Clean Water Action

California

Earthquake Preparation and Your Water

In the aftermath of the Katrina disaster, we can see Californians need to take a serious look at our need to prepare for natural disasters, mainly earthquakes, and lessen our dependency on FEMA and other local institutions. Unlike the Gulf region, there will not be a three-day warning to evacuate and our situation will be complex and include the possibility of flooding, tsunamis, collapsed structures, widespread fires, air and water contamination, injuries and fatalities.

Individuals need to take a leadership role within their communities to prepare everyone for the severity of the emergency we anticipate. The key is that everyone be prepared and organized because lack of preparation will make a bad situation even worse.

The following are actions you can take to prepare yourself, your home and workplace for the Big One.

• Earthquake Preparation -Provided is a link to the American Red Cross website with information on basic earthquake preparation plans and kits. http://www.redcross.org/prepare/makeaplan.html
• Get Involved with your Neighborhood Emergency Response Training Program (NERT) or your Community Emergency Response Training Program (CERT). These programs are sponsored by local Fire Departments in cities and towns throughout California. To get involved, call your local fire department, or go online and search NERT or CERT in your region for information on classes and meetings being held regularly.
• Know Your Drinking Water Source It is important to have an understanding of how much water may be necessary to store according to the vulnerability of your drinking water source in your area. Some people may need to store water for days, whereas, if your water is piped in from a watershed located in the Sierras, as it is with East Bay MUD, and San Francisco PUC, water may not be available for at least a week or more. Go to your local water utilities district website for this information by searching the name of your town and "water supply" (ie: San Francisco, water supply).
• Know Where you Stand - Visit the United States Geological Survey (USGS) website for information on where you are located in relation to major earthquake faults to gain a better understanding of what to expect. http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/prepare/prepare.html
• Protect Our Communities and Drinking Water from Levee Failure- Ensure our levee systems in the central valley receive the federal funds needed for upgrades. Read more about our current campaign here.

Clean Water Action is working closely with your representatives on legislation that address issues of public health, water quality and environmental protections. We encourage you to recognize the very important role you play in your community as a steward of public health and our waterways. Learn more about what we're doing in California and across the country.

Please share this important information with friends, family, and coworkers. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact our office at cwasf@cleanwater.org