What to do to prepare for earthquake.
Before the Earthquake:
Keep in mind that not all earthquakes are serious.
A little ground shaking is a part of life in many regions, and nothing to worry about. The experience of a more serious earthquake however can be frightening and disorienting for that reason it’s important to be very familiar with safety procedures. That way, when the earthquake happens, you’ll simply follow the procedures instead of panicking. Some prior planning and practice will help you stay calm: this factor more than any of the others will likely improve your situation.
Collect emergency supplies: Emergency kits are one of those items that nobody pays much attention to until there’s an emergency. Make sure that everyone knows where the kit is located. Put it in an easily accessible area (the garage is good), rather than buried in a bedroom closet. Also, consider preparing a smaller version to store in your car trunk. Your kit should contain as many of the following as possible.
| A battery-operated radio |
| Flashlight. |
| A fire extinguisher |
| One gallon of bottled water |
|  |
Per person per day, for 5 days. Store in airtight containers, away from gasoline or other petroleum products. Change every six months in case the water becomes unsanitary.
| Non-perishable food: That does not need cooking or additional water. |
| A multiple tool knife with can opener. |
| Extra blankets and heavy clothing, including rubber-soled shoes and work gloves. |
| A first aid kit, with essential prescription medications and sunscreen added to it. |
| Money: $30-$100 in cash, depending on the size of household. |
| Know how to locate and shut off water, gas and electricity, and how to deal with circuit breakers. |
Step two:
Learn emergency procedures
If all this happened tonight, would your family know what to do?
Write down and put on the refrigerator: Some important points would be to:
| Select an out-of-town relative or friend to be your contact person. |
When separated, family members can call this person to report their safety, or to leave messages.
| If someone you know injured, and not knowing what to do |
Consider earning CPR and basic first aid. Red Cross offices or your local city hall will point you towards training programs. YMCAs and YWCAs are also good places to find information. The courses don’t take long and are often scheduled in the evenings or on weekends.
Step three:
| Indoors: take as few steps as possible to a “safer” area. |
These include inside corners of rooms (with walls that don’t face outside), under doorframes and under sturdy furniture. Stay away from windows, bookcases and shelving that could fall on you. And use stairs, not elevators!
| Outdoors: get into an open area away from tree, buildings and power lines. |
| While driving: pull over, and stay inside your car until the shaking stops. Don’t trust overpasses and bridges to be safe after a major shock |
Step four:
| First check for yourself for injuries, and then check others. Give first aid if you know it, but don’t move seriously injured people unless they’ re in immediate danger. |
| Do you smell natural gas (not gasoline) at any gas appliance, including your water heater? If so, your gas line may have ruptured. This situation requires immediate and calm action. Open all windows and doors, turn off the valve, and notify the utilities. Do not shut off the gas line unnecessarily |
| Check for water leaks and electrical systems damage. For the electrical, check for frayed wires, sparks, or the smell of hot insulation. If a utility line breaks, turn off the circuit breaker or water valve. |
| Check your house for structural damage: Cracks on the roof, chimney or foundation are signs of possible serious damage. Your house may not be safe during an aftershock. If so, seek out alternative temporary shelter. |
| Turn on your battery powered radio for instructions and news. |
| Keep the phone lines clear as well, except to report emergencies. |
Much of this information came from the Learn2com site on earthquake preparation.
