The Times Poll : Quakes Spur Very Few in County to Take Precautions

Despite recently experiencing one of the strongest earthquakes in decades--and facing the strong probability of “the big one” within the next 30 years or so--Southern Californians are taking few precautions to protect themselves against a major temblor, a Times Poll shows.

The poll showed that while about half those shaken by the Oct. 1 Whittier quake described it as a “very bad” experience, about three-fifths of them have not bothered to secure loose objects in their homes that could topple and break or inflict injury in a subsequent temblor.

Although it is recommended that people keep a portable radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, a first-aid kit, bottled water, food supplies and a wrench for turning off ruptured gas and water lines on hand in case of an earthquake, 34% had taken none of those precautions since the Oct. 1 quake and only 25% had taken all of them.

Only 14% had purchased earthquake insurance before the quake and only 11% said they intend to.

While about one-third said they had suffered psychological aftereffects from the quake, only 3% indicated that they would move away from this area and only 2% had sought any form of professional counseling.

While almost one in three was absolutely certain that a catastrophic earthquake will hit Southern California sooner or later, more than half put it at least eight years in the future, apparently far enough distant to be of little immediate concern. Seismologists predict that this event will take place sometime in the next 50 years--and probably within the next 30.

Alfred C. Moran, assistant director of the state’s Office of Emergency Services, said he was surprised that more people were not preparing themselves.

“I would have thought that the Oct. 1 quake would have alerted people,” he said. “In the ‘big one,’ it will probably be 72 hours before any (public) assistance will get to you.”

In all, 1,778 adults residing in Los Angeles County were questioned in the poll, which was conducted about a month after the quake centered in the Whittier area that killed three, injured dozens and caused damage estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

The poll, which has a margin for error of about 3% in either direction, was conducted throughout the county at random under the supervision of Times Poll Director I. A. Lewis before a series of bigger earthquakes shook the Imperial Valley this week.

The poll showed that 97% of those questioned suffered little or no damage to their homes in the Oct. 1 quake, and Margaret Ann Kilpatrick, a specialist in disaster trauma counseling, said that probably accounts in large part for the fact that two-thirds of those polled said they had suffered no psychological aftereffects from the quake.

The poll showed that better than half of those responding felt safe at home, compared to only a third who felt safe at work. Kilpatrick said that may be, in part, because people tend to feel more comfortable with the familiarity of home, “where our safest relationships usually are.”

But if that sense of safety is shattered by major earthquake damage, Kilpatrick said, the results can be very unsettling. Just how unsettling depends on the individual.

“People are very unique in how they react,” the La Canada-Flintridge-based counselor said. “Their reactions are based on former experiences with trauma, their personalities and what’s going on currently in their lives--things like divorce, illness and death. . . .

“For some, an earthquake could increase the stress imposed by other problems. For others, an earthquake could provide distraction from that stress.”

Kilpatrick said that although no two people will respond in exactly the same way at exactly the same time, human reactions to traumatic situations such as earthquakes tend to evolve through four phases.

“Initially,” she said, “there’s a heroic response, with people performing extraordinary feats to help one another. Then there’s the honeymoon--’We’ll rebuild, put it all back together.’

“Then there’s disillusionment--’Boy, this is going to take a long time.’ Then there’s reorganization, when people start pulling together again, (with expectations) based on reality. . . .

“Most people with some sort of support--from family, from friends--will recover,” Kilpatrick said. “They’ll remember the earthquake, but it won’t dictate their lives. Others will need some kind of assistance.”

The percentage polled who felt no need for therapy to treat emotional damage from the earthquake mirrored almost exactly the percentage whose homes escaped major damage--98% versus 97%.

Perhaps reflecting Southern California’s flair for the diverse, the 2% who have sought help had received it from such sources as astrologers, psychiatrists, Scientologists and “channelers,” who are said to transmit communications from the spirit world.

Kilpatrick said that despite evidence from the poll that few are seeking professional help, a number of her own clients have told her of being “frightened,” “anxious,” “tired” and “easily startled” as a result of the Oct. 1 quake.

“Earthquakes are scary because they go right to the bottom of our basic trust about what’s reliable,” she said. “When there’s a fire, you can get away from it. When there’s an earthquake, there’s no place to go.”

THINKING ABOUT ‘THE BIG ONE’

These Los Angeles Times Poll results reflect responses from 1,778 Los Angeles County residents. Questions included:

When do you think “the big earthquake” will happen here in Los Angeles? Do you think it will happen tomorrow, or next week, or next month, or next year, or in how many years? Just your best guess.

Tomorrow 1% Next week 0% Next month 1% Next year 7% Two to five years 13% Six to 10 years 13% 11 to 20 years 12% 21 to 50 years 10% More than 50 years from now 5% Not sure 35% Refused to answer 3%

How many precautions have you taken since the (Oct. 1 ) earthquake? For example, do you now keep on hand a portable radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, a first-aid kit with sufficient medicine, an adjustable wrench for turning off water and gas lines, several gallons of bottled water for each family member, and food supplies, both canned and dried?

None of those precautions 34% One 5% Two 4% Three 6% Four 7% Five 7% Six 10% All seven 25% Not sure 1% Refused to answer 1%