What will L.A. look like when the big one hits?

road after earthquake
Photo credit Getty Images

30 years after the Northridge earthquake, the vast majority of Angelenos are still nowhere near ready for a massive earthquake.

When the big one hits, expect to be on your own with no food, water for days or weeks. Mark Benthien with the California Earthquake Center told KNX News’ Emily Valdez you can’t count on anyone coming to help you. (Great!)

“People are gonna be responding, but they're gonna be responding to the big building issues, the big fires that are gonna be happening all over, and likely not coming and pulling a bookcase off of you,” he said. “You may be the person that needs to help your neighbor, and you need to have some degree of training because in that moment, you may be the one that they're going to count on.”

Benthien said it’s important to keep survival supplies on hand, including at least one gallon of water for each family member and pet per day for at least three days. Also bear in mind that there might be no way to get money from the ATM, charge your phone, fill up your gas tank, or refill prescriptions.

“You won't be able to go to the pharmacy and have them pull up your records because the internet will be out,” he said. “You need to have paper copies of your important prescriptions.”

He said to have enough supplies on hand as if you were going on a two-week camping trip in the desert with all your pets. A solar-powered charger and radio can also come in handy.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Getty Images