How to prepare for an earthquake amid fears of an event in the Gulf region

Experts have long warned that a massive and devastating earthquake could strike the San Francisco Bay Area at any moment. But how can people prepare for such an event before it happens?

Earthquakes can happen without warning, and while we know which areas are at greatest risk, scientists still can’t predict exactly when these events will occur.

In the United States, areas at risk of earthquakes include Upper Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, and the entire Mississippi River Valley.

Earthquake engineering expert Keith Porter — who has been working on a scenario that would model a hypothetical, but scientifically realistic, major earthquake that struck the Bay Area at the Hayward Fault, as well as its ripple effects — told USA Today that such events are “worth planning for” because “one” can to happen tomorrow.

“We don’t know when,” Porter said. But “it will happen”.

While such a catastrophe is still theoretical at present, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that there is a slightly more than 50 percent chance of an earthquake as large as the one described in the High Wire scenario in the region within three decades.

The HayWired Earthquake Scenario, led by the USGS, is a project that studies the potential effects of a hypothetical but scientifically realistic 7.0 magnitude earthquake on the Hayward Fault. The scenario was developed to inform policy makers and residents in the region about seismic risk reduction.

We are “too late to prepare,” Anne Wayne, the USGS researcher who co-led the HayWired scenario, told USA Today.

An earthquake of similar magnitude to that described in the scenario historically occurs in the region every 100-220 years, indicating that such an event may have been overdue. The last major earthquake occurred more than 150 years ago in 1868.

A major earthquake in the Gulf region is likely to cause widespread power outages, interruption of running water services, while causing many fires, so it is important to prepare in advance for such an event. Mobile services may also be affected.

How do you prepare for an earthquake?

While earthquakes are unpredictable, there are many things you can do in order to prepare for such an event that will help mitigate some of the risks, according to the US government’s “Ready” website.

First, it is important to check your home for hazards that could lead to injury or even death in the event of an earthquake. Secure heavy items in your home, such as bookcases, water heaters, televisions, and items hanging on the walls. Store heavy and breakable items on low shelves.

If possible, consider making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause the building to collapse during an earthquake.

It is also important to develop a contingency plan. Experts recommend creating a family emergency communications plan that includes a contact who is living out of the case. Plan where you will meet if you break up.

Making a toolkit would also be helpful. This kit should include enough food and water for several days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher, and a whistle.

“It allows you to be prepared to avoid unnecessary trips and treat minor medical issues at home, and ease the burden on urgent care centers and hospitals,” the advice on Ready says.

“Remember that not everyone can respond by stocking up on essentials. For those who can afford them, make essential purchases and slowly build up supplies.”

Consider buying a manual charger so that you can operate your cell even without electricity. While it is likely that cell services will be affected immediately after the earthquake, it is likely that they will be restored gradually.

It’s also a good idea to keep some cash on hand so you can buy things even if your cards aren’t working, Lucy Jones, a seismologist at Caltech, told USA Today.

Downloading an early warning app, like ShakeAlert, can help you buy precious seconds in the event of a disaster. The app is an earthquake early warning system that detects large earthquakes so quickly that it can alert multiple users before the vibrations begin to affect them. This may give you time to protect yourself.

Experts also recommend getting to know and researching your neighbors, and perhaps even creating a community emergency preparedness plan or mutual help network.

If everyone only took care of themselves in the next catastrophe, Jones said, “we would have a social breakdown.”

Ultimately, much of the responsibility when it comes to preparing for earthquakes lies with local and federal authorities.

“For cities and agencies, this means working with engineers to retrofit old structures and design new buildings, bridges, and highways to best withstand the earthquake,” Ready says.

What do you do when an earthquake strikes

If you are indoors when an earthquake strikes, you must perform a “drop, cover and hold” maneuver. Practice this technique before such an event occurs so that you are familiar with it.

“Drop on the floor, find a cover under a table or other sturdy piece of furniture, and keep it there until the shaking stops,” says the California Academy of Sciences. “If there is no table nearby, go to a corner or interior of the building, away from the glass, and stay on the floor with your head covered with your arms.”

“Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure the exit is safe. Once outside, move away from buildings to an open space.”

If you find yourself in a car when an earthquake strikes, stop, stop, and set the parking brake. If you’re outside, stay there and stay away from buildings if you can. If you sleep in bed, turn your face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.

Image showing the ruins of San Francisco after a massive earthquake struck the city on April 18, 1906. Hulton Archive / Getty Images

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos