What to do Before and Earthquake

Preparing Your Home for an Earthquake:

Buy or prepare an earthquake Earthquake Emergency Kits or Earthquake Survival Kits and also:

A first aid kit

All essential medications

Take special consideration of the unique needs of your family. Think about the things that your
family couldn't be without. If there are elderly persons, remember there needs as well.

Have with a set of instructions for turning off your utilities with your Earthquake Disaster kit.
(see utility shutoff procedures.)

Evaluating your home:

Eliminate potential hazards by making sure that all bookcases, china cabinets, dressers, and
other standing furniture is secured to the floor or wall studs.

Never place or hang heavy items such as mirrors, paintings, and shelves over places like beds
and couches where people are likely to be underneath.

Your water heater:

Make sure to strap your water heater securely to your wall studs.

Your water heater is extremely heavy and if it were to fall during an earthquake, it could break
gas lines and cause a major fire hazard.

Verify that your home is bolted properly to your foundation.

During an Earthquake:

Unlike hurricanes, earthquakes don’t come with a storm warning to warn you that one is on its way. You
might be eating dinner, sleeping, or driving your care when an earthquake hits.

When shaking starts:

Drop down and quickly find something sturdy to protect yourself with. A table or desk works
great. If there is nothing available drop to the floor alongside an interior wall and cover your head.

Avoid going near windows cabinets containing heavy items.

If you are in your bed:

Stay there and cover your head with a pillow to protect yourself from falling debris.

If you are driving:

Pull over to the side of the road. Avoid stopping under overhead hazards, such as telephone
lines, bridges, overpasses, and large trees.

If you are outside:

Quickly move to a clear area such as a field or a park. Avoid standing under buildings, power lines,
or any thing that could potentially fall on you.

Never try to enter or exit a building during an earthquake. Modern building designs hold well
during earthquakes, so it is safer to stay put inside until the shaking stops

After The Earthquake:

Check for Injuries:

Check yourself and others for injuries and have your emergency first aid kit ready.

Only use the phone to report serious life-threatening emergencies

Expect aftershocks and be prepared to take cover when they occur.

Shut off your utilities such as gas, water, and electricity. During an earthquake gas, water, and
electrical lines can break and continue to cause major damage until they are shut off properly. It
is important to shut off your utilities to prevent further damage to your home. (see utility shutoff
procedures)

Get your emergency radio from your emergency supply kit and tune into your local radio stations
for news and further instructions.

Inspect your Home:

Inspect your home and put out small fires with a fire extinguisher. If at any time you feel your
house is unsafe, take your 72 hour emergency kit with you and evacuate your home immediately.

*Remember that you will need a professional to turn your utilities back on

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Earthquake Preparedness

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