How often does an opinion — much less a conviction — start with “I don’t know?” But the truth is, I don’t know. National Earthquake Preparedness Month comes like clockwork every April, but I don’t know when the next earthquake is coming. No one does. Uncertainty is at the heart of preparing for a natural disaster. Over the years, many residents in Ventura County have probably been urged to get prepared and may have resented the uncertainty in that message.
Yet it’s likely that you know some residents in and around Southern California that may have experienced ground shaking. Remember the San Andreas fault is just one of about 15,000 known California faults, according to the California Geologic Survey. We don’t know precisely when these faults will erupt, resulting in a damaging quake.
“I don’t know” doesn’t mean you’re powerless. When the next destructive earthquake hits California, many residents will have strengthened their homes in advance by retrofitting them to be sturdier. Many will have insured their homes with a policy from the California Earthquake Authority or another provider, protecting a critical asset for themselves and generational wealth for their families…