Learning from the Earthquake (1990)

A Whole Earth article by Stewart Brand about the crucial role of emergency preparation by the public, and the response of volunteers in response to major earthquakes, in the wake of the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.

Huh. After seeing so many heroic acts by the residents adjacent to the collapsed Cypress Overpass highway structure in west Oakland, I felt embarrassed packing a personal first aid kit.

But that's not the point.

Turns out, simple things like preventing collapse of gas-fired residential hot water heaters can have a huge impact on fire prevention. Knowing how to operate the utility service cutoffs for your house or apartment complex.

Any emergency prevented frees up the response where it's needed most.