Disaster preparedness

With recent events in Haiti still seared in my mind, and living as I do in an earthquake zone, when an e-mail was circulated to me today concerning earthquake survival, I took the time to read it. It concerned a survival technique known as the "triangle of life", espoused by a self-styled earthquake expert known as Doug Copps. At first glance, much of what he said seemed to make some sense, although it flew in the face of conventional wisdom. Being a crusty old cynic, I took the time to Google Mr. Copps and discovered that the triangle of life techniques are indeed very controversial in this part of the world and not endorsed by most mainstream disaster relief agencies, including the Red Cross.

I'm certainly not an expert in earthquake survival, and am not trying to pass judgment on the effectiveness of the techniques discussed, but if you, too, have received such an e-mail I urge you to do your own due diligence before following the advice contained in it.

The email did, however, bring back back memories of the last earthquake which I experienced. I was sitting in the law library of the New Westminster Courthouse during the luncheon adjournment, frantically trying to find some cases that said I should win. Suddenly the room began to sway and my computer screen danced across the desk. Before it had really registered what was occurring, the swaying and the shaking  subsided.

For a full minute there was utter silence in the library, then, a small voice emanated from a black robed figure occupying a study cubicle at the far end of the library "Was that an earthquake?"

"Yeah," came the response from another cubicle, "but  #@!&* Judge ____ still won't give us an adjournment."