In the event of a natural disaster, each household should have one gallon of purified water, per person, per day, stored. It's recommended that each family have two weeks worth of water at the minimum. For a family of four, that equates to 56 gallons of water.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
In the event of a natural disaster, it is unknown how long it could take for emergency services to reach every household. Every home should have two weeks worth of emergency supplies that are mobile in case of evacuations.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
Every household should have some way to communicate that doesn't require electricity, such as this two-way radio. That's because in the event of a natural disaster, power could be out for several days.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
The American Red Cross recommends that every household has a three-day supply of food that can be carried for evacuation, and a two-week supply of food for use at home after a natural disaster.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
During a natural disaster, power could be lost for several days or weeks depending on where you live. Households should have a communication device that either operates on battery power, or does not require electricity. A whistle can be useful if someone is trapped under debris or to signal other people.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
The American Red Cross recommends that each household have at least a seven-day supply of medications and medical supplies ready to go in case of a natural disaster. For any medication that requires refrigeration, consult a medical professional about how to store it if the power goes out.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
Power might not be restored for days, or weeks, depending on where you are after a natural disaster. It's recommended that you have a flashlight by your bed in the event of a power loss. Keeping shoes by your bed can be helpful too in case the floor is covered in glass and other debris.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
The American Red Cross recommends that each household have a hand-crank radio or other battery-powered communication device to tune in to emergency broadcasts and disaster relief messages.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
Because natural disasters are unpredictable, having a backpack or other way to transport supplies is useful. Evacuations could be necessary during an earthquake, particularly in areas susceptible to tsunamis. Every family should have two weeks worth of emergency supplies they can take with them when they evacuate.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
A natural disaster can strike at any time, including the middle of winter. The American Red Cross recommends that each household have one emergency blanket per person because it is unknown how long homes could be without power and heat.
Alan Sylvestre / OPB
The New Yorker article "The Really Big One" triggered a wave of emotional reactions across our region.
See: Panic
See: Indifference
Or, see your social media feed flooding with that same article being shared by a number of concerned out-of-town relatives.
The feature accomplished a feat of great journalism: It started (or re-started) an important conversation. Now the Oregon Office of Emergency Management wants Oregonians to seize the moment.
"We want Oregonians to be prepared not scared," said OEM Director Andrew Phelps in a statement Friday. "What we do now to prepare will save lives and property during any disaster."
Phelps and other disaster managers are pushing that point because the Cascadia Subduction Zone Earthquake is not the apocalypse. Most of us will live through it when it happens. But what our lives look like afterward as we begin to rebuild — or how much we will need to rebuild — depends on what we do now.
"Now is a perfect time for everyone to evaluate a family emergency plan and update or establish emergency kits," said Althea Rizzo, a geologic hazards coordinator for OEM. "Make sure you and family members know about established exit routes, contacts, meeting places, etc., after a disaster."
Once you do this, guess what, you’re going to feel better about this megaquake.
Take it from Ed Jahn, OPB's reporter who has been researching this topic since 2011. It's pushed him to get his quake kit together.
“I've done these things and I no longer have to spend my days worrying," he said. “I can't prevent an earthquake — I can only take care of what I can take care of.”
The Johnsons use electric lanterns to prepare a meal in the dark at their home in Southeast Portland.
John Rosman / OPB
Or take it from The Johnsons, a couple OPB profiled as they lived off their emergency supply kits for a weekend. They were unprepared when they started. But over the course of the weekend they learned an important lesson: Preparedness is an investment.
“Every month or every pay period, decide on one thing to add to your kit. So that little by little you have more things,” said Sara Johnson. "Instead of looking at (it) like, ‘This is so overwhelming. I’m just not going to do anything at all.’ ”
Rizzo agrees. "You don't have to run out and spend a lot of money," she said. "If you go camping, you probably have a lot of your preparedness already done."
Let’s start with practice.
Oregon OEM has their annual Great Oregon ShakeOut Drill on Oct. 15. It's a great way to learn what to do during and after an earthquake.
Learn The Location Of Your Gas Shut Off
Find Out What National Leaders In Readiness Say
Here's our full series we've been unrolling since January about the state getting more prepared for the megquake.