Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps Explains Why Homeowners Should Use a Certified Chimney Company

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps (http://www.mplsblueskychimneysweeps.com/), in Eden Prairie, is informing homeowners on the importance of doing business only with chimney companies who are certified from the Chimney Safety Institute of America.

Dave Lambert, owner of Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps, stated: “When homeowners get their chimneys cleaned and inspected, the main reason is to ensure they are safe to use. In order to feel confident that you’re getting a thorough safety inspection, it is necessary to go with a certified chimney company. Furthermore, certified chimney companies know the correct standards in which to perform their services, putting homeowner’s minds at ease. At Blue Sky, we are proud to be members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and we are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. We can still get people in during this busy time of the year to ensure your chimneys are safe during the fall and winter seasons.”

A past client of Blue Sky stated: “When Blue Sky came out they did a sweep and a camera inspection of my chimney. After getting quotes from other chimney companies this was by far the lowest cost. They were on time, polite, and seemed very knowledgeable. Everything around my fireplace was perfectly clean when they left. They even went up on the roof to check out the chimney to make sure it was fine on the outside too. I would definitely use them again in the future.”

Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps is family owned and operated, and the team has over 20 years of experience in the chimney repair and cleaning field, and all of their masons and sweeps are licensed and insured. They are members of the National Chimney Sweeps Guild and are certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. Blue Sky offers chimney cleaning in Minneapolis and the metro area. For more information on chimney services from Blue Sky Chimney Sweeps, visit http://www.mplsblueskychimneysweeps.com, or call 952-944-1744.

Dr. Larry Finn Offers Dental Cleanings

WARREN, MI – Dr. Larry Finn (http://www.dr-finn.com), offers dental cleaning, and urges the public to get regular cleanings because they promote overall health, especially for patients with diabetes or heart disease.

The purpose of getting a dental cleaning is to remove plaque, tarter and stains that have accumulated on the teeth. It is important for all patients, but especially those with diabetes or heart disease, to get a professional dental cleaning every six months. During the appointment, patients can be reminded of proper brushing and flossing techniques in order to maintain a good oral health regimen at home.

During a dental cleaning, you can expect a series of actions to be done. Some depend on the patient and what their current lifestyle habits are. You can expect the following during the dental cleaning:

• Oral cancer examination and scanning
• Evaluation of gum tissue
• Checking of bite, chewing and swallowing patterns
• X-rays of teeth to detect any decay
• Removal of plaque and tartar
• Stain removal
• Fluoride application
• Polishing of the teeth, including fillings and crowns
• Tooth brushing and flossing
• Sealants
• Tobacco counseling
• Nutritional counseling
• Recommendations for future treatment

Dr. Finn stated “Our staff provides comfortable dental care, and we are very sensitive to our patients’ needs. We love to treat families; our services incorporate care for both adults and children. No matter what type of dental service you need, we work to make the entire experience as easy and pleasant as possible.”

Dr. Finn and his team offers a variety of dental services including periodontics, endodontics, family dentistry, root canals, oral surgery, and cosmetic dentistry. He has over 30 years of experience performing minor to advanced procedures in dentistry. For more information on painless dentistry from Dr. Larry Finn, visit http://www.dr-finn.com, or call (586) 772-3540.

El alcalde Eric Garcetti solicita que se realicen reformas en el terremoto antes de que "Big One" llegue a Los Ángeles

Los dos terremotos masivos de México -con menos de dos semanas de diferencia- han provocado ondas de choque en los residentes y funcionarios locales en California.

Tanto es así, que el alcalde de Los Ángeles, Eric Garcetti, está instando a los gobiernos ya los dueños de edificios locales en California a que pongan todas las estructuras al código de seguridad sísmica lo antes posible.

Después del devastador terremoto de magnitud 7,1 golpeado justo fuera de la Ciudad de México, varios edificios se derrumbaron al suelo - y la destrucción fue capturada en video.

"Cualquier propietario de un edificio que piense que deberían sentarse y relajarse durante los próximos 20 años debería ver ese video", dijo Garcetti en un comunicado, mientras instaba a los propietarios de edificios locales a que sus propiedades fueran readaptadas. "Y vamos a averiguar una manera de llegar a trabajar ahora."

"¿Qué es más caro, la pérdida de toda su propiedad - y mucho menos la pérdida de vidas - o la inversión para asegurarse de que ningún terremoto de ese tamaño destruirá su edificio o matará a alguien?", Preguntó.

