Tale of Two Homes Superstorm Sandy: A Family and the Decision that Saved their Lives

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It’s been two years since the rare and devastating Superstorm Sandy, but the timeless story of the Sochacki family and their survival endures. As Sandy barreled onshore in New York and New Jersey on October 20, 2012, John Seth and Karyn Sochacki barely escaped from their 1940 bungalow only to watch the storm wash it out to sea. Fortunately, they were able to take refuge next door in an elevated concrete home that weathered Sandy with little to no impact.

The Sochackis have turned their devastating loss into triumph by sharing their story and inspiring others to build with resilience in mind. The fourth installment of Tale of Two Homes video series that showcases their experience is now the most popular in the series with more than 8,500 views on the FLASH YouTube channel.

FLASH met the Sochacki family though its partners from the Portland Cement Association (PCA).  According to PCA’s Donn Thompson, “We appreciate the Sochackis’ willingness to share their story and inspire other families to build safe and strong. We are proud to partner with FLASH and share their dedication to helping families build to survive in the face of natural disaster of all kinds.”

Drop, Cover, and Hold On! Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill Set for October 16

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Visit ShakeOut.org today to join millions of people in thousands of businesses, schools, and organizations registered worldwide to practice “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” on October 16. ShakeOut is a fast and fun drill that will help you, your family, and your coworkers get prepared to survive and recover quickly from the next big earthquake, no matter where it strikes.

“Everyone, everywhere, should know how to protect themselves in an earthquake,” said Mark Benthien, global coordinator of Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills. “If earthquakes don’t happen where you live, they may happen where you travel.”

Registration is free, and the drill will only take a few minutes. The website has resources for planning, getting prepared for earthquakes, encouraging others to participate, and more.