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Speaking of Heat, What About an Earthquake?
Let's say, among all this extreme heat, the Big One hits? Electricity is knocked out, water isn't working and the city is basically shut down.
What are two of the most important things you need right now?
It's water and shelter (you can go without food for much longer than without water). On the water issue, are you ready? Brita filters don't count. Neither do a few water bottles.
We're talking 7 days worth of water you have stored (ideally, it should be 21 days), preferably less than six months old, and not sitting directly on concrete because your water is now contaminated. Did you know that your water heater contains 40 gallons of potable water? And while it kind of feels gross when you think about it, the cistern of the toilet is safe too (if you don't put chemicals in that is).
So, please, LAist begs of you. Take some time and get prepared. At the minimum, think about water, water, water, water, water, water, water. That's a good start! There are a lot of resources out there and it's up to you to be educated. A good start is by going through the complimentary CERT training provided by LAFD. New sessions begin in August and we'll make sure to remind you beforehand.
Photo at Universal Studios by Skept via Flickr
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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