Shift Happens!

I lived and worked in San Francisco for several years in the Seventies and, like most residents, I shrugged off the dire warnings from friends and family members outside the area as to my imminent demise in an earthquake.

As it happened, my daily grind was never interrupted even once by the smallest of tremors, setting the stage for me to continue the normalcy bias in regards to preparing for one -- even after moving to the Olympia area and being subjected to a new set of doom-and-gloom predictions about The Big One overdue in the Cascadian Subduction Zone off our coastline.

Then I stumbled upon Home Facts, a realtor tool for assessing hazards before purchasing any kind of real estate. Just for grins, I typed in my little town to see what new worries I should obsess about in my ongoing efforts to prepare. Let’s see – there’s an A for the Crime Index, an 8.5 out of 10 for Air Quality, a Low rating for Radon Levels, another A on Tornado Risk, and – OMG! – a D-minus for Earthquake Risk!

Frowning, I clicked on the details:

“The USGS database shows that there is an 86.349% chance of a major earthquake within 50 kilometers of this location within the next 50 years.”

And that missing sense of urgency suddenly blossomed in my mind at last. Fifty years in geologic time is a mere nanosecond, and 86% is too close to 100% for comfort. I NEEDED TO PREP FOR AN EARTHQUAKE AS IF IT WERE A SHTF EVENT!

All I remembered from my school days was the old duck-and-cover routine until the ground stopped shaking. However, now I had all my preps to worry about, and they could hardly do the same thing, lol.

So what could I do to maximize both my physical safety and the survival of all my supplies? I started listing some ideas after a whole-house walk-through:

Strap heavy furniture, TVs, appliances, and the hot water heater to the walls.
Add latches to all cabinets.
Secure lighting fixtures and wall hangings.
Use putty adhesive under knick-knacks and other breakables and collectibles.
Add shelf “lips” to keep glass jars and cans in place
Keep BOV gassed up and full of supplies separate from the house

What have you done, or what can you add to this list? If you live in western Washington, the time is NOW to prepare for a big earthquake.

Now if I could just get that percentage out of my head when I’m strolling on the beach, staring out to sea and looking for that incoming tsunami…

A BIG thank you to GoldenOldie for submitting this article!


Comment by GoldenOldie:

Color me shocked but it appears the experts have not reached a consensus on that high percentage for a Big Quake that burned a hole in my brain: http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/12/despite_an_unusual_run_of_gian.html "The risks of a subduction zone quake differ from north to south. In the northern segment, Goldfinger's group also puts the odds at 10 to 15 percent during the next 50 years. Quakes originating there tend to rupture the full length of the subduction zone, he says. In southern Oregon and Northern California, quakes along the subduction zone appear to strike more frequently."
The odds look a little better now where I'm located, but I'm still going full speed ahead on those quake mitigation ideas -- just like a prudent PNW prepper should do. :)
------------------------------------------
Join the APN Forum at http://www.americanpreppersnetwork.net/
Visit the Washington Forum at http://www.washingtonpreppersnetwork.net/

Dangers of the Alaska Way Viaduct

This last week a release of information was obtained, to be able to make public the video of the potential dangers of the Alaska Way Viaduct, and it's projected earthquake failure, should another earthquake of the 7.0 magnitude occur closer to Seattle.

To view this video go to: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1509319618?bctid=46395517001 or read the article in the Seattle Times and watch the video from there: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010140232_webviaduct26m.html

Some call this video scaremongering. I call engineers expectations of what will likely take place as possibly prophetic based on solid factual information. Am I scared? Yes I am and I look at Seattle differently now after seeing the projected possible damage that could occur, based on facts that are irrefutable.

If watching this video does not make you squeamish for traveling this highway, nothing else will likely do so either. If you live and work in Seattle, just make sure you have extra gear in your vehicle. Especially it will be important to have a 72 to 120 hour survival kit in your vehicle and at your home and at your place of employment. Survival is the key to not being afraid. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear"

As for me and my family, I will not be using the Alaska Way Viaduct any more. Heck, after seeing this video, I am also worried about the Pikes Place Market and other restaurants and businesses along the Alaska Way Viaduct.

