Not If But When: So. Cal Earthquake
September 15th, 2005
The disaster that hurricane Katrina brought is a great tragedy. Many peoples lives have been lost. Homes have been destroyed and the lifestyles of an entire metropolis of people (and more) have been drastically changed.
We have all heard about this terrible tragedy that recently took place in Lousiana. But many of us have a somewhat detached view of what is going on over there. All I know of it is from the radio. I don’t watch tv and I haven’t even taken the time to look at the paper to see pictures and read about it. Even for all those that watch the news and see all the footage of the aftermath, nobody is really being affected like those who are living through this or who have family that are. Like many others I want to help and it seems like the only thing I can really do, is donate money. They will be needing money to repair and rebuild for a long time from what I hear.
Personally, being detached from this event as I am, I confess that some of the thoughts that first came to mind after hearing about this disaster, where about the coming “Big One” that is reported to definately hit Southern California one day. I was told (in 1998) by my science teacher in high school that within 50 years a large earthquake from the San Andreas fault would occur. And that it wasn’t a matter of if but when.
After hearing of the destruction Katrina brought, I can only imagine the devastation that could occur in the Los Angeles metropolis if our infrastructure is destroyed. KFWB 980AM and KNX 1070AM in Los Angeles have recently but on a joint radio broadcast that is now available as a podcast via the web. If you live in California, I highly recommend you listen to it. It is titled “But For The Grace Of God” and you can click the title to download it.
One of the notable things mentioned on this broadcast is that FEMA reported just before 9/11/2001 that the three largest disasters that our country is most vulnerable to are..
1) A terrorist attack in New York City
2) A major hurricane hitting Lousiana
3) A major earthquake erupting on the West Coast
There are also many tips on how to prepare for an earthquake.
It is overall very informative and I recommend listening to it.
After hearing the reports of Katrina and the destruction she caused, we know it can happen. And again, the experts claim, its not a matter of if but when for the West Coast.
