| What is the Expected Earthquake Damage to | | | | lines, consider them energized and keep yourself |
| your Home and Community? | | | | and others well away from them. Never touch |
| Your home may have some level of structural | | | | downed power lines or any objects in contact |
| damage to foundations, cripple walls, anchorage of | | | | with them. |
| walls to the floor or roof, masonry chimney, and | | | | - Falling Items: Beware of heavy items tumbling |
| around the garage opening or large window | | | | off shelves when you open closet and cupboard |
| openings if soft story conditions are met. On the | | | | doors. |
| other hand, damage to non-structural elements | | | | - Spills: Spilled medicines, drugs, or other relatively |
| and contents is most likely to occur to interior | | | | non-toxic substance can be cleaned up. Potentially |
| partitions, exterior wall panels, suspended ceilings, | | | | harmful materials such as bleach, lye, garden |
| electrical and mechanical equipment, ducts, water | | | | chemicals, paint, and gasoline or other flammable |
| and gas pipes, water heaters, hanging objects, | | | | liquids should be isolated or covered with an |
| furniture, home electronics, dishes, etc. In the | | | | absorbent material such as dirt or cat litter. |
| meantime, electrical, gas, water and sewage, and | | | | - Damaged Masonry: Stay away from brick |
| transportation systems are most likely to be | | | | chimneys and walls. They may be weakened and |
| disrupted for several days, weeks, or even | | | | could topple during aftershocks. Do not use a |
| months after a strong earthquake. Emergency | | | | fireplace with a damaged chimney as this could |
| response agencies and hospitals will likely be | | | | start a fire or trap toxic gases in your home. |
| over-whelmed and unable to provide immediate | | | | What if your Home is Seriously Damaged? |
| assistance. To help your family cope during and | | | | You should file a claim if your home has |
| after future inevitable earthquakes, you should | | | | earthquake insurance coverage and has some |
| establish, update, or maintain your own | | | | sort of structural, non-structural, or contents |
| earthquake preparedness plan now. | | | | damage. You should also evacuate if your home is |
| What is an Earthquake Preparedness Plan? | | | | structurally unsafe or threatened by a fire or |
| Earthquake preparedness is to know how to | | | | other secondary disaster. However, shelters may |
| setup various disaster plans before a | | | | be overcrowded and initially lack basic services, so |
| moderate-to-large earthquake hits your area, and | | | | do not leave home just because utilities are out |
| how to react during and after the earthquake. | | | | of service or your home and its contents have |
| The objective is to protect yourself and your | | | | suffered moderate damage. If you evacuate, tell |
| family from destructive earthquakes as well as to | | | | a neighbor and your family's emergency contact |
| minimize the earthquake damage to your home | | | | where you are going. |
| and its contents. Seismic retrofitting and contents | | | | Emergency Supplies to take to Shelter: |
| mitigation are two major components of | | | | - Personal survival kits. |
| earthquake preparedness that will be discussed in | | | | - Supply of water, emergency food, and snacks. |
| separate articles. How to establish an earthquake | | | | - Blanket, pillow, and air mattress or sleeping pad. |
| preparedness plan including the preparation of | | | | - Change of clothing and a jacket. |
| personal survival kits and a household emergency | | | | - Towel and washcloth. |
| kit are also discussed in another article. In this | | | | - Diapers, formula, food, and other supplies for |
| article, you will learn how to manage to survive | | | | infants. |
| during a destructive earthquake and how to | | | | - Books, games, crayons, and teddy bears or |
| recover few days or weeks after the earthquake | | | | dolls for children. |
| in order to help you and your family in returning | | | | - Personal identification and health insurance |
| back to your normal life style. | | | | information. |
| How to React when the Shaking Starts if you are | | | | Items not to Bring to Shelter: |
| Indoors? | | | | - Pets except service animals for people with |
| - If you are at home; drop, cover, and hold on | | | | disabilities. |