Según los ingenieros estructurales, la razón principal de que esos edificios se derrumbaron en México fue porque estaban construidos con "concreto frágil" y no habían sido adecuadamente adaptados para la seguridad sísmica. Por suerte, Los Ángeles ha comenzado lentamente pero con seguridad a rehabilitar edificios en todo el condado, gracias a la legislación propuesta por Garcetti en 2015.

La ley exige que los propietarios de edificios de hormigón tienen 25 años para reacondicionar sus propiedades, mientras que los dueños de edificios de apartamentos de madera deben tener sus estructuras reacondicionadas en 7 años.

Pero, con los dos terremotos de magnitud 7 y más altos de México, además del terremoto de 6,1 que sacudió a Japón la semana pasada, Garceti está pidiendo a los dueños de edificios que tomen acción ahora.

"Mirar esas horribles imágenes y ver la trágica consecuencia me recordó a nuestra responsabilidad No. 1 de salvar vidas y no sólo tratar de calcular una cantidad en dólares de 'demasiado' para salvar una vida", enfatizó. "Dicho esto, también me hace sentir incómodo pensando en los 25 años - elegimos el compromiso de ... poner un mandato que es muy fuerte, y que eran muy flexibles sobre el calendario"

Santa Mónica ha ido incluso un paso más allá de Los Ángeles, lo que requiere la adaptación de todas las estructuras de acero de marco vulnerable en toda la ciudad.

"Si la ciudad más grande del estado puede hacer esto, también puede hacerlo, también, en su propio patio trasero", instó a otros residentes de California.

Ahora, más que nunca, es importante ser proactivo sobre la preparación y la seguridad del terremoto.

Julian De La Torre es un experto en la inspección de la fundación de Los Ángeles, los contratistas de la fundación y la reparación de la fundación. La empresa Julian, Julian Construction, ha inspeccionado más de 15.000 estructuras, trabajando con empresas de ingeniería y departamentos locales de construcción y seguridad. La compañía ha hecho más reparación de la fundación en Los Ángeles que cualquier otra compañía en el área sobre los últimos cinco años.

Mayor Eric Garcetti Urging Earthquake Retrofits Before “Big One” Hits Los Angeles

Mexico’s two massive earthquakes – less than just two weeks apart – has sent shockwaves throughout residents and local officials in California.

So much so, that Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is urging governments and local building owners throughout California to get all structures up to seismic safety code as soon as possible.

After the devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck just outside of Mexico City, several buildings collapsed to the ground – and the destruction was captured on video.

“Any building owner who thinks they should sit back and relax for the next 20 years should view that video,” Garcetti said in a statement, as he urged local building owners to get their properties retrofitted. “And let’s figure out a way to get to work now.”

“What’s more expensive, the loss of your entire property – let alone the loss of lives – or the investment in making sure that no earthquake of that size will destroy your building or kill anyone?” he asked.

According to structural engineers, the main reason those buildings collapsed in Mexico was because they were constructed with “brittle concrete” and had not been properly retrofitted for seismic safety. Luckily, Los Angeles has slowly but surely started to retrofit buildings throughout the county, thanks to legislation Garcetti proposed in 2015.

The law requires that concrete building owners have 25 years to retrofit their properties, while wooden apartment building owners must have their structures retrofitted in 7 years.

But, with Mexico’s two 7 magnitude and higher earthquakes, in addition to the 6.1 earthquake that shook Japan last week, Garceti is asking building owners to take action now.

“Looking at those horrific images and seeing the tragic consequence reminded me of our No. 1 responsibility to save lives and not just try to calculate a dollar amount of, ‘too much,’ to save a life,” he stressed. “That said, it also makes me uneasy thinking of the 25 years – we picked the compromise of … putting a mandate that’s very strong, and we were very flexible about the timeline.”

Santa Monica has gone even one step further than Los Angeles, requiring the retrofit of all vulnerable steel-frame structures throughout the city.

“If the biggest city in the state can do this, then you can do it, too, in your own backyard,” he urged other California residents.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

Earthquake Emergency Kit: What Should You Have?

Angelenos need to be preparing for the “Big One”

With two huge earthquakes striking Mexico -- less than two weeks apart -- and a large earthquake hitting the Pacific (near Japan), now is a good time to make sure you’re ready for substantial seismic activity.

