Prepare for an Earthquake - Learn Earthquake Safety

By Laurie Brenner

When that earthquake hits in the middle of the night - will your family be prepared?
If your family is not prepared, by the time an earthquake hits, it may be too late. You may wake up to the sound of cascading glass when that new plasma television lands face down on the floor. Preparation means to get something ready in advance of it happening. Here is how to prepare for an earthquake and learn earthquake safety.
Start by developing a disaster plan for your family - and divide the plan into two parts.
The first part of your earthquake safety disaster plan should include everything you can do ahead of time --
• Secure breakables in your home
• Develop a disaster plan
• Develop an evacuation plan - and set a meeting location
• Make a plan for pets and animals
• Review your home for structural weaknesses
• Set aside water and food reserves
• Keep extra prescriptions and eyeglasses available
During an earthquake -
• During an earthquake protect yourself and small children
• Stay positioned - don't move around until after the earthquake stops
After an earthquake -
• Check for injuries among family members
• Check for structural damage to the home
• When safe, put your safety disaster plan into action
It's important to have the details worked out in advance of when a disaster hits. After a disaster, some people may panic and having a list of what to do in an orderly fashion helps to calm people down. When your world has just been shaken, often, the best thing to do is begin checking off the things you need to do: return to some form of normalcy.
Remember that during an earthquake you can be cut off from emergency services, water, fuel, food, banks and other retail outlets for an extended period. Be prepared!

Download an earthquake preparedness manual for your family by visiting www.CaliforniaEarthquakesToday.com It comes complete with checklists, government recommendations for food supplies, emergency goods and ideas on how to make your home more earthquake-secure.
It's too late once the earthquake happens, besides protecting your family, do you have insurance for that big screen television? There are ways to protect the valuables in your home. Learn how you can learn earthquake safety today.
Earthquakes

