He Will Not Forsake His Saints
Psa 37:1 A Psalm of David. Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Psa 37:2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Psa 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Psa 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Psa 37:5 Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psa 37:6 And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Psa 37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Psa 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
Psa 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
Psa 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
Psa 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Psa 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
Psa 37:13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
Psa 37:14 The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Psa 37:15 Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
Psa 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psa 37:17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
Psa 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
Psa 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
Psa 37:20 But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
Psa 37:21 The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
Psa 37:22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
Psa 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
Psa 37:26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
Psa 37:27 Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
Psa 37:28 For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psa 37:29 The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
Psa 37:30 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
Psa 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
Psa 37:32 The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
Psa 37:33 The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Psa 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
Psa 37:35 I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
Psa 37:36 Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
Psa 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Psa 37:38 But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
Psa 37:39 But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psa 37:40 And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Acknowledging Reality and Making Life-Saving Decisions
Disclaimer: This guide is for a scenario where a catastrophic earthquake (M7.5+) is imminent, with hours or days of warning. This is rare but possible (e.g., an escalating foreshock sequence or credible scientific prediction). Advice here is austere—focused solely on preserving human life. Property is secondary.
The Guiding Principle: The 1906 San Francisco Lesson
The 1906 earthquake (M7.9) showed that while shaking is devastating, the subsequent firestorm destroyed the city. Over 80% of the damage was due to fires that could not be stopped because water mains were shattered.
The Lesson: Your primary goal is to get to a location where secondary threats—fire, tsunami, structural collapse—are minimized. That often means leaving dense urban areas and the coast before the quake hits.
PHASE 1: THE DECISION TO EVACUATE (GO/NO-GO)
If you are in a high-risk zone, the single most effective action is to evacuate pre-emptively. Post-quake chaos can make evacuation impossible.
Evacuate Immediately If You Are In:
- Tsunami Inundation Zone: Near the Pacific Coast or SF Bay? Check official maps. A catastrophic quake can generate a tsunami. You cannot outrun a tsunami. Vertical-evacuation structures can save lives, but the safest plan is already being on high ground.
- High Liquefaction Zone: (e.g., SF’s Marina, SOMA, Treasure Island; parts of Oakland/Berkeley). Ground can behave like fluid; buildings tilt/sink; utilities shred.
- URM or Soft-Story Building: Unreinforced masonry and “tuck-under” parking apartments are prone to rapid, complete collapse.
- Dense Urban Canyon: Glass and façade debris from tall buildings can rain down, making streets lethal.
Your Evacuation Destination: Aim for Open, High Ground
- High Ground: ≥ 100 ft above sea level to avoid tsunamis.
- Open Space: Large parks or regional open spaces away from buildings, trees, and power lines (e.g., Golden Gate Park, Dolores Park, major regional parks). These can serve as safer, ad-hoc refuge areas.
PHASE 2: LAST-MINUTE ACTIONS (The Final 24–48 Hours)
A. Water: Your #1 Priority
- Fill Every Container: Bathtubs, sinks, pots, buckets, bottles. Water systems can be down for weeks.
- Purification: Keep unscented bleach handy (about 2 drops per liter) for treating water when needed.
B. Create “Grab-and-Go” Safety Stations
Stage sturdy bags at exits and in your vehicle.
On-Body Kit: Sturdy shoes, leather gloves, N95 mask, whistle, headlamp.
Core Go-Bag:
- Water: ~1 gallon per person (carry as much as feasible).
- Food: High-calorie/no-cook items (bars, nuts).
- Medical: Tourniquet, hemostatic gauze (e.g., QuickClot), large tape, large trauma pad. Stopping major bleeding is priority.
- Communication: Hand-crank/solar radio (NOAA Weather Radio if possible). Cell networks may fail.
- Cash: Small bills; ATMs/cards may be down.
- IDs: Copies sealed in a plastic bag.
- Warmth: Mylar blanket or compact sleeping bag.
C. Secure Your Immediate Environment
- Gas Shutoff: Keep the proper wrench by the meter. Do not shut off gas pre-emptively. Shut it off only if you smell gas after the quake or if you are evacuating and have time.
- Hazard Hunt: Move heavy objects low; secure tall bookcases to studs if time permits; place shoes & flashlight under the bed.
D. Communication Plan
- Out-of-Area Contact: Name a single person out of state as your family’s check-in hub. Texts may work when calls don’t.
- Rendezvous Point: Pick a specific landmark (e.g., a big tree at a park) for regrouping if comms fail.
PHASE 3: WHEN THE SHAKING STARTS (IF YOU DIDN’T EVACUATE)
- DROP, COVER, HOLD ON: Get under a sturdy desk/table; protect head/neck; do not run outside.
- Stay Away from Windows and glass.
- Do Not Use Elevators.
- If in Bed: Stay, and shield your head with a pillow.
PHASE 4: THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH (SURVIVAL MODE)
- Expect Fires: Know two exits; be ready to move quickly.
- Shelter in Place if Safe: If your building is sound and you’re not in a tsunami zone, staying put may be safest.
- Help Neighbors: You are each other’s first responders.
- Listen to Radio: Your link to official information and rescue.
CONCLUSION: THE ULTIMATE PREPARATION IS A DECISION
References & Further Preparedness
- USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
- Earthquake Country Alliance: Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety
- Ready.gov: Earthquakes
- CGS Tsunami Inundation Maps
Disclaimer: This page presents last-minute emergency guidance for a rare catastrophic scenario. Always follow directives from local authorities and official sources.