Every earthquake emergency kit should have enough supplies to last you for at least three days. The most important items are obviously water, food and First Aid, but if you’re stuck for three days or more without water and power, you’ll want to include much more in your kit.

See Julian Construction’s Recommendations for an Earthquake Emergency Supply Kit Below

Water: You’ll want at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household, and each person will need about 1-gallon of water per day. Remember to include enough water for your pets and a little extra for children, nursing mothers and any elderly or sick people. You’ll want to store your water in plastic containers, such as soft drink bottles. Don’t keep water in any material that can decompose, and you’ll want to change the water every six months.

Food: Keep a 3-day supply of non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, vegetables milk, juices and soups. Only use foods that require no refrigeration, cooking and very little water. Make sure to pack a manual can opener, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils, in addition to food for your pets. You can also include:

Protein or fruit bars
Dry cereal or granola
Peanut butter
Dried fruit & Nuts
Crackers
Vitamins
Comfort foods (cookies, candy, coffee and tea)

First Aid Kit: During or after a sizeable earthquake, there may be injuries inflicted from the damage. People can be cut, burned or suffering from other wounds which require medical attention. Pack a First Aid kit that has basic supplies, which will allow you to treat minor injuries on the spot. You should have:

Soap and antibiotic sanitizer
Sterile gloves
Antibiotic ointment
Burn ointment
Bandages of many sizes
Eye drops and/or contact solution
Thermometer
Prescription medications
First Aid manual/book
Non-prescription drugs (like aspirin or other pain relievers)

Electronics & Other Items: After a major disaster, you may be without electricity, gas, cell service and internet. You can prepare for this by packing:

Fully charged cell phone, battery back and extra phone charger
Battery-powered radio
Flashlight
Extra batteries
Whistle (to signal for help)
Dust mask or cotton shirt to help filter air
Moist towelettes for sanitation
Wrench or pliers
Plastic sheeting and duct tape for shelter
Garbage bags
Paper towels
Cash or travelers checks
Fire extinguisher
Compass and maps
Signal flare
Matches and lighters
Paper, pencil & pens
Feminine supplies
Extra eye glasses, contact lenses
Personal hygiene items
Copies of important documents or family records

Clothing and Blankets: In addition to the supplies listed above, if you have to evacuate from your home you will need extra clothing & blankets. You'll want to pack one complete change of clothes, a jacket or coat, long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, strong shoes, a hat and gloves, rain gear and a sleeping bag.

Plan for babies & seniors: If you have an infant, you will want to include formula, diapers, bottles, powdered milk, medications, moist towelettes and diaper rash ointment.

For senior citizens, you’ll want a list of their prescription medications, extra eye-glasses and hearing aid batteries, a list of the style and serial numbers for medical devices, extra oxygen, wheelchair, copies of medical insurance, list of doctors and emergency contacts, in addition to all other emergency supplies.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

What Does Earthquake Magnitude Really Mean?

With two massive earthquakes striking Mexico, less than two weeks apart – one at a 7.1 and one at an 8.1 magnitude – it’s important to understand how seismologist weigh the size of a quake.

According to today’s science, the magnitude of a temblor is determined by the amount of energy released by the shaking.

For an earthquake to go up one whole magnitude, that means the strength of the quake increased by 32 times.

This would mean that a 5 magnitude earthquake is 32 times greater than a 4 magnitude earthquake and that an 8 magnitude earthquake is 1,000 times greater than a 6 magnitude earthquake.

These calculations matter a great deal, especially when examining the difference between the 8.2 earthquake seismologists predict will hit the San Andreas fault (which runs through Los Angeles), in comparison to the 6.7 earthquake that devastated Northridge in 1994.

Magnitude especially matters when talking about active earthquake areas near densely populated regions. That’s why Mexico’s 8.1 earthquake was far less deadly than the 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit just outside of their capital, Mexico City.

Any earthquake over a 6 magnitude raises concerns. It’s these types of tremors that can damage buildings and move furniture, especially in non-retrofitted structures. While a size 7 magnitude earthquake or greater can throw furniture and inflict damage to the newest of structures.

Also this week, Japan experienced 6.1 earthquake 185 miles from Ishinomaki and New Zealand had a 6.1 earthquake 381 miles from Invercargill.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

225 personas muertas después de terremoto 7.1 golpea el centro de México

Justo a las afueras de la ciudad de México, la capital de México, un devastador terremoto de magnitud 7,1 golpeó el área el martes.

