As the death toll from Japan’s New Year’s Day earthquake continues to rise, one expert suggested Tuesday that the U.S. is totally unprepared for when the next big one hits.
The number of fatalities from the 7.6 magnitude earthquake rose to 55 by Tuesday as search and rescue teams continue to dig for survivors, CBS News reported. The outlet spoke to Dr. Kit Miyamoto, a structural engineer specializing in disaster areas, who said the epicenter of the Japanese quake looked like a war zone. And the same thing could happen here in the U.S.
“Pretty incredible scenery, I’m talking looking like after the World War II bombing almost,” Miyamoto told the outlet. “It’s unbelievable and shocking sights.”
But things could have been a lot worse. The reason they weren’t is because every Japanese individual prepares for major disasters like this.
“There are very little things we can do, each of us. That makes a huge difference in the outcome of it,” Miyamoto continued.
Evidence Of Massive Earthquake In US 1,100 Years Ago Suggests It Could Happen Again | @DailyCaller
It’ll for sure happen again. But it’s not even the scariest threat.
Read to prepare for the next Big One. https://t.co/g4I1x21HZR
— KAY SMYTHE (@KaySmythe) September 28, 2023
Another major issue is that most homes and buildings in California, especially older ones, do not have devices that would shut off natural gas lines. And let’s be honest, would most Californians even know what one of those valves was if they saw one? Probably not. (RELATED: Enormous Sinkhole Swallows Intersection In San Francisco)
From all my time living in California, I never met a single native or resident who had an actual plan for when (and it’s not an “if,” it’s a “when”) a major earthquake hit. Since this type of seismic activity could happen at any time, I was also pretty disgusted to learn that the schools barely even prepare students for what to do in the event of a quake.
A series of fires erupted in Japan following Monday’s earthquake, meaning rescue efforts were even more complex than they could have been. When you consider that San Francisco essentially burned to the ground in 1906 following a similar-sized quake that killed 3,000 people, it’s pretty insane that California lawmakers seem totally unbothered by the fact that millions of residents could die due to their lack of planning and preparedness. (RELATED: Scientists Uncover Chilling Evidence Of Ancient Tsunami)
Oh, and I don’t want to hear from anyone in government that they’ve got plans. Of course you have the paperwork on file, but the practice isn’t there. Clearly. So let’s hope Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom stops his pathetic popularity campaign and starts listening to experts like Miyamoto, who can actually save lives in the Golden State.