HowtoSurviveanEarthquake.doc

How to Survive in an Earthquake A little knowledge and a few precautionary measures can enormously increase your chances of surviving an earthquake or any other type of hazard The keys are education and preparing in advance The earthquake safety tips below will not make you an expert However they could make a life saving difference if you find yourself in an earthquake situation Invest in your personal safety by studying below Before the Earthquake Learn how to survive during the ground motion This is described in the During the Earthquake section below The earthquake safety tips there will prepare you for the fast action needed most earthquakes are over in seconds so knowing what to do instinctively is very important Teach all members of your family about earthquake safety This includes 1 the actions you should take when an earthquake occurs 2 the safe places in a room such as under a strong desk along interior walls and 3 places to avoid such as near windows large mirrors hanging objects heavy furniture and fireplaces Stock up on emergency supplies These include battery operated radio and extra batteries flashlights and extra batteries first aid kit bottled water two weeks food and medical supplies blankets cooking fuel tools needed to turn off your gas water and electric utilities Arrange your home for safety Store heavy objects on lower shelves and store breakable objects in cabnents with latched doors Don t hang heavy mirrors or pictures above where people frequently sit or sleep Anchor heavy appliances and furniture such as water heaters refrigerators and bookcases Store flamable liquids away from potential ignition sources such as water heaters stoves and furnaces Get Educated Learn what to do during an earthquake see below Then you will be ready for the fast action needed Make sure that all members of your family have this important education Learn where the main turn offs are for your water gas and electricity Know how to turn them off and the location of any needed tools During the Earthquake If you are indoors stay there Quickly move to a safe location in the room such as under a strong desk a strong table or along an interior wall The goal is to protect yourself from falling objects and be located near the structural strong points of the room Avoid taking cover near windows large mirrors hanging objects heavy furniture heavy appliances or fireplaces If you are cooking turn off the stove and take cover If you are outdoors move to an open area where falling objects are unlikely to strike you Move away from buildings powerlines and trees If you are driving slow down smoothly and stop on the side of the road Avoid stopping on or under bridges and overpasses or under power lines trees and large signs Stay in your car After the Earthquake Check for injuries attend to injuries if needed help ensure the safety of people around you Check for damage If your building is badly damaged you should leave it until it has been inspected by a safety professional If you smell or hear a gas leak get everyone outside and open windows and doors If you can do it safely turn off the gas at the meter Report the leak to the gas company and fire department Do not use any electrical appliances because a tiny spark could ignite the gas If the power is out unplug major appliances to prevent possible damage when the power is turned back on If you see sparks frayed wires or smell hot insulation turn off electricity at the main fuse box or breaker If you will have to step in water to turn off the electricity you should call a professional to turn it off for you Whether you live in an earthquake prone region like California orJapan or in calmer lands the idea of everything around you shaking uncontrollably and potentially catastrophically can be terrifying There s a particular sense of helplessness that can accompanyearthquakes especially because there is no established scientific method of predicting them With that in mind preparation is the best defense If you reside in a place like California s Bay Area where there are eight or more faults that could produce a serious earthquake with a magnitude of 6 7 or worse knowing how best to weather an earthquake is as essential as a Floridian s knowing what to do when a hurricane approaches source USGS With that in mind we ll take a look at what to do before during and after an earthquake in this article From supplies to retrofitting to emergency communication we ll cover it all We ll also see whether duck and cover is indeed the best method and why Doug Copp s Triangle of Life technique has attracted so much controversy First let s see how to secure your home Earthquake Survival Securing the Home It s impossible for a building to be considered earthquake proof Earthquakes vary in type location and magnitude and even some of the best retrofitting may not stand up to an overwhelmingly powerful earthquake say an 8 5 Even so you can take measures to secure a building before an earthquake and to prevent potentially dangerous complications afterward It starts with making sure your house doesn t move from its foundation during the earthquake s resulting ground motion A seismic retrofit generally involves bolting the house to the foundation if it s not already Plywood is used to brace the walls which in turn are attached to structural supports known as floor framing The foundation itself might need some work For example an expert might recommend that an old brick foundation be replaced or capped withconcrete source Burnett These efforts when done properly can help to shift the earthquake s force Instead of damaging the structure of the house or knocking it off its foundation the foundation itself absorbs the brunt of the shaking Usually the actual shaking of the quake tends to do the most damage to buildings The distance from the epicenter and the magnitude determine how much damage might be caused but the type of soil and construction of the house are important as well