A gigantic earthquake struck just off the coast of this South American nation in the early morning hours of February 27. The quake, centered near the city of Concepción, caused buildings, bridges and overpasses to crumble, killing at least 150 people and leaving thousands in desperate circumstances. Tsunamis hit nearby islands, with smaller surges hitting coastlines thousands of miles away.

Over the next few hours the quake triggered temblors along adjacent fault lines, causing a massive 6.9 quake in Bio-Bio, a 6.3 quake in Valparaiso, and a 6.3 quake in Salta, Argentina. Dozens of smaller earthquakes rocked other towns and villages.

This quake came less than 12 hours after a massive 7.0 earthquake struck the Ryukyu Islands in Japan and just 5 days after a 6.0 earthquake in Tonga. Meanwhile, swarms of small tremors continue to worry the residents of California, Hawaii, and Alaska. And we’re still cleaning up the earthquake devastation in Haiti.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the Chilean quake was 500 times more powerful than the one that hit Haiti.

Signs of the times? The increasing number and magnitude of earthquakes around the world is alarming, especially in the context of all the other natural and manmade disasters currently happening around the globe.

If you haven’t got your food storage and emergency supplies yet, when would NOW be the right time to get started?