> ...if you go to the midwest, EVERYONE there knows how to open windows, find a bathtup and throw blankets over themselves in severe weather...

Students at school are taught to duck and cover first in both situations. During a recent local earthquake drill here in east San Francisco Bay Area, at the all-clear signal the classes all filed outside to an open sports field to wait for instructions while their teachers took roll. During a strong local earthquake here several years ago gas leaks occurred at 3 schools so their students were dismissed. With electricity off and no dial tone on phone lines, parents couldn't call schools to find out which were closing and where to find their children. I hope arrangements are in place now for better communication.

During my first 23 years I lived in Kansas and never was near a tornado when it wasn't storming (often hailing), so outside was obviously unsafe. Besides observing clouds, midwest residents have tornado alerts and warnings on radio and TV and sirens if a tornado nears, and one tornado usually doesn't have followup tornadoes. But no similar public warnings occur minutes before earthquakes, and outdoor weather often is comfortable. In newer California neighborhoods with underground power lines and still-small trees, outdoors might be safer than inside if objects are falling and aftershocks occurring. My immediate instinct during stronger earthquakes has been to cover my head or stand in a doorway, but after it ended I usually joined neighbors outside to make sure all nearby families were accounted for and OK. Each business, school and family should consider its specific location and needs when planning safety drills.

Mary C.