Shaky Tuesday

For decades upon decades, residents of California have been trying to prepare for the "next big quake", which, according to a report out on Monday, could hit within the next few years. But are we truly educated enough to even educate ourselves to survive what has been called "The Big One"?

I think most of us learned our lesson from the San Francisco Earthquakes of 1906 and 1989. Times do change, and so does the technology needed to strengthen our buildings to withstand major earthquake damage. I don't know if there's precise science out yet to accurately predict when the next quake will hit, but we're trying.

The one thing we really need to worry about is the San Andreas Fault, which lies in the middle of a great deal of California. Like all earthquake faults, it is unstable, but at a certain point in time it will gather enough energy to move, thus creating the next quake.

So does it mean residents have to move away from the fault to safer ground? I'll leave it up to them, but now is as good as time as any to really do our homework and study up big time on how to prepare for an earthquake, no matter where it hits. Yes, it can happen anywhere on this lovely green planet. Of course, the Internet is now adding to the vast world of information check-points available.

I can sympathize with those who ever survived an earthquake, because I actually felt the 1989 S.F. quake from all the way in Sacramento, CA, where I was at the time.

So go ahead, mentally enroll yourselves in "Earthquake Survival 101". As the saying goes, "forewarned is for-armed".