On March 17, 2014, Los Angeles experienced a 4.4 magnitude earthquake, the strongest the city had seen in two decades. Fortunately this event caused little damage, but if you live in an area prone to earthquakes, it is important to be prepared for them as they can strike at any time with devastating force.
The threat of earthquakes is greater in certain parts of the country than others, particularly along fault lines. Coastal California sits on several fault lines, and major metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco are at risk of experiencing rattling earthquakes. The central Mississippi Valley, coastal South Carolina, and portions of the Rocky Mountain Range in Eastern Idaho and Southwestern Montana are all likely to experience shaking earthquakes within the next 50 years.
By learning earthquake safety and survival before a disaster hits, you’ll be prepared to survive before, during, and after an event.
Preparing
1. Secure Everything
Tall bookcases and wall cabinets should always be safely secured to the wall, but if they aren’t already, make sure to talk to you local hardware store about anchoring tall, high, or heavy furniture to the walls. This will protect you from being pinned under fallen furniture during a seismic event, and will keep furniture upright if a child or pet accidently bumps into it.
2. Emergency Shut-offs
Know where the emergency gas shut-off valve is in your apartment or house. Know how to turn off your electricity, boiler, gas, and water. This will protect your loved ones and your home from flooding, electrocution, explosions, or other major problems during or after earthquakes.
3. Organize and Plan
It is always good to have copies of your family’s important documents in your bug out bag. It’s also a good idea to have a map of your neighborhood or region with locations highlighted such as meeting points, safe houses (friends, family, or community centers), evacuation centers, hospitals, police stations, and routes from your home, office, and school to these places. Make sure you and your family are familiar with the map and that is accessible to everyone, even children. Create a plan for the case of a seismic event, and make sure the whole family is on the same page. Practice evacuating and travelling to safe places frequently, learning every route possible in case options are limited after an incident.
4. Emergency Preparedness Kit
Make sure your survival kit is accessible and light enough to carry. Check the expiration dates on medications and foods frequently to be sure your supply is fresh. Be sure to include prescription medications for every member of your family, including pets!
Surviving During an Earthquake
1. “Drop, Cover, and Hold On”
When you feel the ground shake, hear alarms outside, or hear on the television or radio that there is an imminent event, stop what you’re doing and take cover. Don’t wait until the shaking increases or until furniture starts to fall.
Drop – get down on the floor on your hands and knees. This prevents you from falling but allows you to move if you need to.
Cover – protect as much of your body as possible, especially your head and neck, with your hands and arms and also by seeking cover from a sturdy desk or table.
Hold On – literally, hold onto your cover structure and be prepared to move with it.
2. Stay away from exterior walls, windows, and decorative structures. If you are inside, stay inside. If you are outside, remain outside. You are safer under a strong table than in a doorway. Old houses have reinforced doorframes, but in newer houses doorframes are not any stronger than the rest of your house.
If you’re outside when an earthquake strikes, find a clear area if it is safe to do so. Avoid trees, power lines, vehicles, buildings, and other dangers.
3. As soon as the ground stops shaking, look to assist anyone who has been injured, avoid damaged structures, and head for higher ground. Travel on foot rather than by car. Don’t forget to grab your emergency survival kit if you are leaving home, the office, or your car.
If you are by water, walk or run as quickly as you can away from the shore and up to higher ground. Tsunamis and flooding can occur minutes or days after an event. Stay away from the coast until officials deem it safe.
If the structure you are in is safe and intact, you may remain there until you receive other instructions from safety officials. If the power is out, it will be wise to find alternate shelter, as the electricity may not be restored for days.
Recovering After an Earthquake
1. Connect with others. Make sure your family, friends, and neighbors are okay. If you live in close proximity to those you care about, check on them to ensure their safety, and if necessary, seek medical attention for them. Connecting with others will make you feel less alone and will be helpful if anyone needs assistance. Plug your cell phone in if you have power. Try to keep phone lines clear for emergency responders, but don’t forget to let loved ones know you’re okay.
2. Turn on your radio. If the power is out, you will not be able to watch the news on television to find out information. A weather radio or crank or battery operated radio may be your only link to news and safety officials. Be sure to pay attention to warnings and adhere by directions. If officials tell you to evacuate, follow the route proposed or planned and get out. Do not wait because you don’t feel an earthquake at the moment, as aftershocks and structural damage can be dangerous after any seismic event.
3. Check your home for gas leaks, compromised water pipes, exposed electrical wiring, and other structural damage. Take photos and contact your insurance company. Never touch exposed electrical wiring.
4. Be prepared for aftershocks. Just because the main event has ended, there can be aftershocks for weeks after a large earthquake. Avoid damaged structures and always be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On.
5. Assist in community rebuilding. If you are physically capable, assist recovery teams in locating the injured or deceased. Help neighbors and friends with clean up and rebuilding of structures or communities.
6. Be sure that contractors working to repair damage in your home are fully licensed.
Do not bring pets to evacuation centers unless they are service animals. Set up an alternate plan for them ahead of time.
Once the earthquake is over, recovery will begin. It is important to make sure everyone in your family is physically and mentally stable above all. Work with your community to rebuild and get back on track.
Go through your initial earthquake plan and address any oversights or mistakes that were made. Create a better plan and communicate it with your family. Following a natural disaster is the perfect time to address any misdirection or missteps in your initial plan. Just remember: Drop, Cover, and Hold On.