After an Earthquake you need to do an immediate damage assessment. First go turn off the gas if you smell anything, a leaky gas line could explode and take out your entire home and your cats nine lives. Look for cracks in the slab or any areas where the house carpet is lifted up. Then walk around the exterior of the house, what do you see? Do you see downed fences, retaining walls, support structures holding up the garage at weird angles or any areas where your house was knocked off its foundation? Look also for water pipes which have been broken, if so shut off the main water line coming into the house. If there is extensive damage then that means the other neighbors have also and the entire area.

When entire neighborhoods are damaged and cities you have to worry about chaos and riots, form a group with your neighbors and block off the street with cars if you live in a culd-a-sac. Expect more after shocks. Instruct your family to ration water, fill up your bathtubs with water now incase main water lines to the city have broken. Join in with your neighbors to form a support group and access all damage and get with other neighbors near by and find out what is going on. In the event of power outages, instruct all neighbors to turn off all appliances so it does not spike the system when everything turns back on. If the power is still out after several hours; figure out a plan for food and BBQs and have a street party, but do not waste your food; stick together and ride it out. Also plan what to do incase of huge fires or forced evacuation. Have a care package ready for your entire family for 5-days food and have it easily portable incase you have to pack up the SUV to get out of dodge. The best time to plan home security in the event of an Earthquake is before it happens, so think on this.

"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs