Re: Katrina Relief

Donna — Tue, 06 Sep 2005 09:41:00 -0000

This Type 4 (or was it a 5?) hurricane is so much more frightening than the earthquakes I (as a fellow Californian) have experienced. Sure, you have some warning it's coming -- but as you pointed out, if you have no way of escaping, you're stuck riding it out -- which is what happened to all those poor (in more ways than one) people who are now dealing with the aftermath.

You are so much better prepared for the next big quake than most Californians (my family included - and my husband's a geologist!) I was shocked to learn that only 20% of us carry earthquake insurance (at least, we do that). Sure, it's expensive, and the deductible is high -- but it's still better than being wiped out.

One thing that our state has done right is enact tough building codes. People may complain that it's tough (and expensive) to build out here -- but our buildings (at least, the ones built to code) tend not to collapse on people in mid-size earthquakes (like Northridge - hard to believe thatn one was considered mid-size, huh?) You look in other parts of the world where a 5.5 or 6.0 quake strikes, and there are hundreds or even thousands of deaths (as hubby says, earthquakes don't kill people, collapsing buildings do).

BTW - you and I live far enough away from the San Andreas that we will most likely survive the so-called Big One. However, we are in just as much danger from the hundreds of lesser faults that criss-cross the state. (Remember that Northridge was caused by a rupture on an up-to-that-moment unknown fault!) Not all that reassuring, is it?

Good for you for being prepared!

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Re: Katrina Relief