The Cupertino Courier

Community

Earthquake was big reminder to be ready

By Ruby Elbogen

The recent 5.6 earthquake jarred us into reality and reminded us to be prepared for the Big One. Thanks to Marcia Hovey, Cupertino's emergency services coordinator, we have exemplary emergency groups and procedures in place, and it would behoove every family to learn what to do. Public Safety Commissioner Fari Aberg, who oversees information booths at local events, helped us realize we are procrastinators. Every family should have a plan. My contribution to our family's carefully choreographed setup is to purchase and store enough food and water to last three days. However, on the day the earth shook, our larder was empty. Neighborhood block leaders like Sue and Howard Trudeau, and Debi and Stuart Chessen, have been generous with advice so my negligence will cease. Block leaders are active in the city's organized emergency responder groups, and let us know we could be without access to food, water or emergency services for days. Really serious stuff. Our personal stockpile does have emergency radios, prescription drugs, flashlights, first aid kits, blankets, pet food, a hand-powered can opener and wine cork puller. Now I am off to add all the food groups I can think of: tuna, soy milk, baked beans, canned soup and pasta, cereal, juice, dark chocolate covered almonds, corn chips, salsa, margarita mix, salt and beer. Do hope I don't forget to buy anything important. What's in your ER food stash?

Creek cleanup

Along with other service groups in Cupertino, kids from Cub Scout Pack 433 woke up very early on Oct. 27 to do a good deed, cleaning up Calabazas Creek. The Scouts managed to pick up enough Styrofoam cups, paper and other debris to fill no fewer than 10 very large plastic garbage bags and haul the mess away. Quite a feat for the troop. However, if those who enjoy being in the out-of-doors would pick up after themselves, there wouldn't be a need for children to clean up all the leavings. A few of the boys participating in the cleanup effort were: Anooj Vadodkar, Ian Rowe, Ben Scharf, Clarence Bowers and Matthew Kelly, along with assistant cCubmaster Terry Rowe. Kudos to all the folks who gave up their weekend to help the wildlife in and around the creek by cleaning up their habitat.