Last amateur video of march 11, 2011 tsunami
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What do San Diego County residents have to know about Earthquake Insurance Policies, Risks and Costs?
Quality Claims Management views Earthquake coverage as catastrophic insurance. You will only need it if we have a really big earthquake. However, depending on where you live in San Diego and how much you have invested in your home, you may opt to get coverage. Here is what you need to know.
First, most standard homeowners, mobile home owners, condominium, and renter's insurance policies DO NOT cover earthquake damage. Similar to flood insurance, earthquake insurance usually must be purchased separately.
However, fire insurance is part of most typical homeowners insurance policies. This means your home insurance policy may cover a significant part of the damage if your home burns down or is damaged in a fire that is caused by an earthquake.
Much of the damage that often arises from an earthquake happens after the ground stops shaking. Gas lines that may have ruptured and start leaking can catch on fire and burn your home to the ground. In San Diego County, it is also very possible that your home may be consumed in a wildfire sparked caused by earthquake motion many miles away. A power line may have collapsed. A home may have caught fire because of the quake and flames traveled many miles through brush to your home.
Another major factor is water damage. Quakes often break pipes. Even small quakes can crack a water or sewer pipe that floods your home and can cause extensive damage to your floors, rugs, furniture - even to the structure of your home.
If your homeowner's insurance includes fire and flood damage, you should be covered for this "earthquake" damage - even if you don't have earthquake insurance.
Another danger from earthquakes is landslides. You may or may not be covered for this. You need to check your homeowner insurance policy to make sure of your coverage for both landslide and fires. If your home does burn down, are you fully covered? Will you be able to replace your home and all of your belongings.
Check our other articles about homeowners insurance for details about coverages and what you need to know.
Where do you get Earthquake Insurance?
The law requires insurers that sell residential property insurance within the state of California to offer earthquake coverage to their policyholders. Most of these California earthquake insurance policies are backed and administered by a government organization known as CEA - the California Earthquake Authority.
Even though most earthquake insurance policies are sold by the state-run insurance pool, a few private companies also sell earthquake coverage. In order to provide earthquake coverage, insurance companies can become a CEA participating insurance company and offer the CEA's residential earthquake policies or they can manage the risk themselves. To date, companies that sell over two-thirds of the residential property insurance in the state have opted to become CEA participating companies.
According to the CEA website, the CEA homeowners policy is designed to help get you back into your home after an earthquake. The CEA base-limits policy for homeowners includes:
Dwelling coverage - The coverage limit is the insured value of your home stated on your companion homeowner policy.
* Personal Property coverage - ,000
* Additional Living Expense/Loss of Use coverage - ,500
* You may select either a 10% or 15% deductible on your Dwelling coverage, and CEA's increased-limit options allow you to increase Personal Property coverage to as much as 0,000 and Additional Living Expense/Loss of Use coverage to as much as ,000.
Residential property insurance includes coverage for homeowners, condominium owners, mobile home owners, and renters.
Earthquake insurance is not intended for smaller losses as you must have enough damage to surpass your deductible. Even though deductibles are generally 10-15% of the amount of the Coverage A limits, it can be a little confusing to calculate the actual deductible amount since there are several factors that go into the formula.
How will your home handle an earthquake - Do you need Earthquake Insurance
- where in San Diego County do you live?
- what is under your house (rock, sand, fill, etc?)
- how is your home constructed - is it up to code and why that matters for your coverage
Age and type of construction contribute to how a residential structure reacts during an earthquake. Based on the scientific and engineering research, the CEA premiums reflect the following rating factors:
- In general, houses built on a slab perform better than those built on a raised foundation.
- One-story houses are less vulnerable to earthquake shaking than multi-story houses.
- Unreinforced masonry structures are more susceptible to damage than those of wood-frame construction.
- Houses of a certain age are not as strongly constructed as others.
The type of home you have affects your risk. One-story homes that are "tied together" -- with the roof bolted to the walls, and the walls to the foundation -- tend to survive earthquakes and windstorms better than multistory homes that aren't. As you would expect, houses with big openings, such as plate-glass windows or large garage doors, fare worse than ones without those features.
In addition, your home can be substantially fortified with some special construction measures. For many, this can be a better investment than buying earthquake insurance.
The Institute for Business and Home Safety has a Fortified For Safer Living" program that specifies building techniques that can help homes better withstand disaster.
Other California Earthquake Insurance Factors
No Known Loss Letter Requirement
In areas that have been previously affected by an earthquake or other catastrophic event, an insurer may require a "No Known Loss Letter" with all requests for earthquake insurance or to add earthquake coverage to an existing policy. These kind of letters letter confirms that no known losses or damages have already occurred to the requested coverage location(s).
DIC Policy
DIC (Difference in Conditions) insurance provides coverage designed to close specific gaps in standard insurance policies. It allows coverage to be customized to extend to such exposures as water damage, flood, collapse, earthquake, landslide, etc., according to the insured's needs. DIC coverage may be provided by means of a separate insurance policy or it may be added by endorsement to the basic policy.
Is Earthquake Insurance Right For You? How Much Equity Do You Have In Your Home?
As mentioned earlier, we view Earthquake coverage as catastrophic insurance. You will only need it if we have a really big earthquake. The more equity you have in your home, the more you need insurance.
