Are You Ready to Shake, Rattle and Roll?

Yesterday's earthquakes on the East Coast and in Colorado were clearly unexpected (and thank goodness the damage wasn't too extensive). Those of us on the West Coast are a little more acclimated, shall we say, to the idea of the earth moving under our feet. We remember rather vividly what to do when a quake starts - go to the nearest doorway, dive under your desk and avoid anything that could fall on you. Despite the fact that we know what to do, the yesterday's pair of earthquakes serve as a reminder that we do need to prepare more than just a sturdy object to "duck and cover" under.

The Seattle PI has a put together a few articles about Washington State's readiness for an earthquake - including the fun fact that Washington is second highest state for earthquake coverage after, of course, California. Here's one article that most homeowners should glance at since it outlines the 5 steps homeowners should take to make their homes quake-safe: http://bit.ly/n6ux0r.

For those of you more interested in where the quakes can happen, this graphic from the US Geological Service shows earthquake risks across the country. Their site also has a lot of information about recent quakes, and possible risks.

While we haven't had a serious earthquake in many years, preparing your home and family for one is increasingly important. We've toughed out a few big quakes in Seattle in the past, so the possibility that we could face another one is very real. If you're like me, the events yesterday on the East Coast and in Colorado got you thinking about what to do to get ready for a bit of shaking. These are just a few resources for you - there are many more out there and I'm sure in the wake of yesterday's seismic activity, there will be an increasing focus in the news on earthquake preparedness.