On July 4th, holiday celebrations throughout the American Southwest were put on hold when a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the region, fracturing roads and prompting serious concern from many residents of Southern California. The following night, an even more powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake tore through the same communities, having already weathered numerous aftershocks. This subsequent quake was the strongest to hit the region in two decades, but fortunately, has thus far resulted in no reported casualties.
For many Americans, these earthquakes have served as a wake up call — forcing us to acknowledge that natural disasters do occur and as a result, many have a renewed interest in finding ways to better prepare for an earthquake that isn’t quite so easy to shake off. When it comes to earthquakes in southern California, the question truly isn’t if another one will strike, it’s when, especially considering the United States Geological Survey (USGS) predicts that between 240 and 410 magnitude 3 or higher earthquakes will strike in the same region before the rumbling is through. Worse still, they estimate a 24% chance that there are more magnitude 6 or larger quakes to come this month.
Of course, like any natural disaster, there are things you can do to minimize the risk to yourself and those you care about, and the U.S. government actually provides a great deal of guidance as to what you can start doing right now to ensure you’re better prepared when disaster strikes. Here’s a collection of some of Uncle Sam’s best earthquake survival advice:
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On July 4th, holiday celebrations throughout the American Southwest were put on hold when a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the region, fracturing roads and prompting serious concern from many residents of Southern California. The following night, an even more powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake tore through the same communities, having already weathered numerous aftershocks. This subsequent quake was the strongest to hit the region in two decades, but fortunately, has thus far resulted in no reported casualties.
For many Americans, these earthquakes have served as a wake up call — forcing us to acknowledge that natural disasters do occur and as a result, many have a renewed interest in finding ways to better prepare for an earthquake that isn’t quite so easy to shake off. When it comes to earthquakes in southern California, the question truly isn’t if another one will strike, it’s when, especially considering the United States Geological Survey (USGS) predicts that between 240 and 410 magnitude 3 or higher earthquakes will strike in the same region before the rumbling is through. Worse still, they estimate a 24% chance that there are more magnitude 6 or larger quakes to come this month.
Of course, like any natural disaster, there are things you can do to minimize the risk to yourself and those you care about, and the U.S. government actually provides a great deal of guidance as to what you can start doing right now to ensure you’re better prepared when disaster strikes. Here’s a collection of some of Uncle Sam’s best earthquake survival advice:
These are the emergency supplies the Center for Disease Control recommends that you gather to prepare for an earthquake:
First Aid Kit (Note: You can get a lot of this stuff from our partners at the Crate Club in their EDC Medical Kit and US Army Surgical Kit)
Survival Kit for your home (Note: You can cover most of your bases with the Crate Club EDC Bundle)
Use this FEMA “Home Hazard Hunt” poster to check your house for anything that might put you or your family at risk during an earthquake.
Here’s what you need to do to get ready for the next earthquake right now, according to Ready.gov:
Here’s what you need to do in order to survive the next earthquake, according to Ready.gov:
Here are more trips from FEMA:
If you are trapped under debris:
Here’s what to do after an earthquake, according to Ready.gov:
Use these websites to stay up to date on everything you need to know to ensure you’re prepared for the next earthquake:
Do you want to be better prepared for whatever life might throw at you? Then subscribe to the Crate Club!
Feature image courtesy of the USGS
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