Before an Earthquake

In an earthquake we may not have a warning, but you can prepare for your pets as you do for any other disaster:

• Maintain a list of locations and phone numbers of potential refuge sites: specialized pet shelters, boarding facilities, veterinary clinics, pet-friendly hotels, stables, or homes of friends and relatives. Share the list with family and neighbors.
• Choose and use an ID method for each animal. Examples include microchipping, ID tags on collar, and photos of you with your animal. This is extremely important if your animals become lost.
• Keep your animals’ immunizations–especially rabies–current.
• Maintain animals’ health records, proof of vaccinations, microchip numbers, and necessary prescriptions with your other important family papers.
• Maintain a disaster kit for each animal: means of confinement (cage or carrier large enough for them to stand and turn around in), animal first aid kit, leash, harness, bowls, 3-days of water and food, medications, emergency care instructions, litterbox, clean-up supplies.
• Meet with or notify your county emergency manager if you wish them to be aware of special needs you may have, such as assistance with evacuation if you possess a guide dog or other service animal.

Immediate Aftermath

Damage from the quake may cause our familiar landscape to be unrecognizable. Our companion animals may be displaced from their homes. The immediate focus for emergency workers during this time will be human safety.

When circumstances allow, there will be personnel who are trained in animal emergencies integrated into the incident management structure to assist emergency workers and citizens with animal needs. These needs may include ‘rescue’ (capture and transport to safety), ID, treatment, temporary shelter and care, and reuniting with owners.

Public information about options for assistance with animals will be provided as soon as possible from emergency management by way of news briefings and telephone hotlines.

After the Earthquake

If you animal cannot be found, contact your veterinarian, animal care and control office, and/or county and state emergency managers who can provide you with search lists and databases of animals that have been found and sheltered during the event. When you and your animal return home, check to be sure your surroundings are clear of dangers such as downed power lines, debris, and displaced wild animals.

All of you are watching this video because of your concern for the safety of your animals during an emergency in your community. This presentation will give you information on how to plan for your animals if there is a need to evacuate or shelter them in place. And how to find resources in your community to help you with your planning. As an owner you know that your animals health and safety relies entirely on you, especially in an emergency. As you know, the need for this information is huge. Our animals are a very important part of our lives.

You should have an evacuation kit and first aid kit for your pets. Emergency supplies for pets are similar to those that you likely have in your own preparedness kit.

 

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Because animals can influence your decision to take protective action, it’s important that you understand the steps to protect your animals if you’re told by emergency officials to evacuate Continue Reading »

 

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Transcript of video:

It takes just three steps the get your entire family, including your Pets, READY for an emergency.
When considering your pets, you’ll need to get a Pet Emergency Supply Kit. Make an emergency plan for your pet’s care and stay informed about diffenent types of emergencies. To get started, go to Ready.gov to get a list of everything your Family and Pet Emergency Supply Kit should contain. Continue Reading »

The U.S. Geological Survey has released a report, the ShakeOut Scenario, narrating the events surrounding a major Southern California earthquake along the San Andreas Fault. Following are excerpts from the report:

The question is not if but when southern California will be hit by a major earthquake— one so damaging that it will permanently change lives and livelihoods in the region. How severe the changes will be depends on the actions that individuals, schools, businesses, organizations, communities, and governments take to get ready. To help prepare for this event, scientists of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have changed the way that earthquake scenarios are done, uniting a multidisciplinary team that spans an unprecedented number of specialties. The team includes the California Geological Survey, Southern California Earthquake Center, and nearly 200 other partners in government, academia, emergency response, and industry, working to understand the long-term impacts of an enormous earthquake on the complicated social and economic interactions that sustain southern California society. This project, the ShakeOut Scenario, has applied the best current scientific understanding to identify what can be done now to avoid an earthquake catastrophe. More information Continue Reading »

The de facto response to the earthquake vs. hurricane (which would you prefer?) question, always depends upon where that person lives. “We have [blank] and we know what to expect.”

Well, it’s not that simple. West doesn’t equal earthquake and east doesn’t equal hurricane, or at least that’s not all they equal. South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford declared November 4-10 as Earthquake Awareness Week in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division is sponsoring the week to remind people that earthquakes pose a significant threat to South Carolina year-round, and citizens need to take proper precautions.

A highlight of the week will be the annual statewide earthquake drill. State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex is encouraging schools statewide to participate. In addition to schools, many nursing homes, hospitals, county and municipal agencies, amateur radio operators, and others also are expected to take part. COLUMBIA, SC (WIS)

The 1886 South Carolina earthquake has been equated to a Katrina-sized disaster. Amazing isn’t it?

Well, adding “earthquake” to the preparedness checklist involves a change of mindset. It means setting aside the luxury of advanced notice. Remember the “which would you prefer” question? Those that have traditionally prepared for hurricanes would argue that while hurricanes tend to come around frequently, at least you know they are coming.

There aren’t any media channels plotting the arrival of an earthquake or prompting you to fill the gas tank in your car, put away supplies or evacuate. The earthquake announcement comes in the form of the disaster in progress.

To incorporate earthquake preparedness into our emergency preparedness plan, we need to change our preparedness mentality from ‘predictable seasonal threat’ to ‘ongoing active state of potential emergency.’

Consider that where you are at any given moment could be your location when a disaster strikes. …meaning, if you have assembled all of your supplies at home, that is where they will be. Where will you be? Preparedness supplies should be stored at the office, in the car and with your children at school. Make your emergency plans with your daily routine in mind.

by Applied Vitals, a preparedness company

By Julie Sevrens Lyons: Mercury News

Studying layers of soil in a trench they dug near the Fremont BART station, geologists recently made a startling discovery: The Hayward Fault has had a big earthquake roughly every 140 years, on average, since 1315.

And this Sunday marks year 139.

Calling the fault a “tectonic time bomb,” scientists Wednesday urged Bay Area residents to put together an earthquake plan, stockpile supplies Continue Reading »

By Adam Satariano and Marc Perrier

Nov. 1 (Bloomberg) — San Franciscans shaken by the earthquake two days ago are even more unnerved by seismologists’ warning that they should be ready for a bigger temblor soon.

“I’m leaving town this Friday, and that makes me happy,” said resident Michelle Clemensen, who works for a hedge fund. “I’m not prepared in any way for an earthquake.”

The 5.6-magnitude earthquake that rattled the Bay Area significantly increased the likelihood of another damaging seismic shift in the next few days, a panel of scientists said yesterday. The quake broke windows and tossed items from shelves in San Jose but didn’t cause major damage. It was centered near the junction of the Calaveras and Hayward faults, making them more prone to shift soon.

The Hayward fault, which runs under heavily populated Richmond, Oakland and Berkeley, is due. The fault has shifted about every 140 years, seismologists said. Its last big quake, 139 years ago, was estimated at magnitude 7, leveled buildings and killed 30 people.

“We’re pretty sure it’s ready: It could be tomorrow Continue Reading »