Are YOU prepared for the next big quake?

By The Pioneer 10 years ago

Disaster Prep-CCHealth-for websiteWhen the 6.0 Napa Earthquake rumbled through northern California on Aug. 24, it woke up more than scared Bay Area residents. It also jarred awake those sometimes buried fears of, “Am I prepared?”
For many Clayton and Concord residents, sadly, the answer is “No.”
“We aren’t ready for a major disaster,” says Herb Yonge, and he should know. As  Operations Director for Clayton’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), he helps out first-hand in local emergencies, as well as trains residents in disaster preparedness, CPR and other life-saving activities.
CERT was established in Clayton in 2006, offering two to three trainings each year since then. Currently there are 175 trained CERT members in the city of Clayton.
But lately, Yonge has seen the number of residents volunteering to become certified dwindle. In addition, he suspects that only between 5 and 10 percent of the local population is truly prepared to withstand disasters.
Rich Veal, a Clayton CERT instructor, agrees. But in a strange way, the Napa quake was fortuitous, because both men suspect there will be an uptick in the number of residents seeking to become prepared.
After CCCFPD Station 11 closed in Clayton last year, more than 30 residents came out for hands-free CPR and AED atraining, Yonge said.
The Napa Quake was also lucky in terms of timing, as September is National Preparedness Month, and there are several activities geared to helping people, including a free Disaster Preparedness and Hands-free CPR event scheduled for Sept. 16 at the Clayton Library. (See sidebar.)
But both Yonge and Veal are quick to say that Clayton isn’t alone in lacking emergency preparedness. They quote a national survey that says only one in 10 Americans are truly prepared for a disaster, be it an earthquake, flood, hurricane, fire or some other event that can cause emergencies.
“The number one reason people say they are not prepared — or why they don’t need to be prepared — is that they say, ‘Well, my neighbor is prepared,’” Veal says. “That’s not a good enough reason on many levels. What if your neighbor is in San Francisco and the bridge goes down again, or something like that?
Both men also stress that disasters aren’t limited to earthquakes, as there are many types of things that can happen, and too often people don’t want to think the worse.
The two have given many training presentations to local organizations, including schools. “Some schools are better prepared than others,” Yonge says. “Not only do kids have to be prepared to shelter there up to 72 hours, so do the teachers. Be sure you have everything you need, such as medication.”
He urges parent clubs to work with their schools to make sure students have the appropriate emergency kits on site, with food and water enough for three days.
While disaster preparedness is short class, and teaches such things as using a fire extinguisher appropriately and knowing where the gas and water shut-offs are at home, the regular CERT classes are much more extensive. The six-week courses are conducted with the Concord’s CERT program, and run twice a year, Veal says.
Once someone is CERT-trained, they can don the special CERT vest, which allows them on site during various emergencies, such as last year’s Morgan Fire on Mount Diablo, Yonge says.
“We were called on by the Clayton Police to help out with logistics in housing and feeding people and animals, and supporting the firefighters. All it took was one phone call, and we rallied the troops.”
Emergency needs
So what is needed most in an emergency? Yonge says the first thing families should do is have a disaster plan: practice fire drills and communication.
“If phones are down in a disaster, make sure you pinpoint someone out of the area that everyone will contact to check in. Also, have a meeting place, both near your house in case of fire, like out at mailbox, or further away if you are separated by an earthquake and can’t get home, like a local parking lot.”
He also stresses to have a plan for family pets.
Veal says another important item to have on hand is a “go-bag,” a bag packed with three-days worth of clothes, sundries, water, snacks and medication. “Keep three on hand — in your house, at work and in your car. You never know when you’ll need it.”
Also, both Yonge and Veal say to get to know your neighbors. “Not only can you help each other out in an emergency, but it’s important to know their habits. Know when their cleaning crew comes in, for instance, so if you see suspicious people around your neighbor’s house on the wrong day, you can report it.”
There is a lot to remember in preparing for emergencies, but Yonge says there are many resources available to get up to speed. Besides the Disaster Preparedness and Hands-free CPR class offered at the library, residents can visit the CERT website at www.claytoncert.org, the Concord site at www.ConcordCERT.org, or the national website www.ready.gov, which offers tips on disaster preparation.
Paying for an earthquake
One other fear that the recent rumblings up in Napa unearthed for local residents is how to pay for damage if an earthquake strikes home. Literally.
According to the California Earthquake Authority, earthquake insurance among homeowners has dropped from 33 percent in 1996 to just 10 percent today, despite the fact that insurers are required to offer an earthquake package as part of their homeowner and renters policies.
Clayton State Farm agent Doug Van Wyck estimates that only about 10 percent of local residents own earthquake insurance, but that his office has fielded calls almost every day since the Napa quake inquiring about it.
“Many people see it as a big expense, but the thought of not having it if your house is knocked off its foundation is very scary,” he says.
In the Bay Area, earthquake insurance premiums can range anywhere from $700 to $2500 or more per year, depending on the deductible. Van Wyck says rather than worry, homeowners — and renters — should use the handy tool on the California Earthquake Authority’s website, www.earthquakeauthority.com.
“You can enter in the size of your house, ZIP code, number of stories among other things, and the website will offer up a list of policies available from participating insurers, such as Allstate, State Farm and Farmer’s, among others,” he says.
The deductible is where the premiums change, he says. For instance, if you have a one-story home in Clayton or Concord priced around $300,000, you can choose a 10 percent deductible, or $30,000, at a higher premium. A 15 percent deductible of $45,000 would charge a lower premium.
He also says that there is affordable renter’s insurance for quakes for as low as about $130 per year.
Still, he says many people have an “I don’t think it will happen to me” mentality about it, and that if it does, many people say they will rely on state or federal aid.
“But earthquake insurance also brings peace of mind,” he says. “You can avoid all the hassle and red tape that usually goes along with disasters. It also may mean the difference, if you are forced out of your home, between staying at a motel for awhile and sleeping in a Red Cross Shelter.”
Ultimately, purchasing earthquake insurance may not be as affordable a disaster preparation as putting together a safety kit, but it’s about the same thing. Being prepared.

Upcoming Safety Events

  • Sept. 17 – Hands-free CPR Training and Disaster Preparedness, 7 to 8:30  p.m. at Clayton Community Library. Free
  • Sept. 18 – Six-week CERT training begins in Concord. 6:30 p.m., Contra Costa Fire District Training Center, 2945 Treat Blvd., Concord. For more information visit www.ConcordCERT.org or call 925-603-5933. Free.
  • Sept. 23 – CERT’s Emergency Pet Preparedness, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Concord Police Department, Community Meeting Room, 1350 Galindo St., Concord.
  • Oct. 16 – The Great California ShakeOut will be held 10:16 a.m.

Basic Emergency Kit

  • Water — one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation;
  • Food — at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food;
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both;
  • Flashlight and extra batteries;
  • First-aid kit;
  • Whistle to signal for help;
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting, and duct tape to shelter in place;
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation;
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities;
  • Manual can opener for food;
  • Local maps;
  • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger.
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