El temblor masivo colapsó 27 edificios en toda la capital, que tomó el peso del daño.

Hasta el momento, 225 personas han muerto debido a la destrucción (y ese número sigue aumentando), con la mayoría de las muertes reportadas en los estados de Morelos y México, y en la Ciudad de México.

Este es el segundo terremoto de magnitud 7+ que golpeó a México en sólo dos semanas, y el último se produjo en el aniversario del temblor destructivo de México de 1985.

No sólo fue el terremoto masivo, también fue superficial, ocurriendo sólo 51 km bajo tierra. Cuanto más bajo es un terremoto, más destructivo tiende a ser.

La presidenta Peña Nieto dijo a los ciudadanos de México: "Estamos ante una nueva emergencia nacional".

Muchos tomaron a las redes sociales para compartir imágenes del terremoto. -Gracias, Dios, por mantenernos seguros una vez más. Llegamos a experimentar otro terrible terremoto, esta vez durante un scout de localización ", dijo Ricardo Ramos, productor de televisión de Los Ángeles, compartiendo un espeluznante video de la sacudida.

Hace apenas más de una semana, México experimentó un terremoto de magnitud 8,1 frente a su costa sur, que causó la muerte de 90 personas.

Ahora, más que nunca, es importante ser proactivo sobre la preparación y la seguridad del terremoto.

Julian De La Torre es un experto en la inspección de la fundación de Los Ángeles, los contratistas de la fundación y la reparación de la fundación. La empresa Julian, Julian Construction, ha inspeccionado más de 15.000 estructuras, trabajando con empresas de ingeniería y departamentos locales de construcción y seguridad. La compañía ha hecho más reparación de la fundación en Los Ángeles que cualquier otra compañía en el área sobre los últimos cinco años.

225 People Dead After 7.1 Earthquake Strikes Central Mexico

Just outside of Mexico City, the capital of Mexico, a devastating 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the area on Tuesday.

The massive temblor collapsed 27 buildings throughout the capital, which took the brunt of the damage.

So far, 225 people have died due to the destruction (and that number keeps rising), with the majority of the deaths reported from Morelos and Mexico States, and Mexico City.

This is the second 7+ magnitude earthquake to strike Mexico in just two weeks, with the latest one falling on the anniversary of Mexico's destructive tremor of 1985.

Not only was the earthquake massive in size, it was also superficial, occurring just 51 km below ground. The more shallow an earthquake is, the more destructive it tends to be.

President Pena Nieto told Mexico’s citizens, “We are facing a new national emergency."

Many took to social media to share footage of the quake. "Thank you, God, for keeping us safe once again. We got to experience another terrible #earthquake, this time during a location scout," Los Angeles TV Producer Ricardo Ramos shared with a scary video of the shaking.

Just over one week ago, Mexico experienced an 8.1 magnitude earthquake off their southern coast, which killed 90 people.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

3.6 El terremoto sacude Los Ángeles, se sentía de Westwood a San Fernando Valley

Afortunadamente, no hubo daños reportados. De hecho, Los Ángeles recibe terremotos de este tamaño con relativa frecuencia.

"Recibimos estos terremotos de tamaño con bastante frecuencia", el sismólogo Zachary Reeves al Los Angeles Times. "Cualquier daño severo sería bastante improbable".

Una réplica de 2,0 años siguió al terremoto.

A principios de este mes, se informó que los sismólogos están trabajando para publicar pronósticos de terremotos para el público. Utilizando datos de terremotos más pequeños - similar al shaker de 3,6 del lunes - para predecir terremotos más grandes por venir.

Mientras que se creía previamente que los temblors más pequeños relevan la tensión en líneas de avería importantes, el sismólogo ahora dice que la probabilidad de un terremoto grande se levanta si la actividad sísmica moderada ocurre cerca de una línea de falla grande.

"Los grandes terremotos pueden venir en grupos. Y uno puede desencadenar el otro ", dijo el sismólogo estadounidense Ned Field, autor del nuevo modelo de pronóstico. "Si usted tiene más cosas pequeñas surgiendo, usted tiene más oportunidades para que uno de esos crezca en algo grande," campo agregado.

Afortunadamente, la coctelera del lunes estaba en una falla de tendencia al este y era "demasiado pequeña para asignar a una falla mapeada", según los sismólogos Lucy Jones.

