Who would have ever thought that we, New Yorkers, would have to prepare ourselves for an earthquake.  Yes, I have always been aware of the fact that Manhattan has it’s very own fault line. However,we always hear about California earthquakes(this is one reasonwhy it took me 40 years to step foot in that state).  Now it looks like the earthquakes have come to NY.  Will it happen again? Who knows, but I can tell you this, that if it happened once it can happen twice…So here are some expert advice on how to survive an EARTHQUAKE!

Buy an all-in-one kit. Getting all your gear in a single package may be more expensive than spending a day at Costco and a hardware store to assemble your own. The advantage is that it requires just a couple clicks, and you can do it right this instant (which is what you should do). You can find several kits atAmazon or the Red Cross. At $42, the Quakehold! Grab-n-Go Emergency Kit appears to be the best value. It’s got enough supplies—food bars, water, emergency blankets, first aid supplies, etc.—to sustain two people over three days.  (I would need to purchase at least two kits or three)

Get extra water and food. From what I gather, you should treat these all-in-one kits as a starting point. Depending on your family and your needs, you’ll want to add extra supplies. For instance, many of these kits don’t include nearly enough water. An adult needs 1 gallon of water a day. (Older people, nursing mothers, and those in hot climates need more.) Since your plan should cover three days of potential outages, it’s a good idea to get loads of H₂O. Bottled water is often stamped with a sell-by date, but these dates are mainly for stock-keeping purposes. Unopened bottles of water have an indefinite shelf life, the FDA says; water stored for long periods may taste a bit off, but it’s safe to consume. You should also have enough food to last for three days. You can buy freeze-dried meals or food bars, but these can be expensive. It’s much cheaper to stick to canned food—just don’t forget the can opener! ( this works, I always stock up on can foods.  Water I need to buy some that no one will touch, have to hide it)

Flashlights. Since flashlights, like pens and umbrellas, have a tendency to get lost, buy several; the Red Cross recommends that you keep a flashlight and a pair of sturdy shoes by each person’s bedside. Fortunately, LED flashlights are small and cheap (this Neiko Super-Bright sells for $4 on Amazon).  (Now I need to make sure I take off my slippers by the bed, when I remember to put them on my feet.)

Radios. Most survival guides recommend that you keep a portable radio on hand to keep abreast of the news and emergency updates, but many all-in-one kits don’t include this crucial device. One of the most popular is the Etón Microlink, which sells for $30, and runs on solar and hand-crank power—you can turn the crank to power the radio and a built-in flashlight, as well as to charge your phone (the USB port will plug into most phones).

(Yes, a radio, good old fashion radio.)

Other cell phone chargers. If you live in a sunny place and have a lot of gadgets you want to keep charged up, consider a solar charger. You put this $30 solar charger in the sun to keep its internal battery charged; plug in your phone, iPod, or other USB device for a quick backup charge. It’s also a good idea to get an in-car charger; they sell for as little as $4.

(I have this, it works.)

Keep multiple emergency kits. You should keep your emergency supplies in a dedicated place in your house. FEMA recommends that you make your supplies portable; pack all your gear into a backpack so that you can escape with it in a hurry. But because you may not be home when disaster strikes—or your kit may not be accessible even if you are at home—it’s a good idea to keep extra supplies in your car and at work. At the very least, keep a stash of bottled water in your trunk.

(I always have a bottle of water in my car, now I need to make sure I have a case.)

Back up your data. If you’ve stored many of your most precious things digitally, it’s a good idea to back that stuff up when you’re planning for a disaster. This way you won’t have to scramble to save your photos, music, financial documents, and other things when you’ve got to leave. I recommend a two-step backup process: Save your data to an external hard drive, and also back everything up using an online service like Mozy or Carbonite, which will keep your stuff safe even if your hardware is destroyed.

(Mozy and Carbonite, I have heard of them something to look into.)

Come up with a survival plan. It’s not enough to get supplies. You also need to coordinate with your family. This Red Cross page goes over everything you should discuss—the most important thing is to choose two locations where you should converge to meet one another.

(Oh, yes good point, communicate with the family for the odds are we will all be located in other areas)

What to do in an earthquake. Drop, get under cover, and hold on. Every kid in earthquake-prone regions learns this in school, but these lessons tend to evaporate during a disaster. Videos from Japan show people standing, running, and trying to keep file cabinets from falling—all major earthquake no-nos. Also, be warned that the Web is littered with misleading advice by Doug Copp, a “rescue expert” who argues that it’s dangerous to duck and cover (he suggests lying down next to a large object, like a bed). As the urban-legend-busting site Snopes point out, Copp’s theory has been disputed by a number of experts, including the Red Cross. When an earthquake strikes, don’t run or try to escape. Search for cover as close to you as possible; if you’re in bed, stay curled up and protect your head with a pillow. If you’re driving, pull over when it’s safe, and stay away from bridges and overpasses.

(My brother-in-law said the best place to stand, during an earthquake, was the bathroom doorway.  Why?  Door ways are strong and less likely to crumble.  I hope I,we, never have to test any of the suggestions.  When your ground and house begin  shaking and rolling I think I would just sit still and pray.)

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http://www.slate.com/id/2288031/?gt1=38001

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Never heard of them…until Bakersfield,  California.  Why would I want to talk about Buck Owens and the Bukaroos? Reason –  this group ended up becoming a big hit with us  in California.

So here is a brief history of Buck Owens – he was an American singer and guitarist who had 21 No. 1 hits on the Billboard country music charts with his band, the Buckaroos.  The Crystal Palace restaurant, club and museum in Bakersfield was proudly erected by Buck Owens himself.  Unfortunately Buck passed away not long after that.

The Crystal Place is Bucks own creation and gives a history of the Buckaroos along with other country music singers.

Hey, you might remember him from Hee Haw…now this is going back in time.

 It’s Crying Time Again, and I Got A Tiger By The Tail, were one of the hits of Buck Owens and the Bukaroos, these two hits became the theme songs of our trip.  It was played in the car, in the house, we were Bucked out, for sure.   One evening John and Carol showed us how Buck Owens can turn anyone  into a cowboy.

Warning Video is full of laughs