Hi All,

Last night I called my friend who lives on Whidbey Island in Washington State to tell her it's time to make sure she and her family are prepared. Amazingly enough she had not heard one word in the press about the series of quakes not so far from where she lives.

She relayed to me her current preparedness status and I urged her to make sure she had a bag packed and was ready to roll. While I normally wouldn't be quite so emphatic, in this case I impressed upon her that either nothing may happen, or something she hadn't expected might bring about circumstances she needed to be ready to face.

I received a good thank you for my efforts and she was amazed she hadn't heard anything and relieved I had taken the time to let her know. I cannot say everyone would take this news as well as she did, but I do feel "strongly" some kind of media report, even stating it as an unusual anomoly would have been better than saying absolutely nothing. How can one prepare if they have no idea anything is happening or could happen? Of course to have to be told that something may happen could cause undo nervousness and possible panic. One should always be prepared because from first hand experience we know that a major quake can occur without warning.

I realize full well that there is a definite need for the public to be informed, however, it can be done in such a way that panic does not insue, but to say nothing at all, leaves everyone in the position of being caught by surprise.

So I'd like to ask you for your opinions. What are your thoughts about whether something should or should not be told to the citizens of that area. How would you tell them? Is it necessary for them to know? If you didn't follow earthquake activity, but lived in a place that has had a good shake recently, would you like to know about current activity of an unusual nature?

Petra