Ahora, más que nunca, es importante ser proactivo sobre la preparación y la seguridad del terremoto.

Julian De La Torre es un experto en la inspección de la fundación de Los Ángeles, los contratistas de la fundación y la reparación de la fundación. La empresa Julian, Julian Construction, ha inspeccionado más de 15.000 estructuras, trabajando con empresas de ingeniería y departamentos locales de construcción y seguridad. La compañía ha hecho más reparación de la fundación en Los Ángeles que cualquier otra compañía en el área sobre los últimos cinco años.

3.6 Earthquake Rattles Los Angeles, Felt from Westwood to San Fernando Valley

Sleepy Angelinos were awakened by a 3.6 earthquake Monday night.

The tremor struck the Westwood area around 11:20 pm, with the epicenter located just west of the Sepulveda Pass of the 405 freeway.

The U.S. Geological Survey categorized the quake as a 4 and 5 intensity, which was predominately felt near Westwood and into the San Fernando Valley, with residents also reporting shaking from Los Feliz, Silver Lake and Glendale.

Luckily, there was no damage reported. In fact, Los Angeles gets earthquakes of this size relatively frequently.

“We get these size earthquakes fairly frequently,” seismologist Zachary Reeves to the Los Angeles Times. “Any severe damage would be pretty unlikely.”

A 2.0 aftershock followed the earthquake.

Earlier this month, it was reported that seismologists are working to release earthquake forecasts for the public. Using data from smaller quakes – similar to Monday’s 3.6 shaker – to predict larger earthquakes to come.

While it was previously believed that smaller temblors relieve stress on major fault lines, seismologist now say the likelihood of a large earthquake rises if moderate seismic activity occurs near a large fault line.

“Big earthquakes can come in clusters. And one can trigger the other,” U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Ned Field, author of the new forecasting model told the Times.

“If you have more little things popping off, you have more opportunities for one of those to grow into something big,” Field added.

Fortunately, Monday’s shaker was on an east-trending fault and was “too small to assign to a mapped fault,” according to seismologists Lucy Jones.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

Sismólogos Esperan dar Pronósticos de Terremotos Públicos

Mientras que los sismólogos no pueden predecir exactamente cuándo y dónde ocurrirá el próximo gran terremoto, muchos esperan proporcionar al público un servicio de pronóstico sísmico que informaría a las diversas comunidades de California sobre cuándo y dónde es más probable que ocurran las posibilidades de un terremoto mayor.

"Creo que la era del pronóstico del tiempo sísmico está sobre nosotros", dijo el sismólogo Thomas H. Jordan al diario Los Angeles Times.

"Ahora, no podemos hacer el tipo de predicciones detalladas que los meteorólogos pueden hacer", explicó. Pero no es que no sepamos nada. Sabemos algo ... En mi opinión, usted quiere que el público sepa todo lo que los sismólogos conocen, y básicamente podemos darle un pronóstico sobre una base semanal o diaria ".

Los sismólogos, como Jordan, están presionando por una aplicación que podría actualizar un mapa que muestra diferentes áreas de California que están en mayor riesgo de un terremoto.

De manera similar a los patrones climáticos siguientes, los sismólogos siguen cuando los terremotos más pequeños afectan a puntos sensibles - áreas próximas a una falla mayor (como la falla de San Andreas) - que aumentan las posibilidades de activar fallas mayores.

Por ejemplo, un pequeño terremoto que ocurre junto a la línea de falla de San Andrés en Los Ángeles podría desencadenar un terremoto de magnitud 7 o mayor.

A diferencia de la previsión meteorológica, las previsiones de terremotos tienen mayor margen de error. Según datos recientemente publicados en las Seismological Research Letters, sólo la mitad de los grandes terremotos son precedidos por temblores más pequeños.

La última vez que California experimentó un terremoto de una magnitud 7 o más fue en 1857. Antes de que el terremoto de 7,8 ocurriera, terremotos más pequeños ocurrieron cerca de la punta septentrional de la falla de San Andreas.

Llevando hasta el terremoto masivo, 6.1 y 5.6 terremotos de magnitud lo precedieron. Luego, apenas dos horas más tarde, el terremoto de 7,8 grados golpeó el condado de Monterey y bajó a Los Ángeles en sólo dos minutos.

