In Case Of Emergency, Read Blog

With April being Earthquake Preparedness Month, the always creative Robin Parker from the Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter has a guest post on the American Red Cross blog with some ideas for “interesting items you could add to your earthquake preparedness kit. Or, as they to call them,”prepare-aphernalia”. The post with links can be found here:

QuakeHold straps, fasteners, and putty to help keep your heavy stuff (bookshelves, vases, water heaters…) safely in place.

Safe Hold Security Picture Hangers. Yet another system for keeping those heavy frames from swinging off the wall.

The earthquake-resistant bed. With a hard, carbon-fiber canopy, it looks a little more like a futuristic pod car than a bed. We don’t know if it has had any real-world test runs, but it is an intriguing concept. And if you’re already into ultra-mod decor, hey, why not?

Another heavy (and expensive) thing you don’t want toppling in a quake? Wine bottles. A company called Newood has designed the “earthquake-proof wine rack,” made of laminated layers of Oregon pine, which results in the flexibility of wood with the strength of steel. It was tested by the earthquake engineers at Oregon State University and is said to be able to withstand a 7.1 magnitude earthquake.

Of course a basic emergency kit is a must to have on hand for any disaster. If you have a starter kit, great. You could augment it with treats like canned cheese, canned curry, canned bacon, or even canned cheeseburgers! It may sound silly , but tasty food can be a major comfort in times of disaster.

And last but not least, we can’t forget the pets. For the little Fido or Felix in your life, a company in Japan has come up with wearable earthquake kit vests. Maybe more cute than practical? We’re not sure. In any case, you should probably brush up on both your human and pet first aid skills in case one of you gets injured in either the quake or just the struggle of trying to get a cat to wear a vest!

More prepare-aphernalia can be found on the Oregon Trail Chapter’s blog.

They’re also holding an “Let’s Get Ready To Rumble” Earthquake Preparedness Contest. Just take a photo of your emergency kit, and you can enter to win for a $50 gift certificate.

“Earthquake-Proof Wine Rack”