We were living in San Jose, Calif. when the Loma Prieta earthquake struck, (5:04 p.m., Oct. 17, 1989). The World Series game was about to start when it hit us. Running outside, we watched as the ground undulated and moved away in waves perhaps as much two to three feet in height.

Dishes, glasses and other things came crashing from cabinets in many of our neighbors' homes, which leads me to suggest you add cabinet security to your list of how to be quake-ready. Simple latches were what we used thereafter.