On September 23, the city of Lennox was woken up at 4:48 AM by a 3.2 magnitude earthquake, one of the many earthquakes hitting Southern California. Lennox, being only less than 10 miles from Torrance, leaves its earthquake concerns on the citizens of Torrance as noted by Mrs. Trani, “I just think we need to be prepared and here at school, we need to practice our drills, and at home, just have that emergency pack in the case of [an earthquake].” She also notes, “But, you know, it shouldn’t stop us from living our lives.”
A 3.0 magnitude earthquake may seem like a minor shake, only felt by nearby residents, but perhaps this earthquake, along with the over 600 minor earthquakes within September alone, are merely preparations for “The big one.”
Aimee Kim says that she thinks that “a big earthquake will come because there’s always a big one in a few hundred years,”
California seems to be 150 years overdue from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that reached a 6.9 magnitude, killing 63 people, injuring 3,757, and displacing 12,053. A catastrophe that Kim also adds that she doesn’t think we’re too far from experiencing as she states, “We’re like in the calm before the storm.”
Whether the fear of a catastrophic earthquake destating California is a true estimation or not, there is no doubt that if an earthquake does hit, it is our duty to protect ourselves. If you’re not sure what to do in case of this particular emergency, the Department of Homeland Security instructs us to do the following:
If you are in a car, pull over and stop. Set your parking brake.
If you are in bed, turn face down and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
If you are outdoors, stay outdoors away from buildings.
If you are inside, stay and do not run outside and avoid doorways.
For more information on how to protect yourself, please visit Ready.gov to create proper and professionally recommended methods of survival.