Tag Archives: earthquake

Are You Ready for an Earthquake?

Disasters are something that we would definitely prefer not to think about. However, being prepared for a disaster is very important, whether that disaster is an earthquake, flood, landslide or fire. You should be ready to survive for 72 hours by yourself after a major disaster. If you and your neighbours are forced to leave your home and be self-sufficient for several days, are you prepared? To be truly prepared, you should have emergency supplies wherever you might be during the day. The home, office, car, and child care center or school all need to be ready to accommodate you … Continue reading →

Celebs Offer Haiti Relief

Mary Ann and I have blogged about social consciousness as a part of green living and following the horrific 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, several celebrities are stepping up to help. Definitely putting their money where their mouths are (or in this case, their hearts) is Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. While I would expect Brad and Angelina to donate – they definitely have a history of being an altruistic couple – I was very happy to read that they donated $1 million dollars to Doctors Without Borders. This team of medical professionals has dispatched staff, including surgeons, to Haiti to … Continue reading →

May in Review, Part Three

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I shared the news that thousands of Chinese are offering to adopt children orphaned by the quake in Earthquake May Prove to Be a Milestone for Adoption in China. However, some orphans of a previous quake reported feeling as though they were tolerated as foster children rather than fully part of their adoptive families or relatives’ families, and some social service personnel feel that the children could support each other better in a boarding school where they would live with other earthquake survivors. This controversy is discussed in Is Adoption the Best Solution for Earthquake Survivors? –The Disagreement. In What … Continue reading →

What Will Really Happen to Adoption in China, Post-Quake?

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The Chinese government says it is drafting plans for adoptions of quake orphans, and phones at local Civil Affairs Bureaus are ringing off the hook. One Western newspaper even estimated that there are more Chinese calling about adopting than there are orphans. It remains to be seen what will happen. Do Chinese parents calling about adoption today still see it as offering to foster children, or do they truly understand adoption as making a child a permanent part of your family tree? Perhaps they do. Perhaps the restrictions on bearing children have left more people wanting to love more children … Continue reading →

What Do Pets Know That We Don’t?

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Do animals have a sixth sense when it comes to natural disasters? We can see how our pets are sensitive to human moods; are they also sensitive to the planet itself? Some scientists are skeptical, but there is plenty of anecdotal evidence. In 1975, animal behavior prompted an evacuation of the city of Haicheng in China days before an earthquake, saving more than a hundred thousand lives. Ancient Greeks noted that even rodents, snakes, and insects fled the city of Helice before an earthquake in 373 BC. Even the folks who do believe that animals can sense disaster aren’t sure … Continue reading →

Hawaii’s Earthquake–The Impact On Travel

It’s been nearly a week since a 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck the Hawaiian Islands. The quake’s epicenter was located just off the Leeward coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, near a string of luxury hotels. It caused more than $100 million dollars worth of damage throughout the state and some residents are still without power and water. However, remarkably, according to initial reports, the major earthquake appears to have only caused a minor ripple through Hawaii’s visitor industry so far. In fact, according to information from the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, “domestic arrivals from last … Continue reading →

Paradise On A Roll

If you haven’t already heard a 6.7 magnitude earthquake hit the Hawaiian Islands yesterday. The quake’s epicenter was located about 10 miles off the Kohala Coast (on the western side of the Big Island of Hawaii) and about 50 miles from my parent’s home. Luckily, their house sustained only minor damage and no one was hurt. Once I was able to establish contact with my parents and found out that our family members were fine I immediately thought about all of the travelers who undoubtedly got more from their Hawaiian vacation than they bargained for. Not only did they get … Continue reading →

Five Ways to Protect Your Family and Home During an Earthquake

It is important to make your home safe during and after an earthquake. Earthquakes come with no warning, and at all times of the day or night. You need to have prepared for an earthquake in order to survive and protect your family. You should also know and practice what to do immediately following an earthquake. This will help your family make the best of a shaky situation. Here are five things to consider: 1) Check the wall hangings and bookshelves in your home. This includes any large furniture that may tip over or items, which may fall off of … Continue reading →

Earthquake Insurance

The standard homeowner insurance policy doesn’t cover earth movement claims. An earthquake might be the first thing that comes to mind when someone thinks about earth movement, but earth movement includes, landslides, mudslides, mudflow, sinkholes or other movement of the ground involving sinking, rising or shifting of the earth. In most homeowner and renter policies earth movement is an excluded loss and means claims aren’t covered unless the policy holder adds an endorsement for earthquake coverage. It’s up to the consumers to decide if their own situation requires an earthquake insurance endorsement. Earthquake insurance usually excludes any losses caused by … Continue reading →