2016 Earthquake Quiz

In support of the October 20 Great California Shakeout, a brief quiz has been developed to help gauge community readiness. It will give you some indication of areas that need work. Be sure to count up your points as you answer the questions.

If you score 80 points or higher: You're an "Alpha", a Type A personality who gets the job done.
If you score 60-79 points: You're almost there. You just need to do a couple more things and you'll be there.
If you score 40-59 points: Don't be satisfied with that. You can do better.
If you score lower: It's time for action and to take the first step.

Just think about how prepared you'll be to protect yourself and your family if you make a game plan. Tackle the easier items first, and then work your way through the rest of it, a week at a time

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* 1. Is your home ready to take a hit? Have you:

Made sure that there are no potentially dangerous items — such as heavy picture frames or mirrors — hanging over beds and sofas? 1 point

Bolted bookcases and other tall, heavy pieces of furniture to wall studs? 2 points

Put latches on cabinets? And reorganized shelves and cabinetry so that glass and heavy items, which can become projectiles during an earthquake — are stored on lower shelves? 3 points

Strapped the water heater and heavy appliances to wall studs? 4 points

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* 2. Do you have a family disaster plan? Have you:

Identified the safest places in each room to go during an earthquake and rehearsed getting there? Does everyone know where earthquake supplies are located? 1 point

Does everyone know what role to play in the first few critical minutes after a disaster? Perhaps the kids collect the family pets and retreat to a safe spot while an adult scouts the rest of the house for damage. 2 points

If you work far from home, is there a backup plan for child care if you are unable to get back to your house? 3 points

Does everyone know how to turn off the utilities (water, gas and power?) and how to use a fire extinguisher? And if any special tools are needed, are they stored nearby for easy access? 4 points

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* 3. Have you researched earthquake-preparedness kits online? In addition to basics such as first-aid kits and flashlights with extra batteries, do you:

Have enough nonperishable food and water for you and your pets to last at least a week, and a manual can opener or two? 1 point

Have solar-powered flashlights, lanterns and radio? And other "little things" that you're sure to want if a disaster drags on, like extra toilet paper, moist towelettes or contact lens solution? 2 points

Aim to keep your cars' gas tanks topped off? (A good general rule: Don't let it drop much below half a tank.) 3 points

Have cash, in small denominations, tucked away someplace safe? 4 points

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* 4. Not everything in your earthquake kit needs to be so practical. Have you set aside:

Books and reading lights with fresh batteries? 1 point

Family games that don't require electricity? 2 points

Favorite treats for you and your pets? 3 points

Bottles of wine? 4 points

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* 5. Does everyone in your family (including the pet) have a "grab-and-go" bag at the ready? Does it include:

Two full changes of clothing, including sturdy shoes comfortable for walking? 1 point

Basic toiletries, including feminine hygiene products? 2 points

Weather protection as needed? (Hats, sunscreen, blankets, jackets.) 3 points

Do you have smaller earthquake kits in the trunk of your cars, at your work desk and any other place that might be needed? 4 points

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* 6. How will you communicate with family members?

Do you have an agreed-upon social media "meeting" place — such as Facebook — to leave messages in case phones are down? 1 point

Does everyone in your family have a printed sheet that includes cellphone and landline numbers for all immediate family members, as well as numbers for out-of-town relatives who can act as a clearinghouse for information? 2 points

Do you have a printout of addresses and phone numbers for your nearest hospital, pharmacy, doctor, police department, fire station and vet? (You may know where these places are, but you might need to quickly hand this information off to someone else.) How about contact information for neighbors, school officials and others whom you might need to reach if you are unable to get back home? 3 points

Do you also have: A solar cellphone charger or at least one backup charger that is kept as fully charged as possible? 4 points

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* 7. What if you have to leave your home? Do you have copies of important documents on a flash drive or stored in a grab-and-go file somewhere safe (like a safe)? And do they include:

Difficult to replace documents, such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, marriage certificates, passports and titles to vehicles? 1 point

Bank account and credit card numbers and an extra set of keys? 2 points

Wills and medical information? 3 points

A property record (such as a tax bill) that can help prove you own your home, and your most recent tax return? 4 points

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* 8. Your pet needs to get ready too. Do you have:

A collar or tag with your cellphone number and address? 1 point

A pet carrier that includes your personal information? 2 points

Necessary supplies of medications and important medical records? 3 points

A current picture in case your pet is lost, as well as the phone numbers and addresses of nearby shelters? 4 points

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* 9. Do you and your family members:

Know the threats and risks unique to your area (such as hillsides prone to landslides or streets that are likely to flood), and how to avoid them? 1 point

Do you know where to get information during an emergency, and what radio and social media channels to follow for local emergency alerts such as www.vcalert.org/ or www.VCEmergency.com 2 points

Know which neighbors might need assistance, perhaps because of age or disability? 3 points

Have red-and-green front doorknob hangers to signal whether you are OK or need help. These signs help first responders get help to the injured as quickly as possible and can be printed out at www.5steps.la/5-step-toolkit/. 4 points

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* 10. Do you have a routine for the upkeep of your emergency plans?

Do you know the emergency preparedness plan at your children's school? Do you know how it changes with each passing school year? 1 point

Do you have a list of the food items — and their expiration dates — in your earthquake kit? That way you can replace as needed. 2 points

Do you swap out emergency batteries at regular intervals? 3 points

Do you update your "go" bags once a year? 4 points