We Interrupt This Regularly-Scheduled Eldercare Blog To Bring You . . . An Earthquake!
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck southern California at 11:42am today, where my 99 year-old mother and our family live!
It was the strongest earthquake to strike a populated area of southern California since the 1994 Northridge (Los Angeles) quake. The epicenter was in Chino Hills, about an hour away from our homes, and it rocked the region from Los Angeles to San Diego. There were also dozens of aftershocks, the largest so far being a magnitude 3.8.
I was just leaving my Mom’s board and care home and was halfway down the path to the street, when I heard what sounded like the front door behind me being opened and closed again. I didn’t think anything of it, because one of the other residents often goes to the door, looks out and then closes it again. As I got down to the street, a caregiver opened the front door and called out to me, “Did you feel it?” I said, “Feel what?” Since I was walking, I had no idea an earthquake had even occurred. The sounds I heard were actually the front door rattling due to the quake. I went back into the house entryway and saw the overhead light fixture swaying side-to-side above me, which is a classic sign of an earthquake.
I’m happy to report that everything there and at my house is fine. No injuries, a few things were knocked over, but nothing was broken. We are all very lucky!
Of course, this got me thinking about our aging parents and earthquake preparedness!
Here are a few things I did and you can do should an earthquake (or other natural disaster) strike where one of your Golden Oldies lives:
- If you live near your parents, go over to their home as soon as possible to check for possible injuries and provide first aid. I was thankful to be “on the spot” at the board and care when the earthquake hit so I could check everything immediately.
- Check the gas, water and electric lines. Fires could start, so beware. Check phone lines too, replacing receivers if they’ve been knocked off by the shaking.
- Walk through the house with your parents to check for anything that fell off shelves or the walls, especially breakables. Watch for broken glass.
- If you can’t get there quickly enough, ask one of their neighbors to do a walk-through with them. Another reason why I recommend you have those phone numbers handy as part of a Senior Safety Net.
- If they need to evacuate, will you, another family member or neighbor of theirs be able to assit them? Where will they go? Having a plan in place is vital, especially if they are bedridden, in a wheelchair, or need assistance walking.
- Even before an earthquake hits, when you are visiting their homes (or decorating their room in an assisted living or a board and care), think about what you hang on the walls near their beds. I purposely hung only a small fabric collage over my Mom’s bed, so if it ever did fall in an earthquake it wouldn’t hurt her. You may also want to bolt any heavy furniture, bookcases and mirrors to the walls so they don’t fall over.
- Do they have an up-to-date earthquake preparedness kit in their home? Do they have extra medication, special foods and water for several days? Do they have pet supplies if needed?
- If they live in an assisted living facility, board and care, or nursing home, be sure there is both an eathquake kit and relocation plan in place, and that all of the caregivers are trained about what to do if a natural disaster strikes. These things will probably be in place due to licensing requirements, but it is always wise to double check. I called the administration of my Mom’s board and care this afternoon to be sure they were on top of disaster preparedness.
Here is a free, in-depth reference guide written by the Los Angeles Fire Department called “The Earthquake Preparedness Handbook” with detailed instructions for before and after a quake, as well as checklists to use in creating a kit for their (or your) home. You can either read it online or print it out.
And on a personal note, our 18 year-old son was sitting on the backyard patio of our home when the quake struck. He said the trees and patio cover shook like crazy! He grabbed our dog and ducked under the patio table for cover. Smart guy!
Have you or your aging parents survived an earthquake? What other things can you think of to add to this list?
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Hi Linda,
I heard about the quake on the news. I didn’t realize it was in your neck of the woods.
When I lived in the Bay area (CA), I experienced a few quakes, and then in Alaska, quite a few more. They can be scary.
Your earthquake preparedness ideas are awesome. We often don’t think about the elders, but they could easily be hurt from fallen objects.
Hi Linda,
I forgot to say, my husband was in Alaska when “the big one” hit up there. He said it was terrifying.
I’m glad you’re OK. Earthquakes are scary. I live in Northern California, and it’s always in the back of my mind that a serious earthquake is a strong possibility here.
Those are great tips.
