An open letter to my colleagues

I have an emergency earthquake kit beneath my desk, where I intend to dive at the onset of shaking. It’s handy there and protected from falling debris.

Packed in a plastic container, it has a ‘last revised date’ to remind me when I need to replenish and replace items that might have expired. Inside I have enclosed a good-sized fanny pack, regardless of how unfashionable, because I have a long trek from downtown Victoria to my home in Colwood. With roads closed and transit inaccessible, I figure I’ll be walking. Also, stacked on top of the container, is a pair of old runners; I don’t want to hike to Colwood in my heels!

In the kit I have:

• Power bars and rock candy
• Bottled water and purification tablets
• Small packet of tissues
• Feminine hygiene products
• Permanent marker and paper
• Coins and emergency contact info
• Light sticks and a candle
• Extra batteries, flash light, radio
• Packaged hand warmers
• Rain poncho and solar blanket
• String and a pocket knife
• Waterproof matches
• Travel wipes
• Extra medication and aspirin
• Ointments and antiseptic pads
• Band-Aids, gauze, sponges
• Whistle and a mini compass
• Photocopy of birth certificate
• Gloves, extra socks, underwear

Such a small pack is not intended to sustain me for any great length of time. It’s part of my emergency plan: Should a quake occur while I’m at work, the kit will help me to get home to my family. There, we have two more, much larger (10-day-sustainable) kits, one inside the house and another in the car.

To my knowledge, I’m the only one in our office with emergency earthquake supplies. It will barely provide for me, much less look after all of you good people in our office.

Hence the purpose of my note: I hope to encourage all of you to prepare a kit of your own. If, like me, you wish to put one together yourself, almost any outdoor supply or hardware store stocks most of the supplies you need.

Alternatively, you can buy ready-made emergency kits from:

Innovative Technologies in Victoria. Their Web site is at
www.windupradio.com/earthquakekits/orderkit.htm

The B.C. government’s product distribution centre at
www.bcsolutions.gov.bc.ca/pdc/popt/eprep/
or phone 604 927-2285

You’ll find lots of good ideas and kits for sale at this U.S. site
www.theepicenter.com/72houremergencysupplypacks.html

And here’s how an earthquake feels:
www.networthnews.gov.bc.ca/images/Quake_1.htm