Earthquakes happen. When the next big one hits, 80,000 to 100,000 homes and apartment units could become uninhabitable, 300,000 people could be forced out of their homes, and as many as 1,700 road closures could make travel difficult or impossible.
There is a 62% probability that at least one earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater will occur on a known or unknown San Francisco Bay region fault before 2032. There's nothing we can do to prevent earthquakes, but there are things we can do to prevent or reduce the harm they cause. Preparedness is the key to eliminating a great deal of damage and injury. Here are seven steps you can take before, during, and after earthquakes that will help make you and your family safer and reduce your injuries, damage, and losses.
BEFORE A QUAKE
Step 1:
Study the impact of an earthquake in your area, and identify hazards in your home, school, workplace, and commute routes.
Santa Cruz HomeDamage in earthquakes is mainly from shaking. The intensity of shaking that a structure will experience during an earthquake is a function of three main factors: 1) the magnitude of the earthquake, 2) the distance from the fault that ruptured, and 3) the type of ground materials beneath the structure. Other damaging effects of quakes can be just as devastating, including fires, damaged bridges, pipelines, and powerlines, dam failures, and hazardous materials releases. Learn more about the effects an earthquake could have on your area by visiting the links below.
Water HeaterStart now by moving heavy furniture, such as bookcases, away from beds, couches, and other places where people sit or sleep! Also make sure that exit paths are clear of clutter. Many people think that all injuries in earthquakes are caused by collapsing buildings. Actually, most injuries in quakes are from objects that break or fall on people.
For example, in the 1994 magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake, 55% of quake-related injuries were caused by falling objects, such as televisions, pictures and mirrors, and heavy light fixtures.
* Hanging objects
* Objects on open shelves and tabletops
* Furniture
* Water and gas pipes
* Water heaters
* In the kitchen
* In the garage or utility room
* Home electronics
Step 2:
Create a disaster-preparedness plan
Disaster Preparedness PlanWill everyone in your household know how to react during and after strong earthquake shaking? To be ready for the quakes that are certain to happen in the Bay Area, it is important that your family have a disaster-preparedness plan. Your plan should include most of the following:
In a strong earthquake, individual survival skills will be crucial.
* Practice “drop, cover, and hold on.”
* Learn how to protect yourself no matter where you are when a quake strikes.
* Teach children and adults to use emergency whistles and (or) to knock 3 times repeatedly if trapped. Rescuers searching collapsed buildings will be listening for sounds.
Life-Saving Training
Doing the following will enable you to help your family and others after a strong quake.
* Take a Red Cross First Aid and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training course. Learn who in your neighborhood is trained in first aid and CPR.
* Know the locations of gas, electricity, and water shutoffs for your home. Know how to use them and keep needed tools nearby. Only turn off the gas if you smell or hear leaking gas. (See STEP 6)
* Get training from your local fire department in how to properly use a fire extinguisher.
* Check with your fire department to see if there is a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in your area. If not, ask how to start one.
Advance Plans
Windup Flashlight/RadioDon’t wait until the next earthquake to do the following:
* Keep shoes and a working flashlight next to each person’s bed.
* Identify safe spots in your home, such as under sturdy desks and tables.
* Locate a safe place to meet outside your home after the shaking stops.
* Establish an out-of-area contact person who can be called by everyone in the household to relay information.
* Provide all family members with a list of important contact phone numbers.
* Determine the needs of household members and neighbors with special requirements, such as use of a wheelchair, walking aids, special diets, or medication.
* Learn about the earthquake plan developed by your children’s school or day care.
* Keep copies of essential documents, such as insurance policies and financial records, in a secure location.
* Test smoke alarms and change the batteries once a year or when the alarm emits a “chirping” sound (low-battery signal).
* Have occasional disaster “drills” to practice your plan. Discuss your disaster plan and essential information with your babysitters, house sitters, and neighbors.
Step 3: Create Disaster Kits
Personal Disaster Kits
Everyone in your family should have their own personal disaster kits.
