Survival Mode

Individuals could be on their own for two weeks after the Cascadia Subduction Zone quake. Make sure you're prepared by having enough water ready. 

The Johnsons are like many households in the state; they know a big quake is coming, but they are not prepared. Here are takeaways from a weekend the Johnsons spent living off emergency supplies.

As part of OPB's "Living Off Your Kit" weekend, the Stephens family lived in their backyard without electricity, running water, or flush toilets for a weekend, surviving on their earthquake supplies. Their key challenge will be encouraging other people on their block to prepare for an earthquake.

OPB asked four families to simulate what might happen when a megaquake strikes. In Lincoln City, Patrick Alexander and Krista Eddy  said they used to feel prepared. But that changed after their son was born.

Before living off her emergency supplies for a weekend, Brook Gowin knew she faced some challenges when it came to surviving an earthquake. She gets by on very little income and has physical limitations from sports injuries.

Experts warn that it could be 72 hours or more before help arrives after the megaquake hits Oregon. Four families learned first hand just how prepared they were — and what they still need to do to get ready.

A person should have a family meet up plan in place for anywhere they spend time, such as work, school, faith organizations, sporting events or commuting.

While the earthquake wasn't real, the families participating in the dry run of the "Living Off Your Quake Kit" made it as close to reality as they could — and quickly found some of their preparation plans were lacking.

On Friday night, four Oregon households began a weekend-long test of their disaster readiness. They'll spend the next two days taking on various earthquake-related challenges and seeing how well their supplies hold up during OPB's "Living Off Your Quake Kit" drill.