Prepare before you shake, rattle and roll

People are still talking about where they were when a magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck at 11:42 a.m. July 29. Though the epicenter was near the city of Chino Hills in San Bernardino County, folks in Conejo Valley felt it and got a reminder that the earth can move at any time.

"Because of the time it hit, most people were at work and might not have thought beforehand about what they would do," said Bill Nash, Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson.

The rules are the same as at home: Get to a safe place, away from windows and heavy objects like file cabinets, he said.

"Get up close next to, rather than under, a solid table or other furniture," Nash said.

People used to think getting under a table or desk was the right thing to do, but research has shown it's safer to hunker down beside sturdy furniture. Sometimes tables can collapse, he said.

He also suggested keeping emergency supplies in vehicles, in case a quake occurs during work hours.

"It may be a while before you can get home," Nash noted.

Those who recall the 1994 middle-of-the-night Northridge quake may still have an extra pair of shoes stuck with Velcro to the wall beside their bed. For those who don't, Nash reminds them that after an earthquake the floor could be covered with broken glass.

"Keep a pair of shoes next to your bed, handy on the floor," he said.

Emergency preparedness includes pets, too. Pets need food, medicine, a leash and a cage after an earthquake, Nash said.

Those who have a 72-hour kit ready at home and in their vehicles help first responders by being selfreliant so disaster relief can be focused on people who desperately need help, he said.

"A 72-hour kit is a simple thing for everybody to do, and it will give them some level of comfort when they need it most," said Chris Johnson, CEO of American Red Cross Ventura County.

The kit should contain water, food, toilet items, firstaid supplies, clothing, bedding, tools, medicine for those with medical conditions and other items that could be helpful.

The Red Cross provides lists to help people prepare.

Families should agree on an out-of-the-area phone number to call and check in after a disaster, Johnson said.

"If your phone is not usable after a disaster, don't panic; that happens," he said.

Families should talk about where to go and what to do after a disaster so they know where they'll meet, he said

Red Cross officials will visit businesses and community groups and give free educational classes on how to prepare.

For information, call (805) 339-2234 or visit the website at www.prepare.org or another one at www.ARCventura.org.

Johnson also suggests people volunteer for emergency response and recovery groups.

Thousand Oaks has several such groups, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which formed in 2005 and now has more than 150 people certified. CERT's next classes begin Sept. 11.

For information, e-mail tocertclass@yahoo.com.

The Disaster Assistance Response Team also trains people to help after a disaster. DART began in Thousand Oaks in 1992 and has 40 active members. For information, call (805) 3901278 or email DARTclasses@todart.org.

The Red Cross offers a group called the Disaster Action Team, which can be reached by visiting www.ARCventura.org.

The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services group is made up of radio experts, who may be the only ones able to connect to the outside world after a major disaster. RACES offers classes for beginners and organizes those with experience to help in emergencies. For details, e-mail Kj6rz @verizon.net. Other disaster relief organization efforts can be found at www.toaks.org.

"The time to prepare is before it happens. Preparation can save a life," Nash said.