We are only waiting out the clock for when (not if), the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake of 9 to 9.5 hits off the West coast of Washington, Oregon and Northern California. (For more information, read prior postings on the Cascadia Subduction Zone.)

We also need to be concerned about the newly discovered fault lines that are under Seattle that may make Seattle especially prone to major tremor damage.

Earthquake Preparedness - natural gas, water & electricity

There are a number of things to do to be prepared for earthquakes. For now, let me mention just three things to prepare for in advance.

1. Natural gas - If you have natural gas, you should know where the main gas shutoff valve is located and how to turn it off in the event of a possible leak. Store an adjustable pipe or crescent type wrench in a safe place nearby to turnoff the gas in case of emergency.

If you experience minor damage to your home, DO NOT shut off the gas unless you smell gas, hear gas escaping, or see a broken gas line. If you suspect a possible gas leak, sniff the air for gas but DO NOT place your nose up close to any gas pipe or use any matches or open flames to try to locate the source of a gas leak. IF you smell gas or there is significant structural damage to your home, turn off the gas.

REMEMBER: "DO NOT TURN OFF THE GAS IF NO LEAK IS SUSPECTED. Once you turn the gas off, you will need a professional to turn it back on." FEMA

The meter shut-off valve is located next to the meter. Use a wrench to turn the valve a quarter turn in either direction to the "off" position. The gas valve is closed when the tang (the part you put the wrench on) is crosswise to the pipe. Notify the gas company or 911 of the gas leak. DO NOT attempt to turn the gas back on!!!

Depending on the severity of the emergency and the number of meters that have been turned off, you may have to wait some time for your gas service to be restored, even if there is no damage to the gas pipelines in your area.

2. Water - Everyone has water. There are water shutoff valves normally located below every water faucet and there is most likely a main water shutoff valve located somewhere inside your home, and or just outside. If there is a big leak, it is nice to be able to know where to go to shut off the water quickly. If you are on city water or you have a well, there is another main shutoff valve for your home located at the water meter in front of your home or inside the well pump house. Know where these shutoffs are located and how to turn them off in an emergency.

When you need to shut the water supply off to the entire house or when a local plumbing fixture has no local shutoff valve, the place to go is your home's meter. There is a shutoff before the meter, and another shutoff is located between the meter and your home, (or inside your home as mentioned above). Know where these two shutoffs are located. Some of these are shutoffs are faucets, which must be turned counter clockwise all the way to shut off the water. Some have a raised tang like that found on your gas meter shutoff and you will need a pipe wrench or an adjustable crescent wrench to shut off the water. Some have a recessed valve that requires a special tool (or very large screwdriver) to turn the valve a quarter turn to shut the water off.

In case of a disaster such as a severe earthquake or flooding, or possible contamination of your main water supply, shut off the main water valve to keep contaminated water from entering your home. If there are water leaks in your home or between your home and the meter, the water valves should be turned off to maintain pressure. Once the leaks are repaired, the water can be turned back on. Open all faucets to run until all pipes are cleared of air in the lines and any debris or contamination that may have entered into the pipes.

If you are on a well and the well head or ground area surrounding the well has been flooded or if the ground water in your area becomes contaminated, your well may need to be "shocked" by adding a gallon of non-scented plain Clorox or other bleach (without additives). After "shocking" your well, the water will need to be side vented outside the well until the bleach smell has dissipated. Afterwards you will need to have a sample of your well water checked again by a professional company to verify that all of the contamination and bacteria are gone and that the water is safe for human consumption again.

3. Electricity - Know where and how you can turn off and on your electricity at the electrical service panel inside your home. If you have a mobile home, you also have a second electrical service box that is located outside your mobile home at a nearby post or pole.

If there are downed power lines STAY AWAY. DO NOT TOUCH! If you see or hear electrical sparking, DO NOT TOUCH or attempt to operate any electrical appliance or switches.

If possible go directly to your electrical service panel inside your home. Open the metal panel on the box and turn the switches to the "off" position or pull out the main fuse. If you are unable to locate the internal service panel, or unable to get to it, find the electrical "meter" box on the outside of your home and turn the switch to "off".