"Los grandes terremotos pueden venir en racimos. Y uno puede desencadenar el otro ", explicó el sismólogo estadounidense Ned Field.

Aunque anteriormente se creía que los terremotos más pequeños alivian el estrés en la zona, los sismólogos ahora están sugiriendo que los terremotos aumentados en una sola área podrían señalar un "aumento de estrés" que podría predecir un terremoto más grande por venir.

Ahora, más que nunca, es importante ser proactivo sobre la preparación y la seguridad del terremoto.

Julian De La Torre es un experto en la inspección de la fundación de Los Ángeles, los contratistas de la fundación y la reparación de la fundación. La empresa Julian, Julian Construction, ha inspeccionado más de 15.000 estructuras, trabajando con empresas de ingeniería y departamentos locales de construcción y seguridad. La compañía ha hecho más reparación de la fundación en Los Ángeles que cualquier otra compañía en el área sobre los últimos cinco años.

¿Habla español? Echa un vistazo a Julian Construction en español AQUÍ!

Seismologists Hoping to Give Public Earthquake Forecasts

While seismologists cannot predict exactly when and where the next major earthquake will occur, many are hoping to provide the public with an earthquake forecast service that would inform California's various communities of when and where the chances for a major earthquake are more likely to happen.

“I think the age of seismic weather forecasting is upon us,” seismologists Thomas H. Jordan told the Los Angeles Times.

“Now, we can’t make the kind of detailed predictions that meteorologists can make,” he explained. “But it’s not like we know nothing. We know something … In my view, you want the public to know everything the seismologists know, and we can basically give you a forecast on a weekly basis or daily basis.”

Seismologists, like Jordan, are pushing for an app that would be able to update a map that shows different areas of California that are at a higher risk for an earthquake.

Similar to following weather patterns, seismologists follow when smaller earthquakes strike sensitive spots – areas next to a major fault line (like the San Andreas fault) – which increase the chances of activating larger faults.

For example, a small earthquake that occurs next to Los Angeles’ San Andreas fault line could trigger a magnitude 7 or higher earthquake.

Unlike weather forecasting, earthquake forecasts have more room for error. According to data recently published in the Seismological Research Letters, only half of large earthquakes are preceded by smaller tremors.

The last time California experienced an earthquake of a 7 magnitude or higher was back in 1857. Before the 7.8 earthquake erupted, smaller earthquakes occurred near the northern tip of the San Andreas fault.

Leading up to the massive quake, 6.1 and a 5.6 magnitude earthquakes preceded it. Then, just two hours later, the 7.8 quake struck Monterey County and made its way down to Los Angeles in just two minutes.

“Big earthquakes can come in clusters. And one can trigger the other,” U.S. Geological Survey seismologist Ned Field explained.

While it was previously believed that smaller earthquakes relieve pent-up stress in the area, seismologists are now suggesting that increased earthquakes in one single area could signal “increased stress” which would predict a larger earthquake to come.

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

Strongest Earthquake in 100 Years Strikes Mexico, 32 People Dead

An 8.1 earthquake shook Mexico’s southern coast just before midnight on Thursday. The massive quake is the largest earthquake Mexico’s encountered in nearly 100 years.

The seismic activity was felt from Mexico City all the way to Guatemala, leaving 32 people dead.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) issued a red alert after the earthquake, warning of  human loss and widespread damage.

"High casualties and extensive damage are probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Past red alerts have required a national or international response," the alert read.

The earthquake likewise triggered a tsunami warning in Mexico, with the National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning predicting waves as tall as 10 feet headed for the coast of Mexico.

Already, 1.85 million homes in the country have lost power and water, which may take up to 48 hours to be restored.

Aftershocks from the quake have added to the devastation, with at least five tremors – measuring above a 5.0 magnitude -- already recorded.

As the eastern regions of the United States prepare for Hurricane Irma’s landfall, Los Angeles Mayor, Eric Garcetti, warned Angelinos about the possibility of such an earthquake affecting Southern California.
“Friendship means standing together in good times and bad, and the thoughts of all Angelenos are with the people of southern Mexico who are recovering today following last night’s powerful earthquake,” Mayor Garcetti said in a statement about Mexico’s massive earthquake.

Garcetti likewise urged Californians to be proactive about earthquake safety, especially in the wake of such a devastating disaster.

“Californians are well-acquainted with the devastating potential of seismic activity, and the City of Los Angeles is proactively preparing for a disaster that is widely understood to be a matter of ‘when’ and not ‘if,’” his statement continued.