Barbara,
Wow — you lived in Alaska!!! Our favorite family vacation was our cruise there about 7 years ago, and we definitely want to go back to see more, especially Denali, which we didn’t get to see. We know on cruises you only get a flavor of an area, but what we saw we loved. The undeveloped land and the forests just made me feel so good inside! I’m sorry your husband had to live through the “big one.” I’ll be fine not having that experience, although they say there is a 99% chance CA will have one within 30 years. At least we’ll try to be as prepared as possible. Glad you found the ideas helpful.
Vered,
Thanks for your concern. I know northern CA is as susceptible to quakes as we are. Hope you put the tips to use in creating your own family’s preparedness plan.
I’ve dealt with tornadoes, grass fires, blizzards, and floods, but no earthquakes! As an EMT, I’d add taking a first aid, CPR, or more advanced class. The more you know about emergency thinking and scene assessment, the calmer you can be dealing with disaster.
Lori
SpaceAgeSage aka Lori,
Excellent suggestion for all of us — no matter what our age, or our Golden Oldies’ age. I’ve also been through blizzards and mild hurricanes, and I don’t like any natural disaster I’ve experienced. Nature can be a very powerful and scary thing . . . but also beautiful.
Hi Linda,
I love your site. It’s a subject I care about, yet I never would have found it by myself. I lost my papí one month ago. He was ninety-nine years old and I loved him with all my heart. I visited he and my grandma every Saturday for the last three years, until she passed. I visited him every Saturday since. He was so, so amazing. He was in charge of all the festivals on Olvera Street where he had a shop for fifty years. I’m surprising myself right now, because I feel more emotional leaving this comment than I would have expected. Anyway, if you make it back to the site, check out the post “Adios Papí.” It was written on the day we lost him. He was totally lucid, even at the end – just a sharp guy. My wife and I live in an old Victorian that we’re using for a nursery school, but we’re talking about making it an elder care facility when we leave it behind. Thanks for a great site about a subject that needs more attention.
By the way, we live in Long Beach.
Great to hear everyone is ok Linda! Earthquakes – something I’m unfamiliar with here in the midwest.
Writer Dad – sounds like you loved your family very much. I’m sorry for your loss. Hold on to the memories you have with your father.
My parents were in Alaska for the big one as well, though they weren’t my parents yet…
Personally I’ve only felt a tiny earthquake, though I think I have experienced all the other natural disasters first hand.
Knowing what to expect afterwards is great advice.
It can be quite disorientating which can lead to trouble. In high risk areas, taking precautions like making sure a safe path is in the house, secure bookshelves, reduce things that could fall to the floor along the path, that sort of thing, may also aid in their getting to safety.
Of course securing bookcases to the wall so they don’t tumble over is generally a good idea for anyone, even younger folks. Bookcases hurt.
Writer Dad,
Welcome to the TLeC community. Your beautiful tribute to your Papi brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for sharing your love and loss with me. I’m sure you brought him as much joy as he brought you. Grieving and healing take time, and longer than we expect. I found the whole first year after my Dad passed away included lots of unexpected tearful moments and tons of missing him.
Thanks for the compliments about my site and glad you like it. It’s nice to know a fellow blogger lives not too far away. Perhaps we’ll have a meet up some day! Best of luck with your nursery school. A Victorian house — lucky you!!!!
Hyrcan,
Welcome to the TLeC community!
Great thought about how disorienting a natural disaster can be. One earthquake years ago hit here while everyone was in bed, and the electricity went out. Vital to have those flashlights handy in that situation. After that one, we also kept construction helmets by our beds for quite a while — not kidding! Forgot all about that as a tip. Hard-soled slippers or shoes should be by your bedside as well. Having a safe path or safety route is important for earthquakes and fire danger too — another CA natural disaster that came close (2 miles away) to our house in Fall 2007. Wow — see what your comment has unleashed — I may need to write a follow up post.
Lance,
Happy to see you’re back from vacation and reading my blog again.:smile: I bet you’ve had many blizzards in the Midwest and they’re no fun. I definitely don’t miss the cold winters. shoveling snow and driving on ice now that I’m in CA!