Preparing Before an Earthquake
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Identify safe places, in locations in which you spend most of your time in, that you can go to during an earthquake. These safe places include a sturdy piece of furniture, or against an interior wall in your home, office, or school.
When the shaking starts, one should drop to the ground, cover one’s head and neck with arms, and hold on to a sturdy object that will not fall. One may only have seconds to prepare for an earthquake, so one should practice doing this often.
Water heaters and various gas appliances should be bolted and braced to wall studs. All items that could potentially fall and become a danger to anyone should be in a safe place where it cannot do any harm. Large or heavy items should be on the floor.
A flashlight, batteries, radio, water bottles, a first-aid kit, and other critical supplies should be kept in an easy-to-access area in case of danger.
One should also check in with one’s family to discuss ways in which they could communicate with each other during times of crisis.
When the shaking starts, one should drop to the ground, cover one’s head and neck with arms, and hold on to a sturdy object that will not fall. One may only have seconds to prepare for an earthquake, so one should practice doing this often.
Water heaters and various gas appliances should be bolted and braced to wall studs. All items that could potentially fall and become a danger to anyone should be in a safe place where it cannot do any harm. Large or heavy items should be on the floor.
A flashlight, batteries, radio, water bottles, a first-aid kit, and other critical supplies should be kept in an easy-to-access area in case of danger.
One should also check in with one’s family to discuss ways in which they could communicate with each other during times of crisis.
What To Do During an Earthquake
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If You Are Inside During an Earthquake:
If inside a building during an earthquake, one should stay where one is until the shaking stops, and make sure to cover all vital parts of the body such as the head and neck. One should drop down to one’s knees and hold on to something sturdy.
One should also stay away from any glass, outside walls or doors, or anything else that can fall and pose danger.
One should stay indoors until shaking stops and try to stay as still as possible, and use stairs to exit the building after the shocks end.
Fire alarms and sprinkler systems may go off in building whilst the duration of an earthquake whether or not there is a fire, so one should be aware of this.
If You Are Outside During an Earthquake:
One should find a clear spot to stay put (away from buildings, power lines, trees, streetlights, power cables, or anything else that could potentially fall and be a danger) and drop to the ground. If one is in a vehicle, one should pull over to an empty location and stop, avoiding bridges, overpasses, and power lines if possible. One should fasten one’s seat belt and stay still until shaking ends.
If a power line does fall on one’s vehicle, one should not get out, and rather wait for assistance after the earthquake ends.
If one is in a mountainous area with cliffs and big boulders, one should be aware of the danger of falling rocks and other debris. Landslides are likely to occur during earthquakes.
If inside a building during an earthquake, one should stay where one is until the shaking stops, and make sure to cover all vital parts of the body such as the head and neck. One should drop down to one’s knees and hold on to something sturdy.
One should also stay away from any glass, outside walls or doors, or anything else that can fall and pose danger.
One should stay indoors until shaking stops and try to stay as still as possible, and use stairs to exit the building after the shocks end.
Fire alarms and sprinkler systems may go off in building whilst the duration of an earthquake whether or not there is a fire, so one should be aware of this.
If You Are Outside During an Earthquake:
One should find a clear spot to stay put (away from buildings, power lines, trees, streetlights, power cables, or anything else that could potentially fall and be a danger) and drop to the ground. If one is in a vehicle, one should pull over to an empty location and stop, avoiding bridges, overpasses, and power lines if possible. One should fasten one’s seat belt and stay still until shaking ends.
If a power line does fall on one’s vehicle, one should not get out, and rather wait for assistance after the earthquake ends.
If one is in a mountainous area with cliffs and big boulders, one should be aware of the danger of falling rocks and other debris. Landslides are likely to occur during earthquakes.
What To Do After an Earthquake
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After the shaking of an earthquake, the disaster may not be at a full end. Landslides, or even tsunamis can be triggered by the earthquake, and will most likely continue after the earthquake ends. There can also be aftershocks, which one should also be careful of.
Additionally, if one is trapped, one should not kick or move about, to prevent more damage; rather one should tap on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle so that rescuers could find your location and help you. If one is trapped, one should also attempt to call or text for help if phone lines are still in use. One should have a portable, battery-operated or hand-crank radio for updated emergency info and instructions.
One should check oneself for injuries, and get First Aid if one finds any before helping other people who may be in need of assistance. If going to help others, one should wear gloves, long pants/shirt, and sturdy shoes to protect against harm from broken objects. One should get everyone out of an unsafe area if danger is still present.
Look for an extinguish any small fires, as they are the most likely hazard after earthquakes, and clean up spilled medications, bleach, gasoline, or any other flammable substances as soon as possible. As the contents of closet and cabinets may have shifted, one should be extremely careful with the doors.
One should be careful and stay out of damaged areas with fallen power lines or broken gas lines. If one was away from home, one should only return if authorities say that it is safe enough to do so. Use extreme caution when checking for damage in certain places.
One should also expect traffic light outages when driving after an earthquake.
Additionally, if one is trapped, one should not kick or move about, to prevent more damage; rather one should tap on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle so that rescuers could find your location and help you. If one is trapped, one should also attempt to call or text for help if phone lines are still in use. One should have a portable, battery-operated or hand-crank radio for updated emergency info and instructions.
One should check oneself for injuries, and get First Aid if one finds any before helping other people who may be in need of assistance. If going to help others, one should wear gloves, long pants/shirt, and sturdy shoes to protect against harm from broken objects. One should get everyone out of an unsafe area if danger is still present.
Look for an extinguish any small fires, as they are the most likely hazard after earthquakes, and clean up spilled medications, bleach, gasoline, or any other flammable substances as soon as possible. As the contents of closet and cabinets may have shifted, one should be extremely careful with the doors.
One should be careful and stay out of damaged areas with fallen power lines or broken gas lines. If one was away from home, one should only return if authorities say that it is safe enough to do so. Use extreme caution when checking for damage in certain places.
One should also expect traffic light outages when driving after an earthquake.