The True Story of the Earthquake in Haiti

By Valirie Senek

Patrick Hein worked on the 5th level of the building sheltering the services of United Nations in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake happened. It was 17 h 00 in Haiti (22 h 00 GMT), on Tuesday evening, that is 2 h 00 of the morning in Mauritius yesterday on Wednesday, January 13th. The Mauritian works for the forces of the peace maintaining of UNO for four years. He was a close Partner of the Tunisian Hedi Annabi the leader of the Mission of United Nations for Stabilization in Haiti (Minustah). The latter would have been killed in the catastrophe, while Patrick Hein is the son of Philippe Hein himself, the ancient head of the personnel of the UNO.
After the statement of Bernard Kouchner French minister of Foreign Affairs with effect that all employees of the mission of United Nations in Haiti had died, the parents of Patrick Hein in Mauritius fears the worst for their son and his spouse. This one is also an employee of the Minustah. It is while following the information on television that the relatives of Patrick Hein saw on CNN, the services of relief evacuating the Mauritian. "My son is a miraculously saved" declared Philippe Hein to Jean Luc Emile, the chief editor of Radio One.
In Haiti, the situation is dramatic. The President of the Republic, René Préval has estimated the number of approximately 30 000 - 50 000 deaths. Some hours earlier, his Prime minister, Jean-Max Bellerive has expressed his fear of a greater number of death exceeding 100 000. The seism, of magnitude 7 on the Richter scale, was the most violent for more than 200 years ever hit this country, one of the poorest of the planet.
Some schools, hospitals, buildings, army camps of the shanty towns collapsed under the violence of the tremor arising Tuesday January 12 at 17h00 (local hour to Haiti) or 22h00 GMT, or 2h00 in the morning on Wednesdays January 13 in Maurice. Nearly 24 hours after the catastrophe, inhabitants wandered in the devastated streets, stunned by the shock, or strove to come to the rescue of the blocked persons under debris. The local Red Cross declared itself overflowed, while the international assistance sets itself up. The UN was harshly touched, the building of five floors sheltering the seat of his mission in the country, the Minustah, collapsed. The organization declared that the number of its employees died would be "extremely high". About one hundred persons disappeared under the building rubble.
The Brazilian army declared that eleven members of his quota within the Mission of the United Nations for the stabilization to Haiti died and that many other military were reported missing.
THE RESCUE OVERFLOWED
The presidential palace was itself equally collapsed during the earthquake. René Préval and his spouse were not in the building and survived but the President of the Senate lists among the unfortunate victims under the rubble. Tens, indeed hundreds of thousands of houses were destroyed, declared a spokesperson of the Minustah. In the streets of Port-au-Prince, a city of four millions of inhabitants, people wandered in sobs. Shouting escaped from ruins. "Help me to go out, I die (...). I have two children with me ", a woman blocked under the debris of a day nursery in the living quarter of Canapé-Vert cried to a journalist of Reuters. The earthquake epicenter was situated inside the earths in 10 km deep and in 16 km of the capital. Earthquake was followed by several violent retorts achieving until 5,9 of magnitude. Haiti is very poorly equipped to face this type of catastrophes and launched a request of support to the international assistance. Inhabitants removed pads of concrete with bare hands to attempt to save their dearest beloved ones. The Spokesperson of the Haitian Red Cross, Périclès Jean-Baptiste, declared that his organization was overflowed. "Too many people need assistance (...). We lack equipments, we lack bags to put the bodies", he said to Reuters.
Communications are cut, roads blocked by rubbles and fallen trees, the supply of electricity was interrupted and drinking water was short-supplied.
INTERNATIONAL MOBILIZATION
The American President Barack Obama promised "an unfaltering help" to Haiti. He ordered the American administration to provide assistance fast to the disaster victims and the US Navy sent aircraft carriers and three amphibious ships. Already, planes P3 of US Air Force perform flights of recognition above the devastated zone. China, France, Iceland, the Dominican Republic neighbors, were part of the first mobilized countries to come to the aid of the country. The Doctors Organization Without Borders (MSF or Médecins Sans Frontières) declared that its three hospitals in Haiti were unusable and that they cared for the injured people in temporary shelters. "What we see are harsh traumatisms, injuries to the head, members crushed, of engrave problems that cannot be treated with the medical currently available care level", Paul McPhun, of the Canadian section of MSF has explained. The school of medicine of the University of Miami announced the sending of a plane to install a hospital on the spot and the repatriation of injured men in a critical state towards Florida.
In Vatican City, the Pope Benoît XVI ordered the immediate draft of the charitable network of the Catholic Church in favour of the victims. The cathedral was destroyed and the archbishop of Port-au-Prince, Mon Seigneur Joseph Serge Miot, was rediscovered dead in its offices, according to the media. The World Bank, which offices are situated in the suburbs were destroyed, announced the releasing of 100 millions of dollars of emergency aid, to the UN an envelope deal of 10 million.

Valirie Thomas Senek, a retired air hostess, has been a professional hostess for Air Mauritius for several years. She has travelled throughout everywhere around the world and her experience has helped her to publish many tourism articles in the national print magazine, and her web site at
Make Your Own Preparedness Kit

Earthquake-Proof Wood Wine Racks?

By Joseph Cortese

Wooden racks have a more traditional look and feel about them. If you would like your wine rack to convey a sense of old world aesthetic, consider purchasing a wood rack. Also, if you want to place your wine rack in a wine cellar, wooden racks are better suited to that type of location. Some wine drinkers prefer iron or metal racks. Let's save those for another article.
Besides, if you live in an earthquake-prone area, a group of researchers at Oregon State University has come up with a new rack that keeps bottles intact during the event.As a matter of fact, the rack was subjected to seismic testing that included two weeks of simulated earthquakes measuring up to magnitude 7.1. The shelving units are marketed mainly to wine departments in retail stores.
Since wood is flexible, it can withstand earthquakes better than other, more rigid materials such as steel. The strength of the shelves strength was achieved by laminating layers of Oregon pine used for both the frames and the shelves. The developers have nicknamed the Oregon pine MightyPine.
However, if you are not worried about your wine bottles withstanding "The Big One," some companies offer some practical options. In wood, some retailers offer a 24, 36, or 48 bottle capacity Table Top Rack. These three racks can be purchased in a variety of finishes: ponderosa pine, stained pine, premium redwood, and stained redwood.
For those of you looking for something "different" and beautiful, items such as a Wine Connoiseur's Chest and a Wine Plantation Vinter's Chest can add charm to your home. For example, the Connoiseur holds up to 15 bottles, and has a large storage drawer. It makes for an attractive furniture accent in any décor. The Vinter's Chest opens from the top, is set off by great antique hinges and hardware, and holds up to 14 bottles.
Or, for something really different, check out an item called the Cape Cod Storage Console, which holds eight bottles, has two top drawers, and two large storage areas on the bottom. Have a wonderful shopping experience!