These kits are collections of supplies they may need when a quake strikes, no matter where they are in the Bay Area. Personalize these kits and keep them where they can easily be reached—at home, in the car, at work or school. A backpack or other small bag is best for these kits so that they can be easily carried in an evacuation. Include the following items as suggested to us by the fine folks at Quakehold:
* Medications and medical consent forms for dependents.
* First aid kit and handbook.
* Spare eyeglasses and personal hygiene supplies.
* Bottled water.
* Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location).
* Emergency cash.
* List of emergency contact phone numbers.
* Snack foods high in calories.
* Emergency lighting—light sticks and (or) a working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs (hand-powered flashlights are also available).
* Comfort items, such as games, crayons, writing materials, and teddy bears
Household Disaster Kit
Household Disaster KitElectrical, water, transportation, and other vital systems can be disrupted for several days after a large earthquake. Emergency response agencies and hospitals will likely be overwhelmed and unable to provide you with immediate assistance. To help your family cope after a strong earthquake, store a household disaster kit in an easily accessible location, preferably outdoors (not in your garage). This kit, which complements your personal disaster kits, should be in a large watertight container that can be easily moved and should hold at least a 3- to 5-day supply of the following items:
* Drinking water (minimum one gallon per person per day).
* First aid supplies, medications, and essential hygiene items, such as soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper.
* Emergency lighting—light sticks and (or) a working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs (hand-powered flashlights are also available).
* A hand-cranked or battery-operated radio (and spare batteries).
* Canned and packaged foods and cooking utensils, including a manual can opener.
* Items to protect you from the elements, such as warm clothing, sturdy shoes, extra socks, blankets, and perhaps even a tent.
* Heavy-duty plastic bags for waste and to serve other uses, such as tarps and rain ponchos.
* Work gloves and protective goggles.
* Pet food and pet restraints.
* Copies of vital documents, such as insurance policies and personal identification.
Step 4: Identify your building’s potential weaknesses and begin to fix them
Is your house, condo, or apartment strong enough to withstand an earthquake? Take a quiz to see if your home is likely to be so badly damaged in a future quake that people might be injured or that it would be unsafe to occupy. If you determine your home needs retrofitting, identify problems, prioritize how and when to fix them, and get started! The latest recommendations of structural engineers, contractors, and city building officials who are experts on retrofitting are available on the ABAG web site at http://quake.abag.ca.gov/fixit/.
During a Quake
Step 5:
Protect yourself during earthquake shaking.
The previous instructions have concentrated on getting you ready for future earthquakes in the Bay Area, but what should you do when the shaking starts?
If you are indoors...
* “DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON.” If you are not near a desk or table, drop to the floor against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms.
Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and cabinets filled with heavy objects.
Do not go outside until well after the shaking stops!
In bed - Hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken glass on the floor can cause injuries; be sure to put shoes on before stepping on the floor.
In a high rise building - DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators. Do not be surprised if sprinkler systems or fire alarms activate.
At work - DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON. Know your workplace’s earthquake safety plan and put it into action. When safe, move to a specified meeting location.
In a public building or theater - DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON if possible. If in a theater seat, duck down and protect your head and neck with your arms. Don’t try to leave until the shaking is over. Then walk out slowly, watching for fallen debris or anything that could fall on you in aftershocks.
Outdoors - Move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid buildings, powerlines, trees, and other hazards. Always assume fallen powerlines are live!
Near tall buildings - Windows, facades, and architectural details are often the first parts of a building to collapse. Get away from this danger zone when shaking starts. Take refuge in a safe building or an open space.
Driving - When able, safely pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, powerlines, signs, trees, and other things that might collapse or fall on the vehicle. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. If a powerline falls on the vehicle, stay inside until a trained person removes the hazard.
In a stadium - Stay at your seat and protect your head and neck with your arms. Don’t try to leave until the shaking is over. Then exit slowly, avoiding debris and watching for anything that could fall in