There is a group in Sooke that keeps track of all of the rumblings, booms and rattles that shake Sooke. It’s sort of a citizen’s Richter scale, and there are comments on the site each and every day. Some of the rattles are from aircraft in the U.S., some are from construction blasting and some are from minor earthquakes. Some are unexplained.
With the heightened awareness of earthquakes and tsunamis, there is a push on for people to prepare an emergency kit. It’s a really good idea.
Many of us have the notion that a major earthquake won’t happen in our lifetime, or people are blissfully ignorant of the consequences. Whether it happens in the immediate future or not isn’t the point. The point is to be prepared for any type of emergency. In 2006 when the windstorm hit Sooke many were without electricity for days. Without electricity what would you do? How reliant are you on it? What’s your alternative source? It’s not just about what happens in the home. Roads were blocked by fallen trees and debris. It did look like a war had been fought all along West Coast Road. Well, this is just a small window on what it would look like if an earthquake or tsunami happens.
No one is suggesting that the sky is falling, the sky is falling, but being prepared is not a bad idea. The suggestions made by Al Wickheim on page 5 are for every type of emergency. It would be a good time to pack up some essentials and organize things so if some emergency did happen, you would be prepared with the basics. It’s a great effort he is making to get retailers to discount items one might have in an emergency kit. You can start filling up the emergency kit at any time.
Just as we prepare our families in case of fire, it would be wise to extend the same preparedness in case of a major emergency. It isn’t about being paranoid, it’s about being smart.