EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

From the Red Cross – Preparedness Research Findings

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

HAVE A PLAN FOR YOUR HOME

• Have and emergency plan for your  home or studio – How will you get out of your house if there is an emergency?
• Boots and flashlight kept under your bed
• Meetup place for roommates or family
• Emergency Contacts written down
• Physical maps of the area and city
• Plans for reuniting with family and roommates
• People with special needs?

SECURE YOUR SPACE

• Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves . Weed killers, pesticides, solvents and flammable products should be stored on bottom shelves or in closed cabinets with latches. Chemicals will be less likely to create hazards if they are stored in lower, confined locations.
• Secure bookshelves, water heaters, and tall furniture to wall studs. Install latches on all cabinets, and anchor overhead lighting fixtures. Secure items that might fall, such as televisions and computers. Everyone have a fire alarm and extinguisher.
• SECURE YOUR PROPANE TANKS
• And have flexible connectors
• Move beds away from windows .
• Move or secure hanging objects over beds, couches, and other places where people sit or lie. Take the mirror off the ceiling and keep all glass objects away
• Keep shoes and a flashlight under the bed . Keeping shoes under the bed ensures quick access to prevent cutting feet on glass and reduces the risk that glass could fall into them.

HAVE EMERGECNY SUPPLIES
(Though covered on the SURVIVAL CENTER page where all of these items can be ordered, here is the list again)
This can all sound overwhelming, so I suggest eating the elephant one bite at a time.
Every time you go out shopping, pick up one or two extra items and put them away. You will be amazed how quickly your emergency kit grows.

• Emergency food, water, medications for a minimum of three days. Two weeks is recommended by LAFD
• This includes your pets
• Flashlight and batteries
• Battery powered/hand crank radio with NOAA
• Fire extinguisher
• First Aid
• Dust masks and duct tape
• Family documents, insurance policies, ID etc in waterproof container
• Cash in small bills
• Sleeping bags, tent
• Set of clothes put aside
• Bleach and medical dropper
• Water filtration (Lifestraw)
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Personal hygiene
• Mess kits (cups, plates, utensils, manual can opener)
• Whistle
• Personal sanitation….

OTHER SUPPLIES

• Solar panels for devices
• Tools for turning off utilities
• KNOW HOW TO TURN OFF YOUR POWER AT THE BREAKER BOX

WHAT TO DO (AND NOT DO) DURING AN EARTHQUAKE

• Drop, cover, and hold on . Move only as far as necessary to reach a safe place. Most persons injured in earthquakes move more than 5 feet during the shaking.
• DO NOT RUN OUTSIDE! Though this may sound counter intuitive, outside is where the falling masonry, glass , debris and power lines are. That is where most people are injured or killed. Building collapse in California will happen, but it is rare. And if the quake is big enough to take down the building, running anywhere will be impossible. You are still better off to DROP, COVER and HOLD ON.
• If indoors, stay there until the shaking stops . Many fatalities occur when people run outside, only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. It is safer to stay indoors until the shaking stops and it is safe to exit. When going outdoors, move quickly away from the building to prevent injury from falling debris.
• There is a 20% chance of an equal or larger quake in the 2 hours following an earthquake.
• If outdoors, find a spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights and power lines, and overpasses . Drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops. Injuries can occur from falling trees, street lights and power lines, or building debris.
• If in a vehicle, pull over at a clear location free of hazards and stop . Stay in the vehicle with seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Turn on the radio to get information regarding the quake and any damage to roadways that may have occurred.
• If in a high-rise building , expect the fire alarms and sprinklers to go off during an earthquake. Check for and extinguish small fires. Do not use the elevators.
• If in a coastal area , move to higher ground. Earthquakes often generate tsunamis.
• If in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes or cliffs , be alert for falling rocks and other debris that could be loosened by the earthquake. Also, watch for landslides that could be triggered by the earthquake.

WHEN THE SHAKING STOPS

• Check yourself for injuries . Often, people tend to check on others without checking themselves. You will be better able to help others if you are not injured or if you have received first aid for your injuries.
• Protect yourself from further danger by putting on long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes or work boots, and work gloves.
• After you have taken care of yourself, you should:
• Look for and extinguish small fires . Fire is the most common hazard following earthquakes. Extinguishing small fires and eliminating fire hazards will minimize the risk of a fire getting out of control.
• Clean up spills . By cleaning up medicines, bleaches, flammables, and other spills, it is possible to prevent many small but potentially dangerous hazardous materials emergencies.
• Inspect the home for damage . Aftershocks can cause additional damage to unstable buildings. If there are major cracks in the chimney or foundation or if the home or utilities have been moved by the earthquake, get everyone out of the home. Take photographs of the home and its contents to document insurance claims.
• Help neighbors who may require assistance.
• The “Golden Day”
  If help arrives within 24 hours survival increases to 80% – And you may be that help.

And you can watch the entire presentation that we made here….