According to UnitedPolicyHolders, a non-profit organization that fights for the rights of insurance consumers and educates individuals and businesses on how to get fair treatment, "a generally accepted rule of thumb is that you should not risk more than 10 percent of your liquid assets. A large earthquake could mean 10 to 100 percent of your home's structure could be damaged or destroyed, up to 20 percent of your belongings could be damaged, and/or you may need to come up with ,000 a month for temporary rent and relocation costs."
In San Diego, we get lots of smaller quakes on a regular basis. These are reminders to YOU to review your current coverages to be sure that you are adequately insured. Is your current homeowner's insurance up to date? Will it pay to rebuild your home to current building codes? Do you have additional coverage and riders for all the new stuff yiou may have acquired since you first bought your insurance policy?
Remember, it is far more likely you will have pipes break or fires start from the smaller earthquakes. If either of these happen, you should have coverage under your regular homeowners policy. Check to make sure it is up to date and that you have enough coverage. As a result of the 2003 and 2007 wildfires, we have found that most homeowners in San Diego are underinsured.
By the way, businesses should review their policies to be sure they have EQSL - or Sprinkler Loss coverage. There is a greater chance you will suffer damage from sprinklers leaking than from a building falling down.
by Ronald Reitz, President of Quality Claims Management
When is it Worth it to Get Earthquake Insurance?How many of you out there are feeling the pain and distress of hearing how these tornadoes, cyclones, earthquakes and wildfires are destroying many people lives? What can you as an individual or group do about this? How can America support these victims of disasters? (Something to think about) I think we should have some type of Disaster Fund from one source that supports the victims, right away.
Businesses, Families and Individuals should be able to access these funds when needed. This fund should be available in all countries and cities at one local department or business; maybe non-profit organizations can make it available. Or what about funding it through the payroll system. What do you think? Remember these disasters, whether tornado, earthquake, cyclone or wildfires can put a financial strain on those who do not have insurance. If this fund is funded through the payroll system, can it be tax deductible at the end of the year. What about setting up this account through the IRS.gov website. With these recent events we should all support in some way.
In addition, are we listening to the warning coming right from the Weather Channel? The experts Steve Lyons, who is a Hurricane Specialist and Greg Forbes a Weather Specialist constantly from day to day give us updates on this channel. It is important to listen to these experts on a day-to-day basis before you walk out you front door. We should also invest in a weather radio if we live in tornado or earthquake zone.
The latest news is that National Hurricane Center are looking for 12 to 16 named storms up to Category 3 starting June 1st. Are you Hurricane Ready?
Are You Disaster (Tornado, Cyclone, Earthquake) Ready?Scientists now agree that the likelihood of a major earthquake (magnitude of 6.7 or higher) hitting Southern California within the next 30 years is approximately inevitable. Such an event could have a catastrophic impact on our future, but with allowable preparation we can avoid some of the destruction. To generate awareness, the Earthquake Country Alliance has industrialized the annual "Great Southern California ShakeOut," an vast earthquake drill to take place this year on October 15. Millions of population have registered from businesses, schools and other organizations to partake in the drill and convention the allowable techniques to take in the event of a massive earthquake.
Get organized and take these seven protective steps:
Earthquakes are one of the most common natural disasters mankind has witnessed over time. The loss of human lives and their property is magnanimous. If you are living in an area that is naturally prone to constant seismic activities, it is wise to learn some simple safety tips to prevent or minimize any injury to yourself or your family members.
Arrange items in your homes in such a way that the fragile items or those made of glass and other breakable materials are placed on a lower surface, towards the ground instead of placing them on cupboards higher up. When there is an earthquake or a tremor, there is a minimal possibility of these objects falling on you or your family members, reducing the chances of you getting hurt.
Never place wall hangings, pictures or mirrors and glass items near your bed, sofas and other furnishing where you would be sitting or lying down. When there is a violent movement, these decorative pieces would fall on the floor directly and not on you, minimizing chances of injury.
Educate your kids about safety tips. Teach them to call 911 during an emergency and not to panic.
There are high chances of the short circuits and fire breakouts during an earthquake. Make sure you fix cracks, faulty electrical connections immediately.
During an earthquake, lie beneath a sturdy material like a table, desk, etc. Do not go near objects that could directly fall on you. Switch off electrical connections and gas. Do not use the elevator to go down. Use the staircases at all times. Do not take shelter under a tree, streetlights, electric pole or tall buildings.
If you are driving, stop your vehicle and stay put. Do not park your vehicle under a tree or any tall object.
Earthquake Safety TipsOk, so first things first. The earthquake that struck Japan last week followed by the Tsunami and subsequent aftershocks is a terrible tragedy for Japan its habitancy and all associated and affected by it. My heart goes out to the whole country.
I cannot see how anything could not be moved by the images and the scenes of destruction shown by the media.
I have been asked by my team here how this will work on us over here and in our business. Clearly our hope is that our Japanese customers are Ok and unaffected by the quake, however right now we are yet to hear.
Right now there is a huge shortage of electrical components due to the earthquake in Japan. The Financial Times (Ft) states that 30% of the worlds flash memory (our Usb's included) are made in Japan! 10-15% of D-Ram which is a key component in every personal computer also made in Japan along with practically 40% of the worlds technology components.
