter is out! This issue includes:

Our General Store:

A Complete Inventory of everything we have stored over the past year.

52 Weeks to a Three Month Supply

Guide with tips and directions

Tip of the Week

Ordinary Items,Great Survival Tools

Protecting Your Identity

Articles:

Providing Refuge

Getting Your Children Involved in Preparedness

Foil Dinners

Teach Kids to Use 911

Recipes:

Cheeseburger Foil Dinner–Taco Time Foil Dinner–Instant Oatmeal–Orange Muffins–Buttermilk Biscuits

Basic Whole Wheat Bread– Whole Wheat Pancakes–Pull Apart Herb Bread–Germade Bread–Cornbread

Four Bean Salad–Spanish Rice

Join Our Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TotallyReady/

Subscribe to our Newsletter: http://blog.totallyready.com/announcing-the-totally-ready-newsletter/

One Response to “The Big One in San Fransisco and Other Thoughts About Those Escaping Danger”

1. Jeanette says:

   March 4, 2010 at 1:20 am

   One of our relatives has family in Chile. While there is looting in the cities, there is much more order in the rural towns. The town where our relative’s family lives have been giving help to one another. They have no water or electrical service in that town and have had many older homes collapse and people have died. It is a comfort to know that with conditions already bad enough the people themselves are not making the situation worse with illegal behavior.

   As in all disasters they are finding that having extra food, water, and cash on hand is a great advantage. Cell phones, calling cards, and facebook are also an advantage in locating everyone and finding out how the greater extended family is faring. After everyone checked in by phone or facebook no one in the family had died, including cousins, aunts and uncles. Great news!

   It was reported that the strong aftershocks tend to keep one awake at night because of their severity. I’m sure that lack of good sleep can take its toll in such circumstances.