It’s Not Luck. It’s Being Prepared.

There are many benefits to planning ahead for disasters. The most important benefits are staying safe and helping yourself and your community recover. Taking simple actions to protect against disaster helps you, your family, your community, and your country in important ways.

Know Your Risks

Understand the risks you and your family may face. Most communities face many types of hazards. It is important to learn the risks specific to your home and the ways to assess your risks if you are away from home. Know how and when to take action before, during, and after different hazards.

Make a Plan

Make a plan and prepare for both evacuating and sheltering. Prepare for your family’s unique needs with customized plans and supplies. You should gather emergency supplies for Stay Kits and Go Bags and secure the information and important documents you and your family will need to start recovery.

Take Action

Put your plan into action. Practice your disaster plans, take advantage of existing alert and warning systems, and explore ways to serve your community.

The ‘Big One’ Is Coming

The Hayward Fault “will rupture violently again, and perhaps soon,” The U.S. Geological Survey warns. Studies showed that similar quakes repeatedly jolted the region in the past, and the fault could be ready to generate another earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 to 7.0.

A magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Hayward Fault in the East Bay could result in $65 billion in damage, state conservation officials said. 

Revisiting the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake serves as an important reminder to all residents of California that the geologic processes responsible for creating the beautiful natural landscape we enjoy can sometimes occur suddenly and violently, so it’s important to be prepared.

Read an interesting article about our neighboring faults from San Francisco Patch here.

More preparedness information is available to you at no cost at Ready.gov. Download the Ready.gov Guide to Preparedness here.