Keeping Safe in an Earthquake
If you live in earthquake country, you know it. An earthquake is a memorable experience that everyone talks about for days afterward and no matter its intensity, there is always talk of The Big One.’
You know, the one that will turn California, Oregon and Washington into the newest islands to visit for summer vacation. That Big One. And if you live in earthquake country, you would be wise to be as prepared as possible, starting with your emergency kit.
• Earthquake Preparedness Kit:
While a kit will not keep you safe in an earthquake, it may save your life after one. As a native Californian it would be wrong of me to leave a kit out of any discussion of an earthquake.
This kit should contain necessities for each family member, including pets. Keep bottled water but remember to rotate it out for freshness sake. For the most convenience your kit should be a bag large enough to contain all the things you need, except the water, and small enough to carry. For starters I recommend including:
Tablets or some way to purify water
First aid kit (consider taking a First Aid class)
Medications taken regularly, keep where they can be grabbed on the run
Canned food, a can opener, and odd utensils, paper plates
Emergency blankets of heat-reflecting material that fold into a small packet
Battery-powered radio, lots of fresh batteries, and a flashlight (I have a radio/flashlight/alarm, all-in-one)
A wrench to turn the gas off should be attached near the shut off valve to keep it handy.
There is much more that could be added; think about your family’s needs to develop a practical, useful kit. Call your city hall and ask them what they provide to residents for earthquake preparedness. They may offer classes or first aid kits; they may offer nothing, but call and find out.
• Find a safe place to sit it out and count:
Even though most earthquakes do not last a long time they seem to go on forever. So for me counting is a way for my higher brain to tell my monkey brain to calm down when I want to go screaming into the street, which is advised against. As soon as I am sure it’s a quake I start counting and looking around to see what is coming off the shelves and walls. I don’t move unless I get to 15 or need to duck a flying microwave; so far I have not had to move.
Which brings us to sitting. The recommendation I have heard most recently, and the one that makes the most sense to me, is to find a place to sit that will support anything that might fall in your direction thereby providing you with a niche to rest in while the quake, well, uh, quakes. Sit next to your desk, not under it. The desk will not squash you but will provide something for a falling beam or such to brace against, ideally leaving you safely un-squashed. Kind of your own little pyramid, and we know how sturdy they are.
A doorway is no longer recommended since the door frame itself has been known to come loose and do major damage to the person standing blithely in the safest’ place they could find.
• Leaving the building:
Buildings in Los Angeles have evacuation drills on a regular basis, especially high-rises. If your building has an evacuation plan, be sure you know it and follow it. If it does not have a plan, make your own. If you need to leave the building when the quake has stopped, do not use the elevator. There will be after-shocks and an elevator is not the venue of choice for an aftershock. Run lightly down the stairs to the lovely sunlight and be thankful that you can.
• In your car:
Unfortunately, if you are driving you may not feel the quake immediately, but as soon as you realize the earth is moving you need to slow down as quickly and SAFELY as possible. Do no hit your brakes unless you want the car behind you to slam into you to make it a really fun-filled day. I will never forget watching the news as they showed a car going off the end of what was once an interstate freeway; it had simply separated leaving no road for the car. So, yeah, stop as soon as you can and wait it out. You will be safest in your car, plus, you will have the radio. You might want to keep a pair of walking shoes in your trunk if you frequently wear heels.
• Outside:
No matter where you are, keep the look for a place that will make a niche’ thought; cars (big ones – Hummers, SUVs, vans, buses, small trucks), corners of buildings, you get the idea.
Outside offers the added adventure of fallen power lines. They can kill you. Quickly and painfully. Give them a wide berth; do not touch them.
• Contact your family:
Frequently after a quake the phone lines are down within the quake area, but reaching a number in another state can be done. If possible, designate an out of town relative or friend to be the person your family calls in an emergency. When you call to say you are okay, you will find out who else is okay. This is a great way to give your family peace of mind.
• Finally:
Do not run! Do not run! Do not run! Oh, yeah, and do not run! You cannot run from an earthquake. The thing you are running on is quaking. Just find your niche, count, and wait. It will be over before you know it.