Toshiba Corporation, the world's second-largest maker of Nand chips after South Korea's Samsung, has halted operations at its plants in areas affected by rolling power outages. Also, Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. And Sumco Corp., which both make silicon wafers needed to furnish semiconductors, have temporarily stopped operations because of damage from the earthquake.
Clearly there will also be huge impact on the car manufactures with Honda, Toyota, and Nissan all having huge manufacturing plants production car parts in North east Japan.
When contribute goes down the price goes up, easy economics!
Any flash memory that was available to the store was brought in bulk by Apple, Dell and Hp over the weekend leaving the world with immense shortages, hence the increases we are seeing daily in the price of Usb's. It is unlikely to end in a combine of weeks and my gut feeling is that prices have some way to go before they come down again. I would advise clients to buy when they need and to accept the increases, I don't believe this qoute will be going away anytime soon!
Last Friday's earthquake and subsequent tsunami killed more than 10,000 people, while millions remain without power or adequate food. Near-freezing temperatures have forced 450,000 Japanese into shelters. Concerns continue to rise about radiation leakage from Japan's Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Despite the Japanese government pumping 3 billion of crisis funds into its economy, the country's stock store has fallen more than 10% in the last two days.
Take some time out of your day and say a prayer for the habitancy of Japan.
Simon
The Earthquake in Japan Affects Us All!We were fortunate in some respects, I had made a little book to account for earthquakes to our children and their friends. That was the way we used to teach them such things as pulling the blanket up over their heads, and it helped them stay calm. Many of the things I'm writing in this description can be applied to many natural disasters.
Children are curious, and it's hard to say how much they can suck up how soon. They need to know earthquakes are a part of nature, and if they live in a seismically active area they need to know that. Sit down with them and discuss your family's disaster plan.
When you make the earthquake kit, have them help. They will probably have some good ideas. You can discuss the reasons for many of the items at the same time.
Building Your Kit:
For the kids: Age approved foods should be included. Baby food, method and the like will have to be rotated out regularly, but it should be in there. Other baby and toddler needs contain diapers, wipes, rash cream, teething gel, teething rings, bottles, "sippy cups," pacifiers and so on should be included.
Toys: It might be wise not to show the children what toys you are putting into the kit, for two reasons. They may want to get them out before they are needed, and having a nice surprise could be a good emotional boost for them. Coloring books, drawing paper, crayons or markers are a good start. Older kids might enjoy board games, books and other age approved entertainments. If they have a hand held game (and it manages to survive the earthquake), extra batteries are a good idea.
Other Items: Food for a minimum of three days, but preferably for two weeks. Though it takes up more space, canned goods are better than dry goods, due to the possible shortage of water. Canned meats, vegetables and fruits are all good. You may want to add treat foods, both for you and the kids. Pots, pans, etc. Should be ready as well as a means to cook your food.
Water is an prominent addition. You'll need one gallon of water per someone per day minimum. Utilities could be out for as much as two weeks, so keep that in mind when calculating both food and water.
Don't forget the pets. Canned and dry pet food should be kept in your kit. If the pet is a cat, a bag of litter could be useful as well. Again, toys and treats for the pet are not a bad idea, they will be as stressed as you are, and maybe more as they don't understand what's happening.
Sanitation needs: Even if you use disposable eating products, you will still need to wash a few things. Dishsoap is a good addition. So is soap to keep yourselves clean, though you may be able to find alternatives at a backpacking store. In fact, you may find a lot of useful stuff there for your kit.
You'll need garbage bags for two reasons, and trash is only one. You can convert the bags into a means of getting rid of human waste as well. Again, the backpacking store may have better alternatives. Paper products, such as toilet paper, Kleenex and feminine supplies should be added. Paper towels are other good addition.
You'll need a collection of batteries. Flashlights and the radio are musts, though you may have a battery operated Tv, game consoles, lanterns and other battery operated products.
Clothing should be added to your kit. If the earthquake happens at night, you're not going to want to spend the next few days in your pajamas. You'll want to rotate the clothes, warmer for winter and cooler for summer. You may also want to have blankets, sleeping bags and/or a tent.
First aid and medications: Earthquakes are violent affairs, and there may be some injuries. If the quake is big enough, you may have to do some first aid while waiting for professional help. A approved kit contains pain relievers, antihistamines, bandages and the like. These are important, but you may need more. Some means to stabilize a broken bone, hold a gash together and so on are also considerations. We have a professionally put together crisis kit, plus my addition of herbal remedies that may be useful.
Prescription medications, eye glasses and other condition aids may need to be stowed in the in your kit. If you live with an older person, they could need a walker to get around. If you have room, these are very useful. Extra batteries for hearing aids should be ready if they are needed.
As you read this, you may come up with other additions to your kit. Bear in mind what I said in a former article, be specific where you store your kit. If it's not secured outside, someone very easily could swipe it. If it's in your house, you may not be able to get to it. In either case, it will do you no good.
If you are fortunate adequate to have an Rv or voyage trailer, you can use it to store your kit. This will allow you to add more things that can help articulate some level of relax in a easily uncomfortable time.
Earthquake Preparedness 3 - Helping the Kids and construction Your Earthquake KitWith an apparent increase in seismic activity lately, more and more people are talking about what to do if an earthquake should hit where they live. While some parts of the United States are more likely to be confronted with blizzards or hurricanes, it is important for countless other Americans to be ready. And unlike other disasters, where preparedness means one thing, surviving an earthquake and being prepared is a whole other scenario.
