Scenario guide

The week after the big one.

What actually stops working after a major Southern California earthquake, and for how long.

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The week after the big one. as one saveable image

People who have never been through a major earthquake picture the shaking. People who have been through one remember the week after: no water for days, a boil notice when it returned, stores closed or cash only, the freeway split, the phone that would text but not call. This is that week, so the kit list makes sense.

1
Aftershocks, for days
- Strong ones come in the first hours and keep coming for a week
- Drop, cover and hold on every time
- Sleep away from windows and tall furniture
2
Water goes first
- Broken mains mean low pressure or none for days
- When it returns, a boil notice can last a week
- Stored water, the heater tank, then treated water
3
Power, in patches
- Some streets back in hours, others in days
- Fridge four hours, full freezer two days, then the cooler
- Phones on low power; charge from the car outside
4
Gas, off until checked
- Shut it only if you smell it or hear it
- Once off, the utility turns it back on, not you
- That can take days; plan to cook outside or cold
5
Phones: text, do not call
- Voice lines jam; texts squeeze through
- One out-of-area contact for the whole family
- Towers on backup batteries fade after a day
6
Stores: closed, then cash only
- No power means no registers, no card readers, no ATMs
- Water and batteries gone in the first hour they open
- Small bills in the kit
7
Roads and the drive home
- Overpasses closed for inspection, canyons blocked
- Expect to walk the last part; shoes in the car
- A quarter tank is the minimum, always
8
Schools and work
- Schools hold kids until an authorized adult comes
- Expect a day or two closed for inspection
- Work from home for most, if home has power
9
Sanitation becomes the job
- No water means no flushing; bag-line the bowl
- Hand washing station at the door
- Trash bagged and away from where you sleep
10
The house itself
- Cracks, doors that stick, a tilt: stay out until checked
- Chimneys are the common failure in older homes
- Photos of everything before you clean up
11
Insurance and help
- Call the claims line early; it gets busier, not quieter
- Keep every receipt from the week
- County disaster assistance opens within days; bring the folder
12
The neighbors are the first responders
- Help arrives in days, not hours; the street covers the first ones
- Check the older people and anyone alone, twice a day
- Trade water, ice, a charger, a ride