Home & Garden Columns
Quake Tip of the Week
Don’t Blame Uncle Hayward
Carol Lonergan of Oakland got an unwelcome birthday present just before Christmas, when the Hayward Fault gifted her and the rest of us with a 3.7 quake, one of three that week.
The New York native didn’t like it one bit: “we felt that sickening boom and shaking, like the house had been rear-ended in slow traffic.”
What a perfect description.
When Uncle Hayward just can’t take the pressure any more and finally ruptures, we can’t say he didn’t warn us. Some of us are comfortable just ignoring the gentle (but sickening?) reminders, but others, thankfully, have decided to no longer put off having their retrofit checked, installing an automatic gas shut-off valve, securing furniture, and buying emergency kits.
This is the time. Let’s do it.
Larry Guillot is owner of QuakePrepare, an earthquake consulting, securing, and kit supply service. Call him at 558-3299, or visit www.quakeprepare.com.
