Get Life Rafts Ready

When somebody knocks on your door more than once, isn’t it reasonable to assume that they are trying to tell you something?

Considering the more than 4,000 aftershocks we’ve had since the Northridge quake, I would suggest that every Californian add a bright yellow inflatable rubber life raft to their earthquake survival gear. This life raft will come in handy when California finally breaks off and slips into the ocean.

But make sure you get a raft that will inflate automatically. When the time comes when you need it, you won’t have time to take more than one or two breaths, and that won’t be enough to inflate it. We can all learn a lesson from the experience of seeing Pharaoh’s chariots pursuing Charlton Heston--I mean Moses--and the Israelites between the parted waves of the Red Sea. Remember when the waves closed in on top of them? If they had thought to equip their chariots with automatically inflatable life rafts, all of them would have survived.

Also, it would be wise to invest in a small outboard motor. If paddles are the only thing that you have, it will take a long time to reach the Nevada shoreline.

Steven S. Showers

Newbury Park