8 months ago
SACRAMENTO, CA -- Local emergency workers want to remind Californians to be prepared for a major disaster closer to home.
The U.S. Geological Survey says California has more than a 99 percent chance of a major, catastrophic earthquake in the next 30 years. Though most people have heard the warnings, a lot of people are still unprepared.
The California Office of Emergency Services recommends creating a kit with 3 days worth of food, water, and medicine. Once you have that kit together, the OES says your vehicle is a good place to store it, preferably in a backpack. That way it will be with you if you are on the road, or in your garage if an emergency hits while you're at home.
Gary Dietrich, with the local organization Safely Out, spent time in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. He reiterated the importance of having a plan.
"You need to especially make sure that your most vulnerable have a way to get out and help if they need it," said Dietrich. "That is frail, elderly, people with disabilities, or young children. If you're not around, who's going to help them get to safety?"
He recommended keeping contact numbers with you at all times, including email addresses in case your phones don't work. He also said you should keep your emergency plan simple, especially for children.
by Anne Makovec, amakovec@news10.net
News10/KXTV