First and foremost, it is important to determine whether or not you live in a part of the country where earthquakes have been known to cause trouble. Obviously, citizens residing in California are far more likely to experience a quake than, say, those in Georgia, but this doesn't mean it isn't important to be prepared. While earthquake safety isn't a huge part of home security for Floridians, maps show that earthquakes have hit at one time or another in practically every state. There's no telling where the next one may be, so being alert is the best bet.
For those who have more of a reason to prepare, the first thing to do is consider how your house is arranged. If you have heavy bookshelves with lots of books across the room from your bed, for example, consider moving it to another part of the house. It is important to keep large, unwieldy objects away from the space where you sleep. Since earthquakes can strike at any time of the day, being in a prone position--like sleeping in a bed--is a recipe for disaster if there is furniture that can cause you harm. For the sake of your safety and home security, try to make sure larger pieces of furniture are not within falling distance of your bed.
There are a number of other ways you can prepare for an earthquake. Secure other heavy appliances to the floor, and try to keep particularly heavy objects and breakable objects at ground level and away from places you might be sitting. For example, don't hang the heaviest photograph you own over a couch where people might be sitting, but rather, choose a part of the hallway where, if an earthquake strikes, it is not liable to hit someone and cause physical trouble.
Another huge part of home security and earthquake safety is having your home well-stocked in case you end up having to stay there for an extended period of time without knowing ahead of time. Try to keep a couple day's supply of water and nonperishable food around, along with a flashlight and some batteries. It is also important to try and keep batteries and a battery-powered radio so that you can be up to date on any news that might be broadcast after things like phone lines and television lines are down. Staying informed is one of the secrets to surviving any sort of natural disaster.
During the actual earthquake, there are a number of safety tips to remember. Always stay indoors, or get indoors immediately. Try to move to the strongest, safest place in your house. Generally, this is far away from heavy objects, chimneys, and windows. Brace yourself and try to avoid any objects or debris. If you are outside, try to move away from any power lines and get away from buildings and trees that might fall down. After all, home safety is not just about your home during a natural disaster, but also the surrounding area of your yard and neighborhood.
Home Security and Natural Disasters - Earthquake Safety TipsHow can we truly forestall earthquake disasters from happening in Haiti again? We know that earthquakes will be coming again in the future. In fact, Port-Au-Prince sits on the exact location of tectonic plate and fault formation under the Earth where seismic activities occur on a regular basis causing catastrophic earthquakes, none as big as January 12, 2010, nonetheless have occurred throughout history--1860, 1770, 1761, 1751, 1684, 1673, and 1618, (United States Geological scrutinize (Usgs)).
Haiti needs proper construction codes to withstand the next devastating earthquakes. This is a must, and the international society has to step in to do all it can to sustain Haiti in this regard. The international society should see to it that all time to come buildings in Port-Au-Prince-- the epicenter of earthquakes in Haiti--be built using established construction codes that will enable buildings and homes to withstand the grand shakes of time to come earthquakes. We as the international society cannot allow such tragedy to happen again in Haiti.
In fact, previous President Clinton was a resident of the Hotel Montana while his last visit to Haiti, and the Hotel Montana was one of the hotels hardest hit by the devastating Haiti earthquake. Many citizen from other countries have perished in the Hotel Montana. This is to show us that the infrastructure of Haiti is an earthquake hazard to all of us, so all of us in the international society are compelled to come together and help a nation in need, and help it build itself stronger than ever before. Members of the international society have undoubtedly done so.
It didn't take long for our wishes to be granted. In fact, it was granted in a big way. previous president of the United States, William Clinton (Bill Clinton) has teamed up with the International Code Council (Icc), a nonprofit society that helps build safer homes and buildings that can withstand the shakes of the most grand earthquakes. The Icc establishes construction codes for builders or developers to ensue when erecting buildings and homes in the United States and other parts of the world. These construction codes are created to help buildings and homes withstand the effects of Earthquakes and other natural disasters. Such construction codes will be of utmost point in the rebuilding efforts of Haiti.
The Icc receives donations through its foundation (Iccf) to subsidize construction assignments in places and situations such as Haiti. While it will be quite some time before the rescue tools and resources arrive in Haiti, the International Code Council is nevertheless using its relationships with the United Nations and the efforts being coordinated by previous President William Clinton to help rebuild the devastated nation of Haiti and to cut time to come destruction, fatalities, injuries, and asset damage from earthquakes and other natural disasters that may occur in the future, (Icc).
In greater detail, the International Code Council is a nonprofit, membership society composed of construction code officials from construction inspectors to fire suppression officials. A direct list of these officials is as follows: architects, engineers, developers, construction owners, and others complicated in construction safe communities.
The Code Council develops model construction codes adopted in all 50 States of the United States. These, construction codes are whether adapted or used as resources in other countries nearby the world including nations in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia and the Middle East. The group of International construction Codes includes definite sections pertaining to natural hazards, which are ordinarily updated to coordinate with U.S. Federal agencies and to reflect current data and field experience, (Icc).
