Sales Soar at Survival Store

West Hills, CA After a 5.4 earthquake struck the Los Angeles vicinity today Survival Kits Online a Southern California emergency disaster preparedness store, saw a drastic spike in customer sales to their retail store and internet site with people searching for earthquake kits. 

“We really hope this wake up call is not short lived” said owner/partner Chad Allen. “There was an increase in concerned, shook-up people at our store as well as our online store www.survivalkitsonline.com today. Often times people forget about being prepared all too soon and this earthquake should shake them into reality and make people aware that it is not a question of if the ‘big one’ will hit, but when.”

The magnitude 5.4 earthquake shook the Los Angeles metropolitan area Tuesday, leaving residents nervous but causing no serious damage or injuries. It struck at about 11:42 a.m., according to the USGS, the United States Geological Survey. Its epicenter was about 2 miles southwest of Chino Hills and about 5 miles southeast of Diamond Bar. More than 30 aftershocks were recorded with the largest of those being a magnitude 3.6.

This shaker served as a warning to southern Californians to get prepared now with survival kits and supplies before the catastrophic one hits.

In an effort to explain to people that earthquakes are to be taken seriously and what is yet to come, Kate Hutton, a seismologist at the California Institute of Technology, said, "This is a sample, a small sample".

"This is somewhere between small and moderate." She said, “There is a 5 percent chance this quake could be a precursor to a larger earthquake. After 24 hours, that chance will drop to 1 percent.”

"Every earthquake relieves some stress," Hutton said. "It's usually only a drop in the ocean. In other words, the amount of stress released by this earthquake is minuscule compared to the amount that's built up and is building up for the Big One when it happens some day in the future."

A 5.4 magnitude quake is considered by the USGS to be "moderate," which can cause slight damage to buildings and others structures.

The last moderate quake to strike California was a magnitude 5.4 in April 2008 in the northern part of the state.  However, the last major quake to be centered in a heavily populate area was the Northridge Quake of 1994 measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale and causing 72 deaths and approximately 28 Billion dollars in damage.

According to the results of a study published in Science Daily in April, the California Geological Survey and the Southern California Earthquake Center stated that in the next 30 years, there is a 46 percent chance of California experiencing a quake of magnitude 7.5 or larger and a 99 percent chance for an magnitude 6.7 or larger.

"This earthquake reminds us to be prepared," said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We were very fortunate that there were no serious injuries or property damage."

Despite the absence of serious damage or injuries, some Los Angeles area residents were left rattled. The quake was felt as far south as San Diego, California.  The USGS said it received reports of light shaking as far north as Rosamond, California, about 55 miles north-northeast of Los Angeles and as far east as Las Vegas.

“We want people to do everything they can to be prepared”, said owner/partner Scott Kastner.  “This is why I got into the Emergency Disaster Business and started SurvivalKitsOnline.com in the first place. After being 3 blocks from the epicenter of the 1994 Northridge Quake, and experiencing its force, I don’t want anyone to be unprepared.”