VAN NUYS : Merchants Urged to Prepare for Quakes

Merchants in the San Fernando Valley should be prepared for an earthquake that could strike during work hours, a city official said Wednesday, adding that employees could be stranded at work for days.

Doug Sunshine of the Department of Water and Power spoke to about 50 members of the Sepulveda Boulevard Business Watch, some of whom confessed they hardly think about such dangers.

Sunshine warned business owners that their operations should be checked for potential hazards and said they should be prepared for employees to stay for several days.

“It’s a shame that we really are very complacent when it comes to these emergencies,” said Gordon O’Rourke, co-owner of Continental Coin & Jewelry. “The first-aid thing is extremely important. I have 49 employees and at least two or three people should have some kind of knowledge of first aid.”

In November, a panel of scientists said there is up to a 47% probability of a major earthquake magnitude 7 or larger striking in Southern California during the next five years.

While O’Rourke held a meeting with his security officers Thursday to discuss earthquake preparedness, other business owners prepared in other ways.

Flip Smith, owner of Flip’s Tires, said he was alarmed by Sunshine’s warning that a large earthquake could destroy roads and overpasses, stranding employees at their jobs.

“I will have a meeting with my guys here and will probably put some extra water in here to last a few days,” Smith said.

Smith added that he will also conduct an inspection of potential earthquake-related hazards at his business.

“I have tires stacked up and I’ll probably secure them a little better,” Smith said. “I have them stacked pretty high and you wouldn’t want to be under them if they fell.”