According to the Icc, smart application of proven seismic security law to rebuild Port-Au-Prince and other Haitian communities are encouraged. It is common knowledge that damage, fatalities, and injuries from earthquakes can be reduced by adapting proper construction code guidelines and enforcing them forcefully, (Icc).
Haiti will be getting the best construction code technology to rebuild itself. The nation will be getting construction code technology advanced from knowledge and data received from earthquakes in earthquake-prone areas of the United States. This technology includes positive create and construction approaches that sass hazards and risks related with heavy earthquakes. Such construction codes and guidelines will be enforced by the International Code Council to ensure safe constructions of buildings and houses, (Icc). Builders who hire proper construction code guidelines when construction in seismically active regions know the value of these codes and the techniques to ensure their efficient enforcement, (Icc).
Studies have shown that although it cost more to build earthquake-proof homes, every dollar spent on construction safer and stronger homes or buildings, prevents four to seven dollars in time to come losses, (Icc). The extreme goal of the Icc is to support the efforts of the U.S. State department and other federal agencies, along with the United Nations and other international relief organizations, to make sure that Haiti is rebuilt in a manner that creates disaster resilience caused earthquakes, (Icc). According to the International Code Council, the seismic provisions of the International Codes are ordinarily updated to reflect the latest knowledge about earthquake dynamics and construction behavior, and can function as an leading tool in the Haiti earthquake disaster relief efforts. The Code Council will be providing written materials, subject-matter expertise, and pro amelioration to ensure that Haiti is rebuilt for the long haul, (Icc). The events in Haiti once again show us that any rebuilding efforts should involve construction that utilizes the best available facts and technology on construction codes and construction code enforcement guidelines, (Icc).
The Icc implied that earthquake events of similar magnitude have distinct impacts based on how ready a nation and society is in managing the built environment-high rise buildings in cities and private homes. The more ready the least the casualties, and the least prepared, the more the casualties-Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. In Haiti's case it was not ready because its government and citizen did not have the financial resources needed to come to be prepared. The International Code Council's construction codes for Haiti are therefore intended to protect citizen inside buildings when time to come earthquakes struck again by preventing the easy collapse of buildings and houses to allow for safe evacuations. It was because buildings collapsed so indubitably why so many citizen lost their lives in Haiti. Structures built following the most modern construction codes should resist minor earthquakes without suffering damage by riding out severe earthquakes without collapsing According to the Icc. Structures in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti did not ensue any modern construction codes that would have helped buildings or houses resist the tremors of the heavy earthquake of January 12, 2010. China's 7.9-magnitude earthquake was devastating, but with less casualties than Haiti's 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
The Icc and the international society are pouring out their hearts with support and prayers to the citizen of Haiti. Never in history as there been so much international support for a nation and citizen in such distress. It is fabulous to see the comprehensive international support for the citizen of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and the most devastated ever, in this region of the world.
The Haiti earthquake of January 12, 2010 was devastating, but history tells us that there could be more big ones in years to come. Port-Au-Prince sits exactly in the epicenter or hotspot of earthquake activities in Haiti. So, there will be more earthquakes coming in the future, big or small; they will be coming. Therefore, now is the time for the country of Haiti to go into making ready mode, so when the next one comes, the country's construction infrastructure will be able to withstand the tremors or shakes of the largest of them all, and therefore give its citizens the costly moments they will need to escape before their buildings or homes fall and crush them. Haiti cannot make this happened without help from the international community. So, by President Clinton and the Icc stepping in to lend a helping hand to Haiti's rebuilding efforts, we can be assured that the citizen of Haiti will be fully ready for the next heavy earthquake whenever it comes.
If whatever would like to donate on profit of the Haiti earthquake rebuilding or relief efforts, please do so by donating to the International Code Council Foundation, the Redcross, Unicef, or other credible sources.
How Can We preclude the Next Big Haiti Earthquake?Not all earthquakes are alike. How it feels depends on where you are at the time, what you're doing and how intense the shaking is. Here are a few of those I've experienced.
Whittier Narrows: This was a moderate quake, but we were quite some length away. We were at the local donut shop, eating morning meal when it hit. Our seats were next to the plate glass window. At first, I wasn't even sure what was going on.
The man and woman who owned the shop easily knew. He was out of the kitchen where he'd been frying donuts faster than I idea he could move. Before I knew it, he was wheeling the stroller our toddler daughters were sitting in out of the store and she'd grabbed my arm to move me out and away from the window. Then the ground easily did some rolling. Quite an introduction.
Landers/Big Bear: Again, we were quite some length from the quake. It woke us up, and the house sort of jiggled like jello for a long time. It was scary, but too far away for us to have damage. We also felt the second jolt, the one in Big Bear. That one was closer and did a small more rocking and rolling. I'd call it like trying to get your sea legs once you get on a boat.
Northridge: I *never* want to go through something like that again. In fact, as soon as the ground stopped moving, I strongly suggested we move elsewhere. There are a consolidate of ways I can spin the sensation. Have you ever watched your laundry go through the cycles, or seen the dryer tumbling clothes? That's a fairly good fit.
I was sound asleep when it started, so I didn't feel the mild, warning jiggle. I woke up to thunderous noise, the sound of things crashing nearby me and the most violent shaking I could ever imagine. It seemed to go on forever. We could also see transformers going out and power lines arcing when we opened our eyes.
