Leona Heights Neighborhood News

by Gordon Laverty

The fourth anniversary of 9/11/2001 and the sad events on the Gulf Coast created by hurricane Katrina give cause for Leona Heights residents to plan and review family emergency plans. Living astride the Hayward Fault, of all people in Oakland, Leonans are remiss if we do not take seriously the warnings of seismologists about our overdue 6.9 Richter magnitude earthquake. This quake is forecast to result in as many as 700 fatalities as well as widespread structure and road destruction in the East Bay, according to Sean Holstege, Oakland Tribune staff writer.

While our section of the Hayward Fault is relieved somewhat by annual right lateral creep of about one-quarter inch a year, we still must acknowledge that our section has not had a major stress adjustment since the 1868 quake that overturned large locomotives in Hayward.

The important planning features we must review and update are these: communication substitutes when the cell phones and landlines fail, as they did in New Orleans; public service failure of fire, police, and other emergency services; home structure strengthening; family meeting and evacuation plans, whether members are apart or together; family and general security-test exercises for our area and other plan items. These issues will soon receive energetic attention by the Safety Committee of the Leona Heights Improvement Association. If you are a Leona area resident and would like to serve on the Safety Committee, please call Gordon Laverty at 531-4860.

We welcome all new residents of the Leona Heights neighborhood and hope you have a good experience here. Your participation in neighborhood and Association events can help assure that you and your family will indeed be glad you live here.