Shake, rattle, and be ready

This week we got to learn what happens when an earthquake shakes up the east coast, when a 5.8 magnitude quake hit Virginia and was felt around the world. Well, not really on that last part, but based on the reactions on Facebook, Twitter, the blogosphere, and the regular old media sites, you would be excused for thinking so.

Not to be outdone by some cold, old east coast fault lines, the Bay Area responded with a little shaker of its own — a mere 3.6 — a few hours later. And now, back across the country, Hurricane Irene is about to kick some serious coastal butt as it goes up the eastern seaboard.

Which leads me to my “be prepared” soapbox.

Do you have your disaster kit prepared? The city of San Francisco has a website – 72hours.org — that tells you what you’ll need in case of a major disaster, which in San Francisco is likely to be an earthquake (or the cancellation of The Real Housewives of Orange County).

Here’s what you need:

• Water — one gallon per person per day
• Food — ready to eat or requiring minimal water
• Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
• Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
• First Aid kit & instructions
• A copy of important documents & phone numbers
• Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
• Heavy work gloves
• Disposable camera
• Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
• Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
• Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
• Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
• Blanket or sleeping bag
• Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
• Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.