When we ultimately got everybody together and go outside, it was eerie. The only lights illustrated (aside from stars) were those power lines and the police cars that streamed down the road on a regular basis, checking for problem areas. Our road is a main thoroughfare, so we saw a lot of them.
What we could hear, aside from the occasional scream, were car alarms. Every single one in our area was going off at once. It took quite some time before the owners were able to still them. I think that lasted about an hour.
What we saw and felt that day is hard to put into words. The most spectacular, sight of all, however, came late in the afternoon. There is a mountain north of our city that used to look a lot like halfdome in Yosemite. An aftershock hit it, and it slid. We could see it from the start, the dirt pouring down the cliffside, and then the dust from it came over our area and we all had to go inside. Amazing.
I have been through many disasters. I was in Cleveland when an F5 killed 200 habitancy there. I was in a flood that left some counties in Wv underwater. I've even experienced being covering in a blizzard. I can tell you this; earthquakes beat all of those experiences hands down.
What It Feels Like to Be in an EarthquakeTectonic events such as a 5.8 earthquake in California and a volcano eruption in Washington - riveted our attention. But they failed to match the New Madrid Quakes of Dec. 1811-Feb. 1812 that caused the mighty Mississippi River briefly to flow backward.
Consider the eyewitness deposition of Firmin La Roche, a French fur trader of St. Louis.
The frontier west of the Mississippi had been sold by France to the United States just eight years before the quake. Missouri was a territory, not yet a state.
LaRoche's account - preserved in the Missouri Historical Review archives -- was written in New Orleans Feb. 20, 1812, when after-shocks were still frequent. He had just completed a disastrous journey that started with three flat-boats:
Sound Like Thunder
"I was present at the earthquake which lately occurred above and below the mouth of the River Ohio, along both shores of the River Mississippi.
"I was taking three boats to New Orleans with some furs bought in St. Louis. On the evening of Dec. 15, we tied up eight miles north of New Madrid near the house of my cousin, John LeClerq.
"There were with me the Fr. Joseph of the Mission to the Osages, returning home to France -- also Jaques Menier, Dominic Berges, Leon Sarpy, Henry Lamel, five other men and the Negro slave, Ben, who was killed at New Madrid.
"After we had supper, we went to sleep. I was awakened by a crash like thunder. The boat turned upon its side so that Lamel, who slept beside, was thrown on me. We fell against the side. It was very dark.
"We got away from the bank in about a half hour, and I looked at my watch. It was 3 o'clock. I could see trees on the shore falling down. Great masses of earth tumbled into the river.
"Lamel cut the rope that tied us to a log. In a moment, so great a wave come up the river that I never seen one like it at sea. It carried us back north, up-stream, for more than a mile. The water spread out upon the banks -- covering three or four miles inland.
"It was a current going backward. Then this wave stopped, and slowly the river went right again.
"Everywhere there was noise like thunder. The ground was shaking the trees down. The air was thick with something like smoke. There was much lightning.
"We believed we must surely die. Fr. Joseph gave absolution. We did not see either of the other two boats. One of them we never saw again - nor do I know whether the men in them were drowned. We were all in great terror, expecting death.
"Trees were thrown down. People said great cracks in the soil - some very deep - stretched 10 or 15 miles. "We were told there is a new lake in Tennessee (Reelfoot) and the water courses there have been changed. The River Yazoo has a new mouth.
"I was in great pain with a broken arm. Of those who were with me, there is not but Father Joseph. My personal loss I make to be 0 (about ,000 by today's currency.)"
A Priest's Recollection
In an appendage to La Rouche's account, Father Joseph stated:
"I think there were two great shocks about half an hour apart and many small ones between and after. The water rose so that a tree on the bank -- whose top must have been 30 feet above the river level -- was covered all over.
"We saw two houses on fire on the left bank. When we came to New Madrid, there were homes also burning there.
"We tied up to the shore about dawn, and a hickory tree fell upon the boat - killing the negro, Ben, and breaking the left arm of the patron LaRouche.
"We made no effort to find out how many people had been killed, although it was told us that many were. We saw dead bodies of several. Afterwards we saw drowned persons floating in the river.
"The fur loads were thrown into the river by the people who crowded into the vessel with us until we could take no more."
Another Account
Another eyewitness account (edited here for brevity) was deposed by Eliza Bryan, a New Madrid resident, four years after the event.
"On December 16, 1811, about 2 a.m., we were visited by a violent shock of an earthquake. It was accompanied by a very awful noise resembling loud but distant thunder, but more hoarse and vibration.
"This was followed in a few minutes by the complete saturation of the atmosphere with sulphurous vapor, causing total darkness.
"Truly horrible was the screams of the affrighted inhabitants running to and fro, not knowing where to go, of what to do - the cries of the fowls and beasts of every species - the cracking of trees falling -- and the roaring of the Mississippi which was retrograde for a few minutes.
"Inhabitants fled in every direction, supposing that there was less danger at a distance than near the river.
"There were several, lighter shocks daily until the 23rd of January 1812. Then, one occurred as violent as the severest of the former ones.
"From this time until the 4th of February, the earth was in continual agitation - visibly waving as a gentle sea.
"On Feb. 7, about 4 a.m., a concussion took place so much more violent than those that had proceeded it, that it was denominated 'the hard shock.'
