The National Guard in front of the Northridge Meadows apartments, on Jan. 24, 1994 where 16 people died during the earthquake. Residents were allowed to enter the condemned building for 15 minutes at a time to collect personal effects.
(
Hal Garb
/
AFP
)
Topline:
Today's the Great Shakeout, a world wide reminder that for many of us, the next big earthquake is always right around the corner. Here in L.A. a magnitude 7.8 earthquake could destroy buildings, render roads impassable, cut power, overwhelm hospitals and start both gas and electrical fires as connections are broken.
Get prepped: Buy water, extra food, batteries, flashlights, first aid and extra medicine for your home. I try and buy enough to get me through a couple of weeks.
Download an early warning app: MyShake is endorsed by Cal OES, and it can tell you an earthquake is on its way before it actually reaches you by utilizing a network of sensors places across the state.
Do more: We've got a comprehensive guide that'll help keep you and your family safe.
The next big earthquake could hit at any time, and when it finally does we could see widespread death and destruction across Southern California.
For instance, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake could destroy buildings (including skyscrapers), render roads impassable, cut power across the region, overwhelm hospitals and start both gas and electrical fires as connections are broken.
Damage caused by the Northridge earthquake documented by the USGS.
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U.S. Geological Survey Archives
)
If you want an in depth exploration of what a major quake would feel like and how it’d play out across L.A., listen to our podcast, "The Big One: Your Survival Guide."
You’re at Union Station when the big one hits. The next two minutes are terrifying. By the time you make your way outside, the Los Angeles you know is gone. In Episode One, you experience what the first hours after a massive earthquake could be like.
But I’m going to spoil the takeaway a bit: You should prep.
Earthquakes are inevitable, and you can put yourself, your family and friends in a much better position if you just do a few things.
Remember to drop, cover and hold on when there's an earthquake. Don't stand in a doorway!
(
Earthquake Country Alliance
)
Quick things you can do right now
Download UC Berkeley's MyShake app, which can alert you to shaking before it happens. It’s endorsed by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Put shoes next to your bed, so that you don’t get broken glass in your feet if the quake hits at night.
Make sure there’s nothing hanging above your bed that could fall on you.
Always keep your car fueled to at least half full, because gas stations might not work.
Supplies to buy
While a go bag is good to have, you should put your energy into getting your home ready and filling it with supplies to help you survive for a few weeks.
“Your house is probably going to be the safest place to be,” said seismologist Lucy Jones.
I picked up a lot of these items over the course of months, as the initial setup costs can be a bit pricey. The amounts will also differ for each household.
1 gallon of water per person per day. Consider extra for pets.
Non perishable food, and a way to cook the food.
All of your important documents scanned and/or in a box that’s easy to locate and move.
Emergency radio
Extra cash, as electronic payment systems might not work.
Flashlights
Batteries
First aid kit
Extra medicine, if needed.
Fire extinguishers
Crowbar, shovel and a hammer.
A gas shutoff tool, if needed.
A tent, sleeping pads and blankets, in case you do need to sleep outside your home.
If you’d like to put together a go bag, store those necessary items in a backpack or a box and keep them in an easily accessible location.
If you have a disability, I put together a separate set of recommendations for you to consider over here.
Extra credit prep
If you want to go a step further than buying supplies, you can (and should) strap down appliances in your home. It’s not unusual for large items to rip away from the wall, bounce across rooms and spill everything when the earth shakes violently.
You can and should strap down items that could tip over and hurt people.
(
Courtesy Earthquake Country Alliance
)
Here’s a good guide on how to strap down different items.
As we saw in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, buildings with a soft story are prone to collapse. L.A. has since required buildings with them to be retrofitted. You can check if yours has been, here.
A soft story building collapsed on a row of cars during the Northridge earthquake in 1994.
(
Timothy A. Clary
/
AFP
)
Additional guides
FEMA has a comprehensive checklist you can follow, which includes information on what to do if a quake hits and you’re in a location besides your home.
