Unlike hurricanes or floods, earthquakes come without warning and are usually followed by similar aftershocks. Learn how to prepare your house for earthquake safety and how to react if one does occur.
Steps
- Avoid unstable items and buildings. Injuries and deaths during earthquakes are caused by falling objects and collapsing structures, and are largely avoidable. Take extra care in your home to ensure minimal damage or injury.
- Secure heavy items. Since falling objects pose the greatest danger during an earthquake, all tall or heavy furniture should be secured to the wall to prevent it from toppling over. TVs, stereos, heavy paintings, pots and plants should be tied down or placed on safety mantles. Remove all heavy items from the tops of shelves and cupboards.
- Be fire aware. Ensuing fires after an earthquake can cause havoc. Make sure you know where to switch off the gas supply to your apartment or building. Know the emergency exits in your building and make sure they are not obstructed in any way. Keep a regularly maintained fire extinguisher nearby and learn how to use it. Most fires start small and can be extinguished easily with quick action.
- Prepare an escape bag. Include in it a radio, flashlights, spare batteries, solid fuel for a cooker, candles, money and ID documents. Stock up at least 3 days of water and food. Keep an extra rotating supply of your prescription medications in the bag.
- Protect your most vulnerable areas. In the event of an earthquake, take all measures necessary to protect your head and neck, the most vulnerable parts of your body.
- Assume the “earthquake position”. If you are indoors, drop down to the floor in the “earthquake position”. Make yourself small, with your knees on the floor, and your head tucked down toward the floor. Take cover under a sturdy desk or table. Place one hand on a leg of the table (to keep it from shifting away from you) and one hand over the back of your neck. Alternatively get down low next to a solid sofa or armchair and cover your head and neck with a pillow. Stay clear of windows, fireplaces, wood stoves, and heavy furniture or appliances that may fall over. Stay inside to avoid being injured by falling glass or building parts.
- Keep children and pets safe. If you have children or pets, do everything possible to get them under the table with you. Make sure as much of their bodies are protected as possible.
- Have shoes handy. To avoid stepping on broken glass and other objects, keep a pair of shoes and flashlight in a plastic bag tied to a foot of your bed so you don’t need to grope in the dark.
- Take precautions wherever you happen to be.
- If you are in a crowded area, take cover where you are.
- If you are outside, get into the open, away from buildings and power lines. If you are at the beach, move quickly to higher ground or several hundred yards inland.
- If you are driving, stop if it is safe, but stay inside your car. Stay away from bridges, overpasses and tunnels. Move your car as far out of the normal traffic pattern as possible. If possible, avoid stopping under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs.
- Try to remain calm. Wait for the earthquake to stop before moving from your spot.
Tips
- Have a first aid kit ready. Not just for earthquakes, it’s always best to have one handy. Keep:
- A flashlight or two
- Batteries
- Self Powered Flashlight x2 and Self Powered Radio x2 Try to find batteries during this emergency.
- Glowsticks. Candles are NOT to be used because of gas leaks, explosive matter, flammable matter in the area.
- Gauze
- Adhesive dressings
- Tweezers
- Small scissors
- Rubbing alcohol
- and cotton balls.
- You should always have sufficient water on hand to supply your family’s needs for three to seven days. (Don’t forget there are at least 30 gallons of water in your water heater.)
- Avoid using your phone. Leave circuits open for true emergencies. If you have a true emergency but get no dial tone, don’t hang up. As long as you stay on the line you are in the queue for a circuit as they become available.
- It may help to keep pets in a basket or a cage, so that they can’t wriggle away or scratch you from fear. Ask older children to mind the pets; the sense of responsibility for their pets will help to ease a little of their fear.
Warnings
- Stay out of moderately and heavily damaged buildings (err on the side of caution). The risks of injury during aftershocks is highest during the first few days following a large earthquake. Take the same protective actions during aftershocks.
- If your shelter is damaged and the aftershock has passed, try to find another shelter, or if you can get to an undamaged area, get to it and stay there.
- If you smell gas, hear any “hissing” noises, especially near a gas line, do NOT use candles at all. In fact, GET OUT OF THAT AREA!
Things You’ll Need
- Evacuation bag (see above)
- Wrench to turn off your gas if you smell it escaping
- Fire extinguisher
- Self powered flashlights (crank flashlights or glow sticks) and self powered radios. It could be difficult to try and find batteries after a quake and candles could set off an explosion due to possible gas leaks. Power may also be out for weeks. Some models of these self powered radios and self powered flashlights can also charge cell phones. Unless the cell phone towers are damaged, even destroyed, cell phones would still function.
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