Declarations

Little Good

“Looking into earthquake insurance after your home or business has sustained damage resulting from an earthquake will do little good to help you recover.”

—Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak encouraged Oklahomans to purchase earthquake insurance after a report predicted continued seismic activity in the central part of the state. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said central Oklahoma has experienced more than 200 magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes since January 2009.

Oh Deer

“We might be heading home to relax at the end of our day, but deer are just beginning their busiest time around dusk.”

—Joe Rogerson, a biologist at the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, urging motorists to watch out for deer crossing roadways, especially at dusk. For 2013 through September, Delaware police departments logged a statewide total of 591 deer-related crashes.

Catalytic Cash

“The attraction is that these catalytic converters contain precious metals – palladium, platinum and rhodium. … The thief can meticulously scrape those out of there and get more cash.”

—Jason Weber, community liaison officer for Menasha, Wis., Police Department, told Post-Crescent Media that catalytic converter thefts used to be something seen mostly in big cities, but his department began receiving more reports of them in October.

That Smell

“You’re asking for a very radical order on 24-hour notice.”

—Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert O’Brien said he wasn’t given enough time to consider whether to order an immediate halt to production of the popular hot sauce Sriracha at a Southern California factory that local residents say is stinking up their neighborhoods.

State Fair Probe

“There are still some unanswered questions we are trying to get to the bottom of.”

—Wake County (North Carolina) District Attorney Colon Willoughby on the investigation into a North Carolina State Fair ride accident in which five people were injured. Officials believe the ride had been intentionally tampered with.