"The awful darkness of the atmosphere saturated with sulphurous vapor, and the violence of the tempestuous thundering noise, formed a scene beyond imagination.
"At first, the Mississippi seemed to recede from its banks - its waters gathering up like a mountain. For a moment, many boats which were on their way to New Orleans were left on bare sand. The poor sailors made their escape from them.
"The river then rose 15 to 20 feet perpendicularly, and expanded. The banks overflowed with the retrograde current. Boats that had been left on sand now were torn from their moorings.
"The river falling as rapidly as it had risen, took with it whole groves of cottonwood trees. A great many fish were left on the banks.
"In all the hard shocks, the earth was horribly torn to pieces. Hundreds of acres were covered over by sand that issued from the fissures. In some places, there was a substance resembling coal.
"Lately it has been discovered that a lake (Reelfoot) was formed on the opposite side of the Mississippi in Indian country ( west Tennessee). It is upward of 100 miles in length, one to six miles wide, and depths of 10 to 50 feet.
"For eighteen months, we were constrained by the fear that our houses would fall from the continuing shocks and so lived in little, light camps. Some people fled, never to return, but most drifted back."
Giant Earth Fault
The U.S. Geological Survey rates the three main quakes in the central Mississippi valley in the winter of 1811-12 as "the most powerful in U.S. history."
There were no seismographs back then. However, the extent of land changes indicate three, closely related, quakes -- magnitudes of 8 or more on the Richter seismograph scale of ten-fold points.
Most powerful quake of record is the Richter 8.4 for the Alaska quake of 1964.
USGS says, "Earthquakes in the central United States affect much larger areas than earthquakes of similar magnitude in the western U.S.
"The San Francisco, Calif., earthquake of 1906 (magnitude 7.8) was felt 350 miles away. The first New Madrid earthquake rang church bells in Boston, Mass., a thousand miles away."
New Madrid in 1811 consisted of 400 log cabins. St. Louis and Memphis were small towns. "Should a category-8 quake occur there today, those cities would be mostly destroyed and thousands of people killed," says U.S.G.S.
Last year, 470 measurable quakes were recorded in the Central Mississippi valley.
Warning by USGS: "The probability of a magnitude 6 to 7 earthquake occurring in the New Madrid seismic zone within the next 50 years is higher than 90 percent."
Question:
Which is worst - hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, forest fires, mud slides, volcanoes or earth quakes?
When the Mississippi Flowed BackwardThe past decade has shown the highest number of earthquakes hitting the globe. The catastrophic quakes seen in many parts of the world, together with tsunamis, have shown any numbers of people dying. Many have lost homes and many have lost their families. Agreeing to many geotechnical consultants, human activities may also corollary in earthquakes. A geotechnical consultant might advise coal mining to be the cause of it. Similarly, oil and gas yield are also plan to be the reasons for this. However, many still agree to the fact that earthquakes are a natural process.
The rising number of earthquakes occurring has spread a worldwide terror in the minds of people. The disasters caused by earthquakes are a surmise for this. This high frequency of earthquakes makes it principal for you to derive permissible knowledge about how you can keep yourself safe before and after an earthquake hits your area.
You might not know when an earthquake would hit you. Therefore, you must be ready for it beforehand. First of all you must look for a safe spot in your house. A safe spot in your house may be any area that will corollary in lesser number of objects falling on you in case the earthquake is a huge hit. Safe places may be under the desk, beams, hallways or archways. You must make sure your house is trained adequate to do that as well.
You must especially teach your children how to act and how to be safe when an earthquake hits. Many schools custom crisis drills to teach children about what show the way to corollary while an earthquake. Next, you will have to have an evacuation plan. This plan will let you and your house in fly safely to an area that is safe while an earthquake.
When an earthquake strikes, do not panic at all! Do not run in a haphazard manner. This will only make matters worse. While you run, you may also fall and once you have fallen, getting up and sharp on again will take more time than you can spare. Stay calm and move to the safe spot in your house. Sit under a table or near a door and cover your head and neck with your arms.
Next, you should start sharp alongside the walls to the evacuation area. If you are stuck inside, stay away from shelves, book cases, huge wall hangings, chandeliers, etc. Stay away from any huge object that is likely to fall on you. Keep your head protected with your arms while you do this. Once you are out, stand in an empty area away from trees, power cables, tall buildings, walls and billboards.
Once the earthquake is over, you should start securing your belongings. Fix all the appliances that have been damaged due to the earthquake and put latches on your drawers and cabinets. Fix any damages done to gas or electrical connection. If not fixed properly, this may lead to some serious hazards.
Overall, an earthquake is a tragic event and may corollary in a lot of damage around you. Not only is that damage physical, but it is also emotional to the people who have been straight through it. Stay calm and stay protected and ensure the protection of yourself and the others around you.
How to Stay Safe When Hit by an EarthquakeIs it possible that the Chile earthquake coupled with the Haiti earthquake, are precursors of the coming 2012 Mayan calamity? A growing number of internet searches suggest that the thought is catching on.
Without a doubt, these two earthquakes have shocked and horrified the world like nothing else in recent history. The degree of damage and the astronomical loss of life is staggering. Many of us, including this author, know people who are living and serving in those countries. These catastrophies have hit very close to home.
