The SunBreak » preparation

Natural Disaster Tips That Renters Need to Know

Arne Christensen — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 17:40:07 +0000

"Local laws state that only new buildings, or buildings that have undergone major structural renovations, need to meet current earthquake codes. We have literally hundreds, if not thousands, of rental units in the Puget Sound region that are in buildings made with materials and techniques that cannot handle earthquakes well, or are in areas that flood."

The Earthquake Prep Details You Haven’t Thought of Yet

Arne Christensen — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 18:16:12 +0000

Does your disaster kit have "at least a week’s worth of medications and any necessary medical supplies, sanitation items and a portable shovel since you might need to dig a hole outside"? Don't laugh, says John Schelling. Sewage happens.

Earthquake Prep: The Enemy is Us

Arne Christensen — Fri, 27 May 2011 20:30:01 +0000

We overlook seismic danger for the same reason that zebras overlook the danger of lions. When we are aware of danger our body’s shift focus to being ready for combat, our heart rate increases, our digestion slows down, we are tense because we are ready to burst into action if we need it. If zebras were constantly thinking of lions, they wouldn’t be able to function, so our brains make our awareness of the threat go away. You can see signs of this all the time.

Earthquake Prep: How to Get People to Act

Arne Christensen — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:30:49 +0000

The fact is, the way our minds work, unless you have experienced a scare, you have to be pretty comfortable in your life and community for your mind to decide it is a great time to reduce future risks. If you have multiple challenges in front of you, your mind is going to work even harder to push away thoughts of future risk—it isn’t going to feel as if it is something you should do—you may want to do it, but when you start, you feel dread in the pit of your stomach, so you push it away.

Earthquake Prep: Is the Northwest Tech Sector Ready?

Arne Christensen — Mon, 23 May 2011 20:30:57 +0000

Bellevue does sit right on top of the Seattle Fault Zone, on a section that has broken the surface and thrust itself upward. As such, the area has experienced repeated very intense shaking, much larger than any of the earthquakes we’ve had since the city was founded. Are Eastside buildings ready for that earthquake? It is worth taking the time to work out how well the buildings you occupy handle quakes: Were they built with earthquakes in mind?