| As my biggest experience with earthquakes was | | | | better outdoor supply area. |
| Northridge, I will use that as an example. I'll point | | | | The girls' beds were to close to the window: |
| out what we did right, what we did wrong and | | | | Believe me, after that, the beds were moved. |
| some of the problems others faced, both in the | | | | Finding a two foot long triangle of glass on our |
| neighborhood and in the region. | | | | eldest pillow was scary, she could have been |
| What we did right: We had a family plan and | | | | badly hurt. |
| followed it, that was important. We all stayed in | | | | Not enough things to do: This is important for all |
| our beds, and our young daughters pulled their | | | | members of the family, but especially for children. |
| blankets up to protect themselves from glass. As | | | | They need to be kept occupied and distracted |
| their window broke and some of it landed on our | | | | from the inevitable aftershocks. So do the adults. |
| elder daughter's bed, that was a good precautions. | | | | Yes, we'll be busy cleaning up, but it might take |
| The girls waited in their beds until we could get to | | | | several hours or even days before things settle |
| them and lead them out of the house. Again, a | | | | enough to do a thorough job. Power may be out |
| good idea as the electricity was out and there | | | | for days, which means long aftershock filled nights |
| were things on the floor that could have hurt | | | | with nothing to do. |
| them if they'd tried to run to our room. | | | | Not enough stored water and other beverages: |
| Each of us had a job to do right after the quake. | | | | Fortunately, we were able to turn the water on |
| Mine was to shut off the water, his the gas. Both | | | | fairly soon after the quake, but that's not always |
| were necessary, especially the water. The flex | | | | the case. For one thing, turning your water off as |
| lines on top of it sheared, and water was | | | | soon as possible after the first shake preserves |
| fountaining up to the ceiling and halfway down the | | | | what's already in your house. Your water heater |
| garage. | | | | becomes an important part of your earthquake |
| None of the beds were next to major pieces of | | | | survival kit. |
| furniture that could land on the beds. Falling | | | | Appliances and furniture should be secured to the |
| furniture can trap you no matter where you are, | | | | walls: Our speakers ended up on the floor, and |
| and it did happen to people during the earthquake. | | | | they are not small ones. Before toppling, the |
| Not all of them were in bed when they got | | | | gouged large holes in the walls. The fridge rolled |
| trapped, but it is something to keep in mind when | | | | out into the middle of the kitchen as well. |
| organizing a room. | | | | Here are a few other things that happened: |
| Both of us, my husband and I had flashlights that | | | | A man was killed by a flying microwave. Like our |
| we could get to from the bed. The lights were | | | | speakers, the microwave flew across the kitchen, |
| out, and everything that had been on the | | | | killing him. It's really important to think about *all* |
| dressers, shelves and nightstands was on the | | | | the appliances. A neighbor came out to turn her |
| floor. Some of it was broken glass and other | | | | water off with a lit candle. *Real* bad idea, as |
| potential threats. | | | | open flames can ignite gas lines if there is a break. |
| We had an earthquake kit: Food, clothing, first aid | | | | (We gave her a flashlight) |
| supplies, a battery operated radio and other items | | | | Several neighbors had flashlights, but they rolled |
| were available to us. | | | | away from the bed, and weren't available. This is |
| We had plumber's taped the water heater to the | | | | a harder problem to fix, you may consider slipping |
| wall. I got fussed at a bit about insisting on this, | | | | it into the bottom of your pillowcase and there |
| but we were one of three families in our | | | | may be other solutions. |
| neighborhood that didn't have to replace the | | | | Simple tools such as a manual can opener could |
| water heater after the quake. All we needed was | | | | make your life a lot easier. The canned goods are |
| about $12 in new pipes. | | | | not helpful if you can't get into them. Paper plates, |
| What we did wrong: | | | | cups and napkins will help preserve water and so |
| The earthquake kit was in the house. If the house | | | | will plasticware. Don't forget some means of |
| had collapsed or been red tagged we might not | | | | serving food. |
| have been able to retrieve it. It *used* to be | | | | The next article will help you explain earthquakes |
| outside, but I marked the barrel the supplies were | | | | to your children and the special items you might |
| in, and someone relieved me of them. Thus, I | | | | want to put into the kit for them. |
| moved them inside, when I should have found a | | | | |