Commentary: Ridgecrest earthquake shattered California's cool

I used to be scared of California because I was scared of earthquakes. They loomed large in my arsenal of East Coast reasons why I'd never live on the West Coast.

Earthquakes remained atop my list of misgivings when, more than two decades ago, I surprised myself and moved to L.A. But then I got used to and even came to enjoy the thrill of the occasional quick jolt and roll - and gradually lost touch with what it was that had frightened me.

I'm embarrassed to say that, but for the events of last week, I might have remained in that state indefinitely.

Friday's whopper of a temblor in particular shook a lot of us out of our oblivion, I think - and refocused us on the disaster preparations we too often let slide.

It comes so naturally, I find, when it comes to disasters, to put