A little preparation and perspective goes a long way

Earthquakes? Wildfires? Drought?

Those words conjure up images of blockbuster movies ... well maybe the first two, anyhow, but they've become part of the landscape of living in Northern Nevada.

Yet there's still no need to panic. After all, car accidents claim far more lives than those or other natural disasters in Northern Nevada.

It's preparation - and perspective - that are important.

These recent quakes shouldn't come as a great surprise because scientists have been warning of their likelihood for some time. "... the earthquake hazard and potential in the Reno-Carson City urban corridor should be considered high, and earthquake risk preparedness, planning, and mitigation efforts are well warranted," said a 1997 paper.

Preparation is the easy part, and the beauty is that while you're discussing earthquake emergency plans with your family, you can also discuss what to do in the event of a fire. The other steps aren't difficult, either. To learn more, just pick up the Carson City Fire Department's Preparedness Guide at the Carson City Fire Department on Stewart Street or, on the Web, you can visit the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org/index.html. Click on "Preparedness."

And as for that perspective thing ... well, where are you going to move to ... Kansas? Don't they get tornadoes?

• This editorial represents the view of the Nevada Appeal Editorial Board.