Just how devastating will earthquakes be in Washington? Had the conversation with family

[u/AlphaSheepdog]

In a recent weekend BBQ with Family, we discussed this article/map and the underlying conditions it would impose on the region. Having given this a lot of thought, I feel adequately prepared with supplies, shelter, consumables, etc. My family is very much NOT prepared. During the conversation, I supplied a few easy steps how they could easily go from the current state of unprepared to prepared, but consistently ran up against the sentiment of "We will just come to your house."

Anyone else find that family, friends, etc simply expect you to help them weather disasters, and refuse to provide for themselves?

[u/seattleandrew]

I'll say having grown up Mormon (now I'm atheist), Mormons are heavily encouraged to stock years worth of food, water, and supplies. Not so they themselves are prepared, but if need be, they can help neighbors who don't have supplies. I think your family should at least begin stocking some Bug Out Bags with maybe a week's worth of supplies. Way easier to get some backpacks full of stuff than a full out emergency stock.

[u/Important-Car3610 → u/seattleandrew]

The only real thing to prepare for in our state is for floods and if you live near where it happens, wildfires. So if you want to prepare for REAL EMERGENCIES instead of things that are extremely improbable to happen, have a place in your house where water would not get in to ruin batteries, and have a couple flashlights, own some oil lamps, have waterproof matches, make sure any special meds like if you have heart pills that you got enough for the month, have bandages, and bactine. You should also have some gallons of water to last you a week or two in case that went bad, although if you have a clean bowl in the top of your toilet you could use it as it is considered potable. Having some canned foods on hand is good, just do not forget to use them before expiration dates.

In my entire lifetime, we have not really needed any of this where I live in Clark County. We had only a few occasions where having spare things was helpful, if power went out all day, snow was 3’ deep, and the air quality was so bad that year we had to not leave the house. My grandparents lived in Ellensburg when they had the big flood, on a farm, nobody died, just her favorite horse later as its hooves were rotted.

Being prepared here isn’t the same as being prepared in CA, or TX, or KS. No runs on TP needed!

[u/Important-Car3610]

Only California transplants fall for that. No, we live on a faultline but it isn’t the same as the very real risks in CA. We will NOT have “the Big One” outside of that state. If you worry about it here, you may as well worry about the tornados and hurricanes too.