Prepared for the Next Big Earthquake?

Researchers recently uncovered evidence of prehistoric earthquakes--up to 15 times more powerful than the 1994 Northridge temblor--on a section of the Sierra Madre fault that runs through Loma Alta Park in Altadena, about 11 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.

The possibility of such a massive earthquake occurring near an urban area, experts said, should be enough to prompt a reassessment of earthquake preparedness and emergency management plans for the entire region.

KARIMA A. HAYNES asked three survivors of the Northridge quake what they have done to prepare for future major earthquakes.

MARLENA D’AMICO

Administrative assistant, Porter Ranch

The earthquake made us aware that if our house did collapse, burst into flames or whatever, we would have nothing but our van. That was a real eye-opener for us.

After the earthquake, we took steps to prepare for the next one. We prepared an earthquake emergency kit--a small trunk with all the day-to-day necessities: toothbrushes, toothpaste, towels, paper plates, canned goods, bar soap, shampoo and extra clothing for the children. In addition, we have a supply of batteries, flashlights and a radio.

By the bedside, we have extra pair of shoes and flashlights. We don’t close our bedroom doors because they could get jammed and we could be trapped inside and not be able to get to the children’s rooms.

We also go through an action plan on a regular basis with the kids. We tell them what they should do if we are not at home and they are with a sitter. We tell them to hide under a desk or in an archway and to tell the neighbor next door that they are home with a sitter.

The van is equipped with blankets, sets of clothes and a first-aid kit. We try to keep a good amount of gas in the van at all times. Last time, I had no gas and it was a problem. We also make sure we have some cash.

All our free-standing furniture is strapped to the wall and our decorative breakables are tacked down with earthquake glue. The good china is protected with bubble wrap so that it doesn’t slide.

KAREN PENN

Northridge homemaker

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We moved closer to the epicenter of the 1994 Northridge earthquake because we feel that the chance of it hitting really hard here again any time soon are slim.

After the earthquake, housing was a lot cheaper and we found that we could afford the house that we really wanted, whereas before we couldn’t.

When we were looking at houses, we vowed never to move into a two-story house because it seemed two-story houses suffered the most damage. We didn’t look at houses that were built on land that had been filled in. After the earthquake, there was a big difference [in damage] between the houses that had been built on even ground and those that were built on land that had been filled in; they were not as solid and shifted a little more.

We have bolted our hutches, bookcases and other heavy objects to the wall. We didn’t do that before and that was a big source of problems.

ROSEMARY SATO

Northridge homemaker

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We have a supply of water, we’ve bolted the china cabinet to the wall and we’ve glued the figurines. We also installed new light fixtures and heavier front doors.

I really can’t say that I have done a lot to prepare for the next one. When it hits, everything is going to shake and I can’t say that it is going to be any safer.

I think about how all of my fine china and crystal glassware that were gifts from friends, that I never let my kids touch, was smashed. I filled up six barrels of broken glass and china.

People asked me how I was going to replace those things. I have no intention of replacing them. They are only material things. That quake was a wake-up call: We know now that our lives are more important. The fine china doesn’t mean a darn thing. As far as what I lost, forget it. We need to stop taking the important things for granted.