KNBC, Red Cross Set Up Quake Phone

In anticipation of viewer anxiety during and after the airing of NBC’s miniseries “The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake” Sunday and Monday, KNBC Channel 4 and the Red Cross have set up a hot line to soothe the fears of Southern Californians and answer questions about quake preparedness.

The phone numbers will be flashed on the screen during breaks in the four-hour movie, and the lines will be staffed by Red Cross volunteers and technicians from 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday and Monday. Residents of Los Angeles can call (213) 739-4543, Orange County residents (714) 835-5381.

KNBC and the Red Cross will also provide “Family Disaster Plan and Personal Survival Guide” pamphlets. KNBC will air a series of public-service announcements this weekend informing viewers how they can obtain the pamphlets as well as earthquake-preparedness reports on its newscasts Sunday and Monday.

In addition, KCET Channel 28 is repeating “Surviving the Big One: How to Prepare for a Major Earthquake” at 11 p.m. Monday, immediately following the conclusion of the NBC movie. The program is also available on videocassette from the station.