Dr. Joseph F. Cortese Owner, http://www.WineRacksPro.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Cortese

Haiti Earthquake - Epic Disaster, Epic Opportunity

By Grant Gerver

Why is it that the worst humanitarian disasters always seem to hit the poorest people in the world? I'm sure there's an answer for this, but I don't have it. Maybe it's more that natural disasters do not discriminate between the rich and the poor, they can and do strike everywhere. Maybe it's the effect they have on rich versus poor countries. The aftermath is far more ravaging when there is less infrastructure, extreme poverty, and no building codes.
How much can a poor country like Haiti take? And, what are the survivors supposed to do? The unimaginable loss of life and total devastation is beyond words. Zombies walk what's left of their streets looking for loved ones, hoping against hope that they'll find who they're looking for. And, if they are able to get lucky enough to find lost relatives and friends, then what? Will they starve to death, or drink scarce and tainted water full of toxins that will kill them? The last estimates that came across the news wires said as many as 100,000 or more will lose their lives.
This disaster ranks in severity with the worst natural calamities in recent history including the 2004 Christmas tsunami, and the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China. It is sure to be one of the worst natural disasters in living memory.
The first 72-hours are the most critical. Victims buried alive in the rubble have precious little time to be found alive if they are to survive. The United States military will have to play a vital role in rescue efforts as evidenced by its participation in the Christmas tsunami and also again in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake in Kashmir. But, as the war and cash-strapped nation that the U.S. is today, will we be able to make the difference that is called for? The Wall Street Journal said very succinctly, "America's power coincides with the reach of its goodness."
It's a shame that many of our financial resources are so horribly compromised by the current economic collapse, and at a time when America is also straight-jacketed by two ongoing wars. It could be a poignant reminder of what our priorities should be if only we could gain the perspective necessary to do the right things.
But, while we will be in the lead in this Haitian crisis as we so often are in many others, our strength and standing as the world's greatest super power are in doubt. Quite possibly, this Haitian earthquake can give us pause to reflect upon and reevaluate the most important things in life: the empowerment and betterment of humanity, beginning with the poorest of the poor. Using money to build rather than to destroy, giving rather than taking, improving instead of damaging, and aiming for goodwill rather than bad, can serve as the beginning of the day that men, women and children across the glove begin to move closer to one another, not farther way. A hope, a dream, and extreme wishful thinking.
The Wall Street Journal concludes: "In the long term, the best defense against future natural disasters is to promote the political and economic conditions that can move people out of the slums and shanties that easily become death traps. For now, however, we wish godspeed to the armies of relief headed for Haiti's desperate shore."

Grant Brad Gerver is an entrepreneur and creative consultant for Filibi, an online classified and coupon advertising site and free home business paying 70% commissions to its members. He's also a YouTube blues singer-songwriter and guitar player (gbgerver) who performs with The Buzzard Brothers. Additionally, Grant writes political humor, thousands of bumper stickers, and humorous movie reviews. He has also worked with various companies as a product-naming specialist. He's a retired elementary school teacher and published children's author who works in the health care field.
Earthquake Preparedness Guide

All Buildings and Homes Should Be Built Earthquake Proof!

