June 22, 2006

Well, one thing's for certain.

Study: San Andreas fault overdue for quake

And that is that approximately five minutes after it does happen, there will be a clot of people who loudly claim it is the result of global warming and/or Karl Rove planting a nuclear bomb in the fault line. Because, you know, reality-based things like that are a mark progressive community.

ANYway--if you live in California or Alaska or any other seismically active area, you might better make sure you have a plan of what to do when the Big One does hit. Here's a whole list of places to get information from the US Geologic Survey, but the biggest thing to remember is that the goverment can only do so much, and cannot magically make the ground stop shaking or alter the laws of physics.

Posted by Terry Oglesby at June 22, 2006 09:36 AM
Comments

Thanks for the reminder. I really do have to build a bug-out box for my household since there is a significant fault line about 800 yards uphill from my house.

Posted by: Nate at June 22, 2006 11:10 AM

That's kinda sorta close-ish, don't you think?

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 22, 2006 11:30 AM

Sure but I'm not subject to hurricanes, tornados, or 98% humidity, so I figure it evens out. Additionally, earthquakes tend to increase in strength as they move away from the fault, (think whip effect) so while my house might end up in the basement, if I can get out of the rubble pile I'll be able to see much greater devastation down the hill. And if the reservoir dam breaks, I'll have waterfront property- for a while!

Posted by: Nate at June 22, 2006 02:31 PM

There is always the possibility we'll get another New Madrid earthquake (as the result of GWB's land raping policies, of course). And I don't even have earthquake insurance.

Posted by: Jordana at June 22, 2006 02:31 PM

That's the spirit, Nate! It reminds me of that lovely Python song, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life!

And, believe it or not Jordana, I actually have an earthquake rider on our homeowner's policy. The Red Gap fault--the site of Alabama's worst earthquake--lies only a few miles from our home.

Posted by: Terry Oglesby at June 22, 2006 02:37 PM