The Big One? How Prepared are Californians?

The horrifying deaths and damage caused by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami have sent shock waves through California, and caused many people to wonder if they and their communities are prepared for a major natural disaster. The answer, according to California emergency preparedness specialist, More Prepared, is that while preparedness in California has increased in recent years, much work remains to be done.

Organizations such as the California Emergency Management Agency have done much to raise public awareness about the danger of earthquakes and the need to be prepared. A recent survey showed that 80-percent of Californians keep first aid kits, flashlights and batteries in their homes. However, relatively few have taken crucial further steps to ensure the safety of their families and property.

According to More Prepared president Mina Arnao, one basic step that many people neglect is to have an adequate and safe water supply. Households should maintain a supply of at least 3 gallons per person for emergency use. While some presume that the water in their water heaters can function as an emergency supply, that water can be hard to access and may not be safe due to sediment deposits that often build up in water heaters.

"A better choice is to use a water barrel storage system made for emergency use," says Arnao, "When used with a chemical water preservative, water can be kept in them safely for up to five years."

Additionally, Arnao notes people often neglect to secure bookcases and other heavy furniture in their homes. Falling furniture is the number one cause of injury in earthquakes. "Straps should be used to secure furniture, water heaters, electronics and other heavy objects. There are many good bracing systems are most are easy to install," she observes. "Picture hooks are also available that can keep people from being struck and hurt by heavy, glass frames."

Californians might also consider buying quake alarms for their homes, Arnao notes. The economical warning devices sound an instant alarm when sensing the "P" wave from an earthquake, which typically arrives ahead of the quake's slower and more destructive "S" wave. Japan's "P" wave warning system is credited with saving thousands of lives in last week's disaster."A quake alarm can wake you up so that you can immediately take cover and tend to other family members," Arnao says. "As in any disaster, seconds matter in an earthquake."

Once in a Blue (Super) Moon

If you live in a coastal area or near an earthquake fault, you might consider moving to safer ground on March 19th. That's when a rare "lunar perigee" will occur that some people are calling an extreme "Super Moon" and believe it will trigger massive earthquakes, tsunamis and other disasters.

"Lunar perigee" simply refers to the day when the moon is closest to the Earth during its monthly orbit. The perigee that occurs on March 19th will be unusual in that the moon will be closer to Earth than it has been in 18 years and will also be full. Richard Nolle, a noted astrologer, says that combination is a recipe for natural disasters of biblical proportions. Some people who agree with Nolle are connecting the terrible earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan with the looming Super Moon.

As noted above, Nolle is an astrologer, not an astronomer or seismologist, and much of the scientific community remains skeptical of his doomsday predictions. (He also claims to have predicted many other historic events including the 9/11 terrorist attacks.) While it has been shown that lunar tides can have some effect on seismic activity, their impact, scientists say, is minimal. At times of full and new moons earthquake activity increases by a less than scary one percent. Volcanic activity shows a slightly greater increase.

So can Super Moons be dismissed as mere pseudo science? People on either side of the issue have examined past Super Moon events in 1955, 1974, 1992 and 2005, and pointed to natural disasters that have or have not occurred around the same time as evidence of their points of view. Those who believe that Super Moons have the power to wreak havoc note, for example, that the Super Moon of January 10, 2005 occurred right about the same time as a deadly 9.0 earthquake in Indonesia.

In the next few days and weeks we'll all learn the truth about Super Moons...or not. In the meantime, if you wish to read about the case in favor of Super Moons you might checkout Richard Nolle's website, www.astropro.com. If on the other hand, you want to see Super Moons debunked, visit Discover Magazine's Bad Astronomy blog.

Owning A Survival Kit Can Help Keep You And Your Family Alive

Survival gear is something that people do not even contemplate on a regular basis; the majority of individuals in the world live their lives on a daily basis under the assumption that nothing terrible will ever happen, and if it does, their government will take care of them.

The reality of the situation is that if all hell breaks loose, you need to be able to look after yourself, your family and friends if needed.

Planning for the worst is not an overreaction; in fact, if you follow the news all over the world on a daily basis, you can get a glimpse of the unrest throughout the world, as well as the increasing amount of natural disasters.

With the shape that our own economy is in, it is only a matter of time before things get worse, such as food shortages, riots, gas shortages and other issues.



A survival kit should be a basic item in every household; if you and your family have to make a quick escape from your home or living space, you need to have the basic necessities such as food, water, dust masks, thermal blankets, sanitation bags and water purification tablets.

Owning survival kitssuch as these could be the difference between life and death if you have to travel to a safe area, or if you are trapped in a location waiting for help to arrive.

In our modern times, one can never be too prepared for any circumstance that might arise.

New California Law Requires Carbon Monoxide Detectors in All Homes

This past week, two construction workers in Union, Ohio were found dead in a home they were renovating. The men had been using a portable generator to heat the home and were overcome when the structure filled with toxic levels of carbon monoxide.

Known as the "silent killer," carbon monoxide poisoning is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States. Each year in California, carbon monoxide poisoning accounts for 30-40 avoidable deaths and as many as 700 emergency room visits. As a result Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed into law a bill requiring carbon monoxide detectors in all California dwelling units. The law requires that detectors be installed in all single-family homes by no later than July 1, 2011 and in apartments and other multi-family housing no later than January 1, 2013.

In addition to being deadly, carbon monoxide is invisible and odorless, which is why it is so dangerous. It is also a common by-product of the process of burning fossil fuels. Car engines produce carbon monoxide and are the most common cause of poisoning, but furnaces, space heaters, stoves and similar devices also produce the gas and need to be properly vented so that carbon monoxide escapes outside.

Carbon monoxide detectors employ internal sensors to detect an accumulation of carbon monoxide gas. Detectors should be installed at least five feet off the ground and away from stoves and heaters. As many detectors are hard-wired, it is important to remember that they will not work when the power goes off. If the detector sounds, the building should be quickly evacuated. People who were inside should be tested for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. Those may include nausea, shortness of breath and headaches. The affected area should be ventilated and the source of the carbon monoxide should be identified and repaired.

Having carbon monoxide detectors in place is no guarantee of safety. It is important to be aware of potential sources of carbon monoxide, how to prevent accumulations of the gas, and what to do in the event of an emergency.

Here are a few suggestions to keep you More Prepared:

• Have gas-powered furnaces, space heaters, wall heaters and water heaters professionally inspected each year.
• Only use gas heating devices that vent outdoors.
• Do not leave cars idling in garages.
• Do not use a gas oven to heat the home, even for a short while.
• Do not use charcoal grills indoors.
• Never sleep in a room with an unvented gas heater.

More information on how to protect your family from carbon monoxide poisoning is available from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Carbon monoxide detectors are available at www.moreprepared.com.