Since I started this blog about three weeks ago and began writing about earthquakes, value of earthquake resistance, and “buying, selling, and building safe & sound homes in the San Francisco Bay Area” we had two major earthquakes. The Magnitude 6.3 New Zealand earthquake hit Christchurch on February 21, three days after I began the blog. Three weeks later, one of the largest earthquakes in recent history hit Japan. People around the world watched, with horror and disbelief, video recordings of a powerful tsunami generated by the earthquake.
While I was watching the videos of the tsunami wave roaring through the Japanese countryside, it occurred to me that some of the cars, trucks, boats, and buildings that were being violently dragged by the water could have had people in them. Some of these people were already dead and others were dying while I was watching the video. I wondered if I was really capable of realizing how horrifying it is to be caught in that situation. I also wondered if other people were also thinking what I was thinking.
Some people have never experienced earthquake shaking. Until now, nobody had seen such inundation by a tsunami wave. Referring back to my earlier blog “Myths of Loma Prieta Earthquake,” I am hoping that some of those people who thought their houses were “earthquake-proof” or “earthquakes only happened elsewhere” have changed their minds. As they say, “seeing is believing,” and believing is the foundation of preparedness. Let us all prepare for the next “Big One” by constructing better buildings, retrofitting existing ones, and putting together our “earthquake kits” that would let us survive on our own for 72 hours following the earthquake.
BoomereseBlog 
Onder: Once again your articles drive home very important issues that all of us Bay Area people should, must, and hopefully will consider closely now. In the wake of this horrific natural disaster in Japan and the effects it’s had on our State’s coastal communities, I find myself thinking about checking and updating our ‘lacking’ earthquake/natural disaster preparedness supplies and checking the emergency preserves [i.e. water, flashlights and batteries, battery powered radio, first aid kit, blankets, water supply, food stuff et al]. So, it’s really not to think about BUT to do. We are a rather complacent folk here in the Bay Area [or statewide for that matter] and feel that ‘it could never happen to us in our lifetime’, BUT it can. No matter how the recorders/observers of geological issues and earthquake activity in the Bay Area or around the State address the potential of a future occurence, no one can honestly predict what Mother Nature has in mind. We’re really just anticipating. It could very well happen tomorrow for all we know. Are we really ready??? That remains to be seen. Yes, we have certain things in place, but when it actually occurs will we really be ‘well prepared’ for ourselves and our families, etc. I only hope so. Loma Prieta was a real eye-opener for many people, but that’s 20+ years ago. Are our emergency items expired or are they up to date. We MUST all look closely to how we, individually, will be able to survive the ‘BIG SHAKE’ or whatever disaster hits us. Depending on others to care for us at that time is just plain ignorance. The ‘Big One’ will eventually happen, but until then, how will we deal with it. Enough expressed. I’m going to make a consertive effort to replenish the items that will be sorely needed at that time of such a disaster. Hopefully, I’ll never have to use them. Thanks for the ‘alert’ and reminder. Hope others will listen to your advice and prepare to be ready.