One hundred years ago today, San Francisco was destroyed by an earthquake and subsequent fire. The comparisons between that disaster and the one that struck New Orleans last year are obvious and can be instructive. For people who live along the Wasatch Front, however, both disasters ought to raise serious questions in every home about what could happen.

Are people here prepared for an earthquake that, according to the experts, surely will come? Are emergency kits in place? Do families have plans for reuniting, should the earthquake strike while parents are at work and children at school? Have water heaters been tied down and are bookcases and other heavy furniture anchored to walls?

This week, the Deseret Morning News is running a series of stories that chronicles the worst-case scenario of a quake hitting in the winter of 2008. It predicts thousands of dead and injured, and many more becoming homeless. It is intended to get people to at least think about what such a disaster would mean.

Perhaps the chief lesson is that each family would have to find ways to be self-sufficient for several days until emergency relief arrives.

Another lesson is that, while disasters often bring out the best in people, they also bring out the worst. Americans were horrified by the looting and crimes committed in New Orleans as stranded people waited for help. But 100 years ago the situation was much the same in San Francisco. Looters targeted many homes in the city's finer areas. Some witnesses described how gunshots were common in the days following the quake. There is little reason to believe things would be much different here. Even only a small group of criminals can cause a lot of grief.

In the end, even the most prepared communities will suffer considerable damage if a quake measuring 7.0 or higher were to strike. In that case, the spirit of the people here would determine how quickly their communities would rebuild.

It's still far too early to pass judgment on New Orleans. San Francisco, which in 1906 had a population similar to that of New Orleans in 2005, demonstrated a tremendous community spirit as it rebuilt. But the process took many years.

People here always have been good to pull together and help each other. A big earthquake would test that as never before. But good advance planning and preparedness would help things along tremendously.