| under a sturdy desk or table. If you are not near | | | | - Large quantities of unnecessary clothing or other |
| one, drop to the floor against an interior wall and | | | | personal items. |
| protect your head and neck with your arms. | | | | - Valuables that might be lost, stolen, or take up |
| Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, | | | | needed space. |
| mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and cabinets | | | | What should you do the First Few Days after the |
| filled with heavy objects. Do not go outside until | | | | Earthquake? |
| well after the shaking stops. | | | | - If you evacuate, do not reenter your home until |
| - If you are in bed; hold on and stay there, | | | | you know it is safe. |
| protecting your head with a pillow. You are less | | | | - Turn on your portable radio or car radio and |
| likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken | | | | listen for information and safety advisories. |
| glass on the floor can cause injuries, so be sure | | | | - Place all phones back on their cradles. Call your |
| to put shoes on before stepping on the floor. | | | | out-of-area emergency contact, tell him/her your |
| - If you are in a high rise building; again drop, | | | | status, and then stay off the phone. Emergency |
| cover, and hold on avoiding windows and other | | | | responders need the phone lines for life-saving |
| hazards. Do not use elevators. The sprinkler | | | | communications. |
| systems or fire alarms may activate, so do not | | | | - Check on your neighbors. |
| panic. | | | | - Check your emergency food and water. |
| - If you are at work; you should follow your | | | | - If power is off, plan meals so as to use up |
| workplace earthquake safety plan. First drop, | | | | refrigerated and frozen foods first. If you keep |
| cover, and hold on then move to the specified | | | | the door closed, food in your freezer may be |
| meeting location after the shaking stops. | | | | good for a couple of days. |
| - If you are in a public building or theater; drop, | | | | - If your water is off, you can drink from water |
| cover, and hold on if possible. If you are in a | | | | heaters, melted ice cubes, or canned vegetables. |
| theater seat, duck down and protect your head | | | | However, avoid drinking the water from |
| and neck with your arms. Do not try to leave | | | | swimming pools or hot tubs as it can be used to |
| until the shaking is over, then walk out slowly, | | | | fight fires. |
| watching for fallen debris or anything that could | | | | - Check again for gas leaks at your home before |
| fall on you in aftershocks. | | | | using open flames (e.g. lighters, matches, candles, |
| How to React when the Shaking Starts if you are | | | | or grills) or operating any electrical or mechanical |
| Outdoors? | | | | device that may create a spark (e.g. light |
| - Move to a clear area if you can safely do so. | | | | switches, generators, chain saws, or motor |
| Avoid buildings, power lines, trees, and other | | | | vehicles). |
| hazards. Always assume fallen power lines are live. | | | | - Check again for chemical spills, faulty electrical |
| - If you are driving; pull over to the road side, | | | | wiring, and broken water lines. Water in contact |
| then stop and set the parking brake. Avoid | | | | with faulty wiring is a shock hazard. |
| overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs, trees, and | | | | - Unplug broken or toppled light fixtures or |
| other things that might collapse or fall on the | | | | appliances. These could start fires when electricity |
| vehicle. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is | | | | is restored. |
| over. If a power line falls on the vehicle, stay | | | | - Never use camp stoves, kerosene or gas |
| inside until a trained person removes the hazard. | | | | heaters, gas or charcoal grills, or gas generators |
| - If you are near a tall building; get away from | | | | indoors as these can release deadly carbon |
| this danger zone when shaking starts because | | | | monoxide gas or be a fire hazard in aftershocks. |
| windows, facades, and architectural details are | | | | What should you do Weeks after the |
| often the first parts of a building to collapse. Take | | | | Earthquake? |
| refuge in a safe building or an open space. | | | | Although aftershocks may continue, you will now |
| - If you are in a stadium; stay in your seat and | | | | work toward getting your life, your home and |