A weak foundation on top of soft sandy soil poses more hazards than a firm foundation on solid bedrock In addition to shaking earthquakes may also bring with them fire water leaks and other aftereffects Retrofitting can costs tens of thousands of dollars though it may be much less Some contractors specialize in retrofitting but a structural engineer may be needed Besides securing the foundation and structure individual items should also be considered Large pieces of furniture particularly those that are taller than they are wide should be bolted to the wall Store breakable items on low shelves or in cabinets than can be secured shut Be careful of placing pictures or other items that could fall over beds Finally make sure you have a working fire extinguisher During the retrofitting process it s a good time to identify places that will be safe during a quake though we ll discuss this topic more later Also keep in mind that emergency instructions such as for shutting off gas should be handy and make sure you have a pair of good shoes a flashlight and warm clothing readily accessible KEEP IN TOUCH Make a plan to communicate or rendezvous with family members in case you aren t together when an earthquake occurs Keep in mind that cell phone service may be interrupted Earthquake Supplies A supply of food and water is essential for anyone in earthquakecountry Keep water stored in plastic bottles A three day supply made up of a daily ration of two quarts 1 9 liters of drinking and two quarts for food and sanitation should be considered a minimum guideline Experts recommend changing this water supply every six months source San Francisco Chronicle As for food keep on hand canned goods from various food groups and a can opener These provisions should be ready to eat or require minimal or no preparation Make sure you have a stash of any required special foods especially for family members who are sick or have particular dietary needs Focus on nutritious items loaded with good calories like nuts peanut butter crackers and granola Avoid provisions that require anything more than a minimum amount of hot water such as rice or pasta Better to stick with instant coffee tea or oatmeal Your food supply should be replaced or restocked once a year It can also be helpful to keep a stock of vitamins on hand A first aid kit is very important to have in case anyone suffers an injury Many earthquake related injuries are minor ones such as stepping on broken glass or twisting an ankle You can buy a good premade first aid kit or make your own it should be filled with disinfectants gauze gloves bandages a thermometer and other such items You should also have a backup supply of any prescriptions as well as a variety of nonprescription drugs such as pain relievers antacids and medications for abdominal intestinal problems Similarly good sanitation is key both for personal comfort and preventing disease Make sure you have a cache of toilet paper soaps hand sanitizers garbage bags bleach and disinfectants We ve taken care of nutrition hydration and health but clothes tools and personal documents are also essential A good sweatshirt and sturdy shoes will not only keep you warm if the heat doesn t work they will also protect you from exposed nails shards of glass or other hazards If you require glasses make sure they re near your bed in case you re there when a quake strikes and keep a backup pair in your kit Your supplies should also include blankets flashlights with fresh batteries tape a wrench or other tool to turn off the gas cash a fire extinguisher and a battery or hand operated radio Documents like passports identification family records bank account information wills and other essential items should be stored in a safe or somewhere else secure What to Do During an Earthquake The U S Federal Emergency Management Agencyand the American Red Cross both recommend using the duck and cover technique With duck and cover you should if possible get under a table or other solid piece of furniture and hold on until the shaking ceases Other common tips include staying against an inside wall and not going near windows or outside until the shaking stops As with a fire elevators should be avoided Doorways can be secure areas but not always If a doorway is the closest safe option and you know that it s a structurally sound load bearing doorway then go ahead and seek shelter under it In any case once you get to a safe place which we hope is quickly stay there hold on tight and don t move until the shaking stops Earthquake advice changes depending on where you are when the disaster strikes If you re in bed it might be best to stay there and use a pillow to protect your head and neck Of course if you haven t secured objects that could fall on your bed then that s not a safe area If you re driving and it s possible to continue moving drive slowly to a safe place but don t stop on or under overpasses bridges or other potentially unstable areas Turn off the car use its emergency flasher lights and keep the parking break engaged As you would if you were outside your car keep an eye out for objects that might fall like power lines or trees If you re outside during an earthquake it s best not to move too much You should avoid buildings and objects or structures that could fall Again power lines are a concern but so are a building s outside walls which may not be as strong as interior walls Avoid these exterior walls as they can collapse or produce falling debris or flying glass Now that you ve made it through the main event let s find out what to do afterward What to Do After an Earthquake Keep in mind that aftershocks smaller tremors can occur for months after the initial earthquake though the strongest ones will likely occur in the first few hours or days Aftershocks can cause additional damage or lead unstable structures to collapse Unsecured items could fall off shelves which is also a concern when opening cabinets or closets If you feel like the structure