Northern California Muse

The northern California Coast is rockin’ and rollin’ again. We had a 4.4 this week and several little quakes. We do not even notice these. We read about them in the newspaper. So how should we prepare for the big one?
A group from Red Cross has been holding meeting lately; getting us to thinking about and talking about our lack of planning.
 
Am I prepared? Not completely, but it appears that I am a great deal more prepared than most people on the coast. I never have enough dog food to last a month and if we had to survive weeks without help, we would be eating a lot of tuna fish and other canned items I do not like. We have enough candles, firewood, first aid stuff and 1000 gallons of water. Of course, we could get more water from a spring or the river and add bleach. We would survive; I do not know about the dogs. I guess I will have to stock up on dog food. I do not want to share my cans of tuna with them. 8 for them and 1 for me – I will buy dog food today!

Everyone talks about the need to escape the coast if we have a real disaster. This is hard for me to understand. If we are caught by a tsunami or quake; do I really want to go to civilization and share in their devastation? I would be better off in the woods with a few neighbors. We all have tarps that cover our wood piles and chainsaws; we could probably make decent shelters quickly. If our larders an empty, I know of 30 turkeys that cross my property every day and of course, we are overrun in deer. A little culling would not hurt either population. I also know a few neighbors who might consider the bear who regularly jumps on our trashcans as a real target.

It also appears that too many are worried about a tsunami anyway. Except for those living and working in our harbors and river inlets; we all live over 100 feet off the ocean and most several hundred feet. Yes, we might lose a few houses hanging on a low-lying cliff, but a 30-70 foot wave of water will not impact many homes. Our bridges may be at risk, but they fall anyway without the help of a big wave or a little shaking.

So, we all need to stock more food and dog food. Maybe we need some more row boats to cross the rivers lacking bridges. But then I am sure some coastal entrepreneur would ferry you across for a small fee. Those with regular medical needs should consider moving, because it will be hard to get to the civilized inland. Otherwise in a major disaster, I am better off staying put on my hill. We can even crank up the generator and watch how Los Angeles was washed away. Skip it, I will save the gas.