“Sturdy Shoes and a Waterproof Tent” is one of my favorite preparedness articles from the Ensign magazine. It offers many preparedness lessons we can learn from Church history (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). It’s perfect for this year when we are studying the Doctrine and Covenants and Church history in Come, Follow Me.
Lessons from the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire
“The U.S. earthquake against which all earthquakes are still measured is the San Francisco earthquake of 18 April 1906. The great quake caused terrible damage to buildings, roads, water systems, law enforcement, communications, and transportation. Fires broke out and caused more damage than the quake. Separations were common. Food, water, and sanitation became terrible problems.
“Some 120 Church members—branch members, missionaries, and city visitors—were in the city at the time. Some wrote about how they survived the quake. Their accounts identify several problems we could face if caught in a major earthquake or other catastrophes, such as hurricanes, cyclones, tornadoes, or fires, and they provide several preparedness ideas.
Have fire extinguishers in our homes.
“Less than four blocks away from the Church’s mission home, a woman cooking breakfast accidentally started a fire. Firemen were too busy to respond to this ‘ham and eggs’ fire. By the early afternoon, in order to keep the fire from spreading, firemen had to dynamite the area where the mission home stood.”