By Glenford Robinson

Why should all houses built from now on be built to withstand the shakes of the most violent of earthquakes? All of a sudden we are having very large earthquakes. In fact, we have earthquakes on a daily basis, sometimes 50 per day or 20,000 a year according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). However, their magnitudes are too small for us to feel them, (USGS). In addition, many earthquakes occur in remote areas of the world where people don't live, (USGS). The first big one in quite some time was the one in the Indian Ocean that triggered the largest tsunami in recent memory, which took thousands of lives and destroyed cities and towns.
As recently as May 12, 2008, a massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook down buildings and caused thousands of lives to be lost in the Sichuan province of China. In just a couple of months taken from the destruction in China caused by a large earthquake, is the huge 7.0 magnitude trembler in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti--January 12, 2010, the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
Earthquakes occurring in the ocean do not pose a threat by themselves. They are only threatening when they trigger tsunamis; in which case, we cannot do much about. However, massive destruction and loss of lives from earthquakes occurring on land are preventable to a certain extent.
Earthquake-proof constructions should be the norm when erecting buildings anywhere in the world, regardless of whether they are public buildings or private homes. It was said that buildings in Sichuan China where the 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck, were not earthquake proof. This is why such wide-spread damage occurred.
China is one of the richest countries in the world, and they had a tough time coping with the destruction caused by their earthquake. Homes and buildings in Sichuan China were not earthquake proof, so they suffered grave damages. Schools, hospitals, and homes were destroyed in large numbers. Can one imagine the impact that the recent earthquake in Haiti will have on its economy?
The main reason why it is a wise idea to erect buildings that are earthquake proof is that Mother Earth is going through changes that she has always gone through, in regards to the shifting of tectonic plates within the Earth's crust; however, those tectonic changes occurred centuries ago. This is the reason why we hadn't experience them in modern times, until now. Now is the time for those Earthly changes to start occurring again. This is probably the way Mother Earth grows. The Earth is considered living also, in its own way. It has energy that is released each time there is a shift in the tectonic plates beneath the Earth. Why in the past earthquakes cause less destruction than they do today?
In the past, people lived in rural areas of the world. However, as industrialization became the main stay of today's world, people migrated to where industrialization manifests itself, and that is in the cities. Therefore, massive earthquakes in the past did less damage than they do today because there were next to no densely populated areas of the world at that time. However, in today's world, cities are densely populated- a result of overpopulation--Mass exodus of people migrated to inner cities in the quest of finding jobs. This trend of people migrating to cities will not end any time soon.
Large and destructive earthquakes are inevitable and are occurring more often in the world today, so both nature and people are on an inevitable collision course. The loser in this confrontation is people, obviously. Nevertheless, we can be the loser of such confrontations, yet live to tell the tales, by surviving of course. How will we be able to survive the next big earthquake? We know they are coming! In the case of Haiti, large earthquakes have historically shown their devastating effects in years past. Years 1860, 1770, 1761, 1751, 1684, 1673, and 1618 have seen their share of massive earthquakes, (USGS).
Humans will be able to survive the next big earthquake if we prepare. We can prepare for the next round of magnitude 7.0 or 8.0 earthquakes if we build our countries' infrastructure to withstand earthquakes of such magnitudes and higher. We have the technology to send solar powered vehicle to mars, so we definitely have the technological know-how to build earthquake proof infrastructures in our cities, towns, and country sides.
Poor countries such as Haiti would not have the means with which to build special earthquake-proof homes and public buildings, such as schools, post offices, libraries, etc. However, this is where other wealthy countries can give a helping hand by donating funds to subsidize such efforts.
Now is the time to start taking earthquakes seriously and the time to start taking steps in preparing for them, so our buildings and homes can be left standing long after they have come and gone. Large destructive earthquakes will always be with us. They are certainly not going away anytime soon! If anything, they are coming at us fast and furious-Sichuan, China: May 12, 2008-Port-Au-Prince, Haiti: January 12, 2010.

Glenford S Robinson, BS, CLS (ASCP), is a Clinical Laboratory Scientist, Journalist (American Chronicle), and Staff Writer for Mstardom.com, a social networking website and articles directory providing members and visitors with up-to-the-minute news and entertainment and the opportunity to submit articles and promotional blogs for free.
Disaster Preparedness - Pakistan Red Crescent Society