Are you prepared for an earthquake in the Coachella Valley?

Earthquakes are a fact of life in Southern California and our region has experienced a few recently. Being close to fault lines means we must be prepared. After a major earthquake, the water and sewer system could be unusable. Since getting water or sewer back online could be take a good deal of time, you should have water ready for drinking, cooking and hygiene.

Take some simple steps to be prepared:

STORE ENOUGH WATER TO LAST THREE TO SEVEN DAYS.

You can store cases of bottled water in dark, cool areas such as under beds, pantries, closets and cabinets. Store tap water in decently sized clean, airtight, food-grade plastic containers and keep them in dark, cool places. Do not store tap water in used milk containers or in glass. Label each container with the date it was stored and replace your containers every six months.

BE PREPARED WITH A SANITATION KIT AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO WATER.

Due to water or sewer outage, bathroom use may be limited after an earthquake. Your sanitation kit should include wet wipes and hand sanitizers, cleansing gels or lotions, dry shampoo, plastic garbage bags, a bucket, and a deodorizing chemical such as lime, bleach, or chemicals sold for camping.

STORE EMERGENCY FOOD.

We often overlook how much water is involved in our food preparation. In assembling your emergency food supply, include canned goods, staples, dry goods, paper, and disposable utensils that require little or no water. Avoid foods that will make you thirsty, like peanut butter or potato chips.

Visit ready.gov or fema.gov for more information.