Latest Earthquakes in the World – Past 7 days

You’ve probably noticed that the frequency of major earthquakes around the world has increased. There have been many 5.0 and above earthquakes already in 2010.

Here is a list of some of the major earthquakes of 2010 from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program website:

• Magnitude 5.9 EASTERN TURKEY March 08, 2010
• Magnitude 6.6 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE March 05, 2010
• Magnitude 6.5 SOUTHWEST OF SUMATRA, INDONESIA March 05, 2010
• Magnitude 8.8 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE February 27, 2010
• Magnitude 7.0 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN February 26, 2010
• Magnitude 6.9 CHINA-RUSSIA-NORTH KOREA BORDER REGION February 18, 2010
• Magnitude 5.9 OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA February 04, 2010
• Magnitude 7.0 HAITI REGION January 12, 2010

This clearly underlines the need for emergency preparedness in governments from federal all the way down to the local level, but also of citizens. We must take preparedness steps in order to safeguard our families.

When you create a plan to survive, you are likely to survive. Start with 72-Hour Emergency Kits and 72-hour Emergency Meal Kits.

Please take time and prepare your family for the unexpected.

Here is a link to the USGS website:

USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

Executive 72 Hour Survival Kit with Solar Radio

In reading many articles on the Haiti earthquake, where survivors talked about their ordeal, one thing became clear. There are three items you must have available in your emergency preparedness supplies. You should apply this suggestion to your 72-hour kits.

Here are the three items:

1. Full, Unbreakable Water Bottle
2. Whistle
3. Respirator Mask (even if it’s just an N-95)

The water is self-explanatory. The whistle is needed for signaling, whether trapped in earthquake rubble, or lost in a forest. A respirator mask is essential as toxic fumes and dust are often released in large disaster situations.

You may be thinking you wouldn’t always have your 72-hour kit with you when disaster strikes. I’m just saying to think about this, add the items to your 72-hour kits, or office desk, or vehicles.

A little preparedness goes a long way.

Epicenter of Chile Earthquake

There are interesting comparisons between the Haitian earthquake and the recent Chilean earthquake. First, here are some facts.

The Chile earthquake was 500 times stronger than the one in Haiti, but was 22 miles underground and spread over a predominately agricultural area.

The Haiti earthquake was shallower at only 6 miles underground and was much closer to populated areas.

Since 1977, emergency managers in Chile have been overseeing earthquake drills three times a year in the schools. All school children, as well as private and public sector employees, are taught to drop to the ground, get under a heavy desk, table, door frame or sit next to a bearing wall, cover your eyes and head with your arms and hold on until the shaking stops. It’s simple emergency preparedness techniques like these that ensure protection of life.

Haiti on the other hand had none of these things. No preparedness initiatives, no money, little education and lack of a full-functioning society. There were large losses of lives, property, infrastructure and government.

When emergencies happen, there will still be loss of life and property, as well as injuries. However, how countries prepare, respond, and recover will determine survivability.

Even with the differences in preparedness between the two countries, we still see that crowd behavior is identical in the aftermath. When people got hungry enough, and thirsty enough, things started to happen. Looting became rampant.

It just goes to show that people will always be desperate for food and water in a widescale disaster. Learn this lesson from Haiti and Chile. Control your family’s destiny by storing some food and water ahead of time.