“Angelenos should be informed about what the City is doing to preserve life and property in the event of a major earthquake. Everyone in Los Angeles is encouraged to review the preparedness tips compiled by the Red Cross, and take the necessary steps to prepare their own families and communities — such as storing food and water, and developing readiness plans,” he concluded.

California is currently working on an early earthquake warning system, in addition to Los Angeles’ recent measure requiring the seismic retrofit of all wood-frame, soft story structures.

Recent data showed that the San Andreas fault line is due for a major earthquake, with some seismologists predicting an 8.2 in magnitude.

Since earthquakes started being recorded, a quake has occurred along the San Andreas fault line – near areas like the Grapevine – every 100 years, and it’s been 160 years since the last major earthquake occurred there.

“With 300 miles of fault all going in the same earthquake, you have everybody affected at the same time,” seismologist Lucy Jones told the L.A. Times. “The San Andreas is the one that will produce the earthquake that’s going to cause damage in every city.”

Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.

Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.

BigTreeSupply.com: How Trees Grow

By Nancy Penrose

All trees have a special type of plant tissue called meristem, a Greek word meaning “to divide”. The word was first used by Swiss botanist Carl Wilhem von Nageli (1817 to 1891). Trees grow when the cells within the meristem divide and produce new cells.

Meristem can be found at the tips of roots (root apical meristem) and shoots (shoot apical meristem). Root meristem creates root growth and shoot meristem produces more stem tissue, leaves and flowers. The trunk of a tree grows from another type of meristem called vascular cambium.

Trees only grow in height and width. A tree grows taller when new shoot meristem is produced at the tip of the twigs. Tree trunks and branches increase in diameter when vascular meristem cells divide beneath the bark.

A tree’s roots also grow at their tips. The root anchors the tree in the soil to keep it straight and stable. Tree roots also absorb water and nutrients from the soil, that are needed for growth.

Many trees start as a seed. The seed sprouts when there is sufficient water, light and warmth. A shoot goes up and a root goes down. There are also trees that start as shoots from the still living roots of a dead tree.

The tree continues growing by making its own food through a process called photosynthesis. It uses chlorophyll (green pigment) to capture energy from the sun. The energy is used to make sugars out of carbon dioxide from the air and water. The sugars (glucose) provide the fuel trees need to continue growing their roots, stems and leaves.

Young trees need sufficient water to maintain their growth. Mulching can help keep the soil around the tree moist and prevent weeds from growing. Use tree root stimulants for newly planted or transplanted big trees to help them recover more quickly from the stress of a move.

If you’re planning on buying a new tree, you can get more tree growing tips and advice from a big tree specialists at Big Trees Inc.


Nancy Penrose is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), (tree nursery Seattle / Snohomish, WA), one of the largest Seattle tree nurserys, specializing in large trees for sale and transplant tree service. Learn more about the care you can receive from our tree specialist at http://bigtreesupply.com/customers-speak/. See our video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEP1vudflm0 and connect with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Big-Trees-Inc/193731105108

Big Trees Inc. Transplants Two Large Native Willow Trees

SNOHOMISH, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree sales and transplant company, was asked by a general contractor to transplant two large, native Willow trees to a property being developed in Redmond, WA. The trees were part of a tree canopy mitigation with the City of Redmond.

Big Trees started the project a number of weeks after their first discussion with the general contractor, and began preparing to lift the 35-foot to 40-foot tall Willows. These Willows will offer a significant amount of branches and leaves to the southeast corner of the property, creating privacy and character.

The Big Trees crews spent two days digging the trees’ root systems and binding them tight with burlap, heavy rope and stretch wrap plastic. Once the root balls were ready, Big Trees applied some of their largest rigging straps to these root balls for the track hoe to connect to and lift the trees across the property to their new homes.

Todd Holmes, Operations Manager at Big Trees, mentioned: “It’s always exciting to see just how these larger trees break free from their original positions, considering how long they’ve been growing in those places before we’re asked to move them around. These big guys have to weigh around 12-15,000 pounds each, and luckily our monster 40-foot long, 24-inch wide straps are able to get them airborne and moved onto safer land!”

Nancy Penrose is the owner of Big Trees Inc., located in Snohomish, WA in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only deliver young trees, but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/ or http://arboristblog.com/. They can be reached at 360-563-2700.