Earthquakes and the Pacific Northwest

We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Most of us don't like to think about earthquake risk on any consistent basis.  Some of us have ensured that our homes are tied down to their foundations; and that we have an emergency supply kit as well as a family plan for how to find one another if our smartphones won't work.  And that we have emergency supplies in our vehicles and our offices as well.

Emergency kit in our home includes basics as well as a spreadsheet of vital information.

Emergency supplies in my trunk.

A little more than a week ago, the New Yorker published an article by Kathryn Schultz that has caused a great deal of panic and anxiety.  She published a second article this week, attempting to refine the ghastly overly dramatic tone of the first piece; and this time to offer some pretty straightforward recommendations on preparedness at
http://www.newyorker.com/tech/elements/how-to-stay-safe-when-the-big-one-comes.

Other perspectives on how prepared we are here in the Pacific Northwest can be found at http://www.emergencymgmt.com/disaster/As-fears-of-West-Side-megaquake-danger-grow-states-emergency-planners-unshaken.html; or on the website of the Seattle Office of Emergency Preparedness at www.seattle.gov/emergency.

I will say that any articles written about preparedness move the bar a bit higher in terms of neighborhood and civic preparedness.  For myself, I'm changing out some emergency supplies now that I no longer eat much else than greens, beans, other vegetables and fruits.  Once this heat spell is past, I plan to be growing more than Walla Walla onions and green peppers.

How prepared is your family to live without services or support for up to a week?

Do what's reasonable, and then relax -- go out and enjoy this, the most beautiful place in the world!