But do these tragedies necessarily prove that something of a grander scale is coming in 2012? Are they a pre-cursor? Of course, only history will tell. But there are some things we can be sure of.
1. There is no proof that any calamity is going to happen in 2012.
2. The Bible is still true, no matter what happens in our hemisphere this year, or in 2012.
3. People who look to the "super natural" or the "occult" will always be fooled and deceived.
4. We should look to the infallible, inerrant, perfect Word of God (The Bible) for answers when tragedies of this nature occur.
5. Earthquakes have occurred from the beginning of time, and shall continue until Revelation 16:18 when THE BIG ONE hits, according to the Bible.
6. Instead of allowing our hearts to fill with fear and trepidation when "Acts of God" come our way, we should turn our hearts to the Lord Jesus, and give Him His rightful place in our life as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
There is hope and comfort in God's Word for times like these.
Are the Chile and Haiti Earthquakes Related to the 2012 Mayan Calendar?We all know that earthquakes results into serious property damages to survivors. Hence, this is already considered by any insurance companies and is giving out an insurance policy to any damages caused by earthquakes. In other words, people can apply for earthquake insurance alone. Meaning, this is a separate insurance for a damage caused by earthquake and not of any other disaster otherwise, it will not be granted.
However, we do not know yet what are the specific costs that a person can get from earthquake insurance. Insurance companies need to check or examine first what type of house or building needs to be recovered by their company. An earthquake insurance covers all the repairs and restructuring of your home or building. They will provide you with all the necessary tools and materials needed to reconstruct your house and provide you with the necessary expenses you need while you are still coping or recovering your home. However, earthquake insurance has much higher deductibles compared to typical or common house insurance. To make a clearer breakdown for earthquake insurance, here is the list for you to know.
Replacement value of the total damage of the building or house is set into premiums that are in multiple bases with an amount of 00. Costs per material vary on some other states. Others will calculate wood frame and brick with the costs of and $ 5 respectively per 00 replacement value. Some has and per 00 replacement value while others will compute it depending on the building construction and considers how old it is. There are states that have an Earthquake Authority that can give specific costs for each damage and can give a clearer breakdown to a certain damage claim.
There are insurance companies that can suggest you improve your building construction or the built of your house. They can even help you minimize the damage and other premiums. You may visit online to check and see more answers to your questions in case of this type of disaster.
Each and every state is going to be different when it comes down to insurance. If you want to get a quote, it would be advisable that you call up a few companies to see what they can do for you. W hat you're going to find out is that there are a lot of options that you can take when you want to compare insurance quotes.
How Much Does Earthquake Insurance Cost?An earthquake can strike any time and better preparedness for an earthquake can ensure your safety and your family's safety. During an earthquake, one can feel vibration of the ground, noise which progressively grows louder, swaying sensation etc. Most injuries and deaths from earthquake are due to falling objects and debris, especially near the entry and exit points. Knowing how an earthquake can affect you and planning to deal with it beforehand can greatly reduce the chances of injury and death.
Emergency preparedness for an earthquake involves discussing with your family about steps to take when an earthquake occurs. When people are filled with panic and fear during an earthquake, they tend to act in an improper way. Planning to deal with an earthquake before it occurs can enable your family to act in the best possible way when the earthquake strikes.
Top 10 Emergency Preparedness For an Earthquake:
Here are the top 10 emergency preparedness tips for an earthquake:
Know the safe spots in your home: Safe spots are those places where there is a minimal chance of an object and debris falling from above. Some examples of safe spots are hallways, archways, room corners, spots under heavy tables, desks etc. Practice Safety Drills With Your Family: Safety drills are the actions one has to take during an earthquake. Some of the safety drills you can practice with your family are - getting under heavy table or desk; covering one's face with arms; staying clear of places where objects can fall; standing or crouching in safe spots, corners, and strongly supported doorways. Evacuation Plans: An evacuation plan enables your family to escape during the first signs of emergency. You can discuss and come up with a sketch of an evacuation plan for your house. You can also include a second evacuation plan. Repair: Leaky gas connections, improper electrical wiring and defective utility services can be hazardous during emergency. So, make sure you repair such problems in your home by seeking professional help. Anchor the appliances, fixtures: Anchor the appliances such as refrigerator, gas equipment, furnace, water heater etc. firmly to the wall. Overhead lightning fixtures should also be anchored. This will minimize the falling of objects during an earthquake. Put Heavy Objects in Lower shelves: Heavy objects, breakables such as china, glass etc. should be placed in lower shelves. This will prevent them from falling and causing injuries during an earthquake. Make a list of important information: Write down important such as important telephone numbers, vehicle numbers, medications list, bank account numbers etc. and put them in a secure place. Make a priority List: Make a priority list which details the actions to be done when an earthquake strikes. Your list can include important things to carry such as food, utilities etc., turning off utilities, locking doors, using fire extinguisher etc. Store Important Documents: Store important documents such as insurance policies, education certificates, birth certificates, wills etc. in a fire-proof safe. Ensure your home has stable foundation: Make sure your home has a strong foundation. Also take up any repairs if necessary.
Emergency preparedness for an earthquake minimizes injury, damage to your home and increases your safety. So, make sure you prepare yourself beforehand to escape the disastrous affects of an earthquake.
Top 10 Emergency Preparedness For an Earthquake