| protect your head and neck with your arms. Do | | | | family, and your routines back in order. Make sure |
| not leave until the shaking is over, then exit slowly | | | | your home is safe to occupy and not in danger of |
| avoiding debris and watching for anything that | | | | collapse in aftershocks. If you were able to |
| could fall on you in aftershocks. | | | | remain in your home or return to it after a few |
| - If you are near the shore; evacuate | | | | days, you will have a variety of tasks to |
| immediately to higher ground if you feel a strong | | | | accomplish while reestablishing routines. Tasks |
| earthquake, hear a tsunami warning, or notice the | | | | include: |
| water suddenly withdrawing from the beach. | | | | - If you shut off your main gas valve after the |
| Tsunamis from local small earthquakes may flood | | | | earthquake, arrange for the gas company to turn |
| low-lying coasts within minutes, while distant large | | | | it back on. |
| earthquakes can produce tsunamis that may | | | | - If the electricity went off and then came back |
| arrive hours later at beaches, so do not return to | | | | on, check your appliances or electronic equipment |
| the shore until an "all clear message" has been | | | | for damage. |
| issued. | | | | - If water lines broke, look for water damage. |
| What should you do After the Shaking Stops? | | | | - Locate or replace documents that have been |
| Check for Injuries | | | | misplaced, damaged, or destroyed. |
| - Check yourself for serious injuries before helping | | | | - Contact your insurance agent or company to |
| other family members. | | | | begin your claims process. |
| - Protect your mouth, nose, and eyes from dust | | | | - Contact the Federal Emergency Management |
| using the dust mask. | | | | Agency (FEMA) to find out about financial |
| - If a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on | | | | assistance. |
| the wound. Use clean gauze or cloth, if available. | | | | - If you cannot live at your home, set up an |
| - If a person is not breathing, administer rescue | | | | alternative mailing address with the post office. |
| breathing. | | | | Why don't you Practice for the Next Earthquake? |
| - If a person has no pulse, begin cardiopulmonary | | | | If you live in California, you should participate in |
| resuscitation (CPR) only if you took the training | | | | the annual Great California ShakeOut Earthquake |
| course. | | | | Drill. You can register at now for the 2010 |
| - Do not move seriously injured persons, unless | | | | earthquake drill on October 21 at 10:21 a.m.! It is a |
| they are in immediate danger or further harm. | | | | great opportunity to learn how to protect |
| - Cover injured persons with blankets or additional | | | | yourself and your family during earthquakes, and |
| clothing to keep them warm. | | | | to get prepared. More than 6.9 million Californians |
| Check for Hazards | | | | participated in the second annual earthquake drill in |
| - Fire: Put out small fires in your home or | | | | 2009. |
| neighborhood immediately. Call for help but do not | | | | Concluding Remark |
| wait for the fire department. | | | | The 2010 Haiti earthquake is a wake up call for |
| - Gas Leaks: Only turn off the gas if you suspect | | | | anyone who lives in an active seismic region to |
| a leak because of broken pipes or if you detect | | | | know how to setup an earthquake preparedness |
| the odor or sound of leaking natural gas. Use a | | | | plan, how to manage to survive during earthquake |
| manual gas shut off wrench to close your main | | | | shaking, and how to recover after the earthquake |
| gas valve by turning it counter-clockwise. Do not | | | | until returning back to the normal life style. In the |
| turn the gas back on by yourself but wait for the | | | | United States, these seismic regions include -but |
| gas company. | | | | not limited to- Alaska and the West Coast |
| - Damaged Electrical Wiring: Shut off power at the | | | | especially California; the Midwestern States |
| main breaker switch if there is any damage to | | | | especially Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, and |
| your home wiring. Leave the power off until the | | | | Tennessee around the New Madrid and the |
| damage is repaired. | | | | Wabash Valley Seismic Zones; and the Charleston |
| - Downed Utility Lines: If you see downed power | | | | area in South Carolina. |