Two days ago there was an earthquake in nearby Santa Clara county. A 5.1 magnitude event. I honestly did not feel it here at work in San Francisco, though oddly my coworkers felt the shaking. So did my friends group, and everybody that is local on my twitter feed. First thing to do after an earthquake - the non catastrophic kind, obviously - is to get on twitter and tweet about it. That’s the rule.
I guess the reason I did not feel the shake is because the duration was quite brief. The objects around me didn’t move at all. I was a bit worried about my bookshelves at home. Stuff falling out of it would land directly on my $2,000 electric piano. The iPad that I put there would surely get obliterated. I really should secure the bookshelves properly to the wall with the supplied brackets. Complacency - we haven’t had a truly big one since 1989 quake - and laziness gets to us all.
It’s those factors that are also causing me to procrastinate on an earthquake-readiness kit. A bug-out bag, if you will. A backpack filled with emergency food, water, clothing, copies of important documents, and straight cash (homie), ready to take at a moment’s notice. Honestly, someone need to hold me accountable on this so I actually get this done sooner rather than never. To be even more prepared, I should get an M1 motorcycle license, then buy a used bike. Therefore I won’t be stuck in traffic in a line of cars during a major disaster.
I should also get a gun permit, learn how to shoot one, then buy a gun to put in the bug-out bag. People are going to come for my stuff during the chaotic aftermath of an earthquake or tsunami. Besides, this is America - lots of folks have guns. I can’t be bringing a knife to a gun fight. That reminds me: a solid blade and a multitool is also needed in the disaster bag.
Plenty to do after I come back from next week’s vacation! Everything but the part about the gun. Maybe the motorcycle, too.
I wouldn’t park my sports car under a tree!