Hi Glen,

You said, "Not only is San Fransisco in a state of denial, but our entire state is. I have to tell the truth."

I don't think it is denial, but a lack of having a sense of priority and misunderstanding the state of the state. I've heard this kind of language before, so I'll share it with you. "Well, we had the Loma Prieta earthquake and everything was fine." You see, you have to remind them that Loma Prieta is a mountain near Santa Cruz and its no where near San Francisco. Not everyone hops on the net at night to learn about earthquake faults or preparedness either. Actually its a very small minority.

Out in the publics eye until recently was earthquake safety via something taught to an individuals children at school or the occasional news article about a new study about an earthquake fault in the vicinity. So with only those two things going on the average person would not be motivated to do anything. After all, they get up early to go the work, they are tired when they come home and they just want to have a few hours to relax and go to bed. When the weekend comes there are chores to be done, shopping, laundry and house cleaning and sometimes something fun to do. If no one is waving a red flag in your face and saying, "get ready" most people won't do anything.

So where are those Public Service Announcements? We don't have them because those who are in charge think teaching children at school is the best method. I've wondered for years how people who don't have children are supposed to get motivated? Presently, the answer arrived in the form of a hurricane and suddenly the news is full of stories about our state of the state and how likely it is that we could experience large earthquakes. The news of the disaster will last for months so hopefully those who are stragglers will have plenty of time to contemplate whether they want to save water and get ready or wait for a government that may not arrive to take care of them.

Shades of yesterday go across my memory screen. There was a park in Southern California where many gathered after Northridge. The people were screaming because no one brought them water. They were really upset. Finally a day or so later the water arrived. Not one of them decided to save water for themselves and somehow someone is supposed to know to go there because they decided to go there. Ummm? Let's hope there's no repeat performance on that, huh?

I like to say, don't give up and never give in. I still believe there is some time and I'm rather willful in wanting to give some people another chance to learn before it's to late.

Petra