The recent earthquakes that shook the region over the Fourth of July weekend did significant damage in some areas like Ridgecrest and Trona, but fortunately there was no loss of life. For many, the earthquakes were a wake-up call.
In a recent press conference, Kern County Fire Department Public Information Office Andrew Freeborn emphasized that now is the time to put together a disaster plan, rather than waiting for one to hit. He recommended that people reach out to their local fire departments to find out what they should consider when putting together a plan.
To drive this need for a plan home, "the United States Geological Survey (USGS) warned that another earthquake of a similar magnitude could strike within the next week, while aftershocks have occurred an average of once a minute since Friday night."
The USGS added "that there's a 70% chance an earthquake of a magnitude of 6.7 or higher will strike the San Francisco Bay area along the San Andreas fault zone before 2030."
The USGS also provided four things to consider when putting together an earthquake plan:
- Step 1: Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.
- Step 2: Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.
- Step 3: Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
- Step 4: Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.
The recommendations were provided by the Earthquake Country Alliance, a partner of the USGS.