you re in may not be structurally sound leave and find a safe space to stay until an expert can confirm the building s integrity After an earthquake it s essential to be wary of a natural gas leak Don t light matches or use a lighter that could cause gas in the air to explode If you smell or hear gas often identified by a hissing noise then open windows and leave the house or building as soon as possible Turn off the gas valve and if you think there may be a leak contact the gas company Some people also buy a product that automatically shuts off the gas in the event of an earthquake You ll need an experienced technician to reopen the valve and restore the flow of gas Besides checking for gas leaks look around for water leaks and any spilled liquids that may be flammable or toxic Make sure that there is no damage to water lines or a home s chimney which could be particularly vulnerable in the event of an earthquake For those trapped in a building or under rubble the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA advises against moving too much or lighting a match source FEMA Also it s better to tap on something such as a pipe to signal rescuers rather than shouting If you shout you could inhale potentially deadly or debilitating dust Similarly cover your mouth to protect the lungs against dirt dust and other airborne particles In the aftermath of an earthquake it s important to get updates from local authorities whether over the radioor television if electricity is available in the area These updates should contain information about which municipal services are available which areas to avoid and how to call for help And if you live in a tsunamizone the authorities may communicate any necessary alerts EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION A battery or hand powered radio is essential for use in the aftermath of an earthquake when there might be no electricity The Triangle of Life Myth Doug Copp has become famous in some circles for his Triangle of Lifeearthquake survival method You may have received a chain e mailcontaining an essay from him in which he trumpets his credentials and claims that the duck and cover method almost always leads to unnecessary deaths He also challenges the conventional wisdom that doorways are dangerous According to Copp s method objects like sofas beds desks and other furniture get crushed or become compressed when a building or roof collapses But next to them is a void often in a triangular shape that he claims is a safe place in which to seek cover ideally in the fetal position He even says that large stacks of paper produce voids Unfortunately while Copp s survival tips are found all over the Internet a lot of controversy goes along with them S the popular site for debunking rumors and urban legends has found several problems with Copp s advice source Snopes The site points out that many of Copp s claims have been debunked on scientific grounds or shown to be inaccurate because they come from experiences in other countries with different building codes He has also been shown to have distorted and selectively used evidence to prove his points source Petal The U S Department of Justice launched a fraud investigation because Copp received 649 000 from the 9 11 victims fund yet apparently did little or no rescue work and did not suffer the serious injuries he claimed In addition the chief of special operations for the New York Fire Department called Copp a bald faced liar source Linthicum Besides these issues an in depth investigation by an Albuquerque newspaper where Copp used to live uncovered several other incidents in which Copp had lied about or fabricated his credentials including his supposed body detector machine which was in fact a readily available commercially purchased gas detector source Linthicum Much of Copp s advice seems to be derived either from limited experience or by seeing results such as that people survive in voids and making general assumptions as to the cause assumptions that he can t back up with scientific testing One of his few claims that experts have supported is that it is a good idea to avoid the stairs during an earthquake source Petal Keep reading for more links you might like on earthquakes and surviving Mother Nature By David Shenk Posted Wednesday Sept 6 2006 at 12 11 PM ET 8 How To Survive the Avian Flu Smallpox or Plague By David Shenk 7 How To Survive a Dirty Bomb By David Shenk 6 How To Survive Global Warming By David Shenk 5 How To Survive an EMP or Superworm Attack By David Shenk 4 How To Survive a Subway or Skyscraper Attack By David Shenk 3 How To Survive an Earthquake By David Shenk 2 How To Survive a Nuclear Bomb By David Shenk 1 How To Survive a Disaster By David Shenk If you do not live on the Pacific Rim feel free to skip this first paragraph Four fifths of the world s major earthquakes occur on the volatile tectonic belt that includes California Japan coastal China Indonesia and Mexico which means that anyone living there and notseriously preparing for a major earthquake little brother I m talking to you is a gambler who likes to lose big bets At some point in your lifetime at least one Big One is likely to strike somewhere in your region killing thousands maybe tens of thousands This is well known by everyone but most of the reporting has neglected to point out just how easy it is to prepare yourself for one of the planet s most reliable sequels Isn t it worth a few hours time and a few hundred bucks to dramatically improve your family s chances of living through it More on that preparation in a moment First let s move eastward over the United States because the real surprise about earthquakes is how exposed but oblivious the rest of us are Everyone knows about the Great San Francisco Quake of 1906 But how many know that in 1811 and 1812 Missouri and Tennessee experienced three grand earthquakes larger than any ever recorded in California In addition Idaho Montana Nevada and South Carolina have all recorded quak