Earthquake Survival is about advance planning. Preparing for an earthquake can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss and increase your changes of survival.
Earthquake Preparedness starts with these three easy steps:
- Have your disaster survival supplies and emergency communication plan ready,
- Place an automotive emergency kit in your vehicle if you are caught in your car during a earthquake, and
- Survey your home identifying potential hazards ahead of time.
Checking for Hazards in the Home
- Fasten shelves securely to walls and place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.
- Store breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and china in low, closed cabinets which securely latch.
- Place pictures and mirrors so that they are not close to beds, couches, or where people sit.
- Reinforce light fixtures with a cable bolted to the ceiling joist.
- Perform home repairs on a consistent basis so you aren't prone to leaks or wiring problems.
- Secure your hot water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and bolting it to the floor.
- If you have any chemmicals in your home, store them in a secure area on a lower shelf, where the cabinet can be locked.
- Gas appliances should have flexible hoses.
- Use flexible fasteners to secure the tops of tall objects such as bookcases to wall studs.
- Cover windows with safety film so they do not break.
Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors
- Next to sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table.
- Against an inside wall.
- Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.
- In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways.
Earthquake Survival Dos and Don'ts
Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might still be on the way.
Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place. If you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are sure that you can safely exit.
Earthquake Survival if indoors
- Old model / DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
- New mode / Triangle of Life as seen in the video above.
Regardless of which model you use - you should cover your face and head with your arms to shield it from flying debris.
- Stay away from glass and windows.
- Unless you know a doorway is a load-bearing doorway and is strongly supported, do not use it for a shelter area.
- If you are in bed when an earthquake starts, stay there until the shaing stops. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow. If you happen to be under a heavy light fixture that could fall, move to the nearest safe place.
- If you have a desk or table, take shelter there and hold on, otherwise, select an interior corner.
- Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. You will be more likely to risk injury trying to go outside than by staying put.
- Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on. .
DO NOT use elevators.
Earthquake Survival if Outdoors
- Stay there.
- Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
- Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls, due to falling debris.
- Ground movement during a quake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury.
Earthquake Survival if in a Moving Vehicle
- If you feel an earthquake start, stop your vehicle as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. If at all possible, do not stop your car or truck anywhere close to a tree, building, overpass or utility wires. You don't want any of these falling down on top of your or near you.
- Once the shaking as stopped, you can start moving again, but be cautious because there could be damage to roads or bridges. Always be aware of your surroundings. If you see anyone who needs help, lend a hand.
Earthquake Survival if Trapped Under Debr