Berkeley Prepares for Disaster

Thursday morning started with a jolt. An shook the Bay Area once again, after a week of multiple tremblors and aftershocks with epicenters in Berkeley.

Is the world ending? Is the Big One near? Is it time to panic? Perhaps not, . The recent cluster of earthquakes along the Hayward fault is pretty normal, said Uhrhammer, and while the probability of the Big One striking within a few days increases a little — by 1 or 2 percent — it's more probable minutes to hours after the first shock. Earthquakes come in clusters like this about 5 percent of the time in this part of the state. "I wouldn't be surprised if the sequence continues for another few days," said Uhrhammer. 

Meanwhile, Berkeley is getting prepared. Sales of emergency, survival and first aid kits have increased in the past week, according to Doug Morse, a cashier at . Morse says that immediately following , the outdoor recreation and supply store saw a surge in the sale of its emergency kits. 

"People bought a lot of first aid kits, and a lot of freeze dried camping foods," said Morse. "Basically, they’re stocking up on their emergency kits. They're buying things not only for their homes, but also to put stuff in their cars."

While REI does not sell kits specifically for earthquakes, the chain does keep in stock two-day and three-day survival kits, which cost between $30 and $130 for one or two people. The REI "emergency kit," which contains supplies for one to two people for up to three days in addition to tools and first aid necessities, costs $165.

Rather than buying a ready-made kit, some Berkeley residents may choose to create their own. The City of Berkeley's Public Health Division provides and online guide for creating a "family disaster supply kit," with information adapted from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

There are six basics, plus any special items, that should be stocked in your home, according to Berkeley's Public Health Division:

• Water: at least a five-day supply of water for each person in your household.
• Food: at least a five-day supply of non-perishable food.
• First aid supplies: including bandages, scissors, tweezers, antiseptic and non-prescription drugs.
• Clothing and bedding: at least one complete change of clothing and footwear per person.
• Tools and hardware: including a mess kit, compass, flashlight and batteries.
• Sanitation and hygiene supplies: including soap, garbage bags, toilet paper and disinfectant. 
• Special items: which may include baby necessities, prescription medication, important family documents and items to keep the family entertained.

The city also provides an online guide to creating your family's personal disaster plan. 

With another earthquake shaking Berkeley Thursday morning after a few days of relative calm, the sale of survival items may once again surge in Berkeley. But Morse doesn't expect to run out of gear any time soon.

"We keep replenishing everything," said Morse, who added that he does not own a pre-packaged emergency kit but keeps a box of survival supplies in his basement.

Do you have an earthquake survival or emergency kit? Did you buy it or make it? What's inside? Let us know in the comments.