Earthquakes and Phonebooks

Here in Los Angeles we've had quite a few noticeable earthquakes within the past few months. A couple years back I realized I should finally be a little more serious about preparing for earthquakes. While I keep a well stocked pantry, I never buy bottled water, so I never had any around, despite being one of the most important things to have around. There were countless other items like this. While there are many websites that do a better job of explaining what you should do to prepare, there are some things I still feel like I am missing, including first aid information.

Nothing can replace actual experience and training, but I knew I needed to start someplace. I usually use the internet as a resource, but I need to be reasonable and consider that we won't have phone access, electricity or access to a computer in an earthquake. Recently I hit up a local used bookstore near the Orange Line, Next Chapter Books and picked up a First Aid and Personal Safety handbook from the American Red Cross. I also found out that phone books have more than just phone numbers! This may sound silly, but I never really bothered to look in the front of the book. Before you reuse or recycle your old phonebook, look through the front section of the book. You should find a short first aid section. You might also find some local maps with important resources marked (hospitals, water), disaster prep lists and lists of emergency numbers (just check to make sure they haven't changed). Just tear out these sheets, fold them up and place them in a waterproof bag. These are especially good for tucking into an emergency kit you keep in the car or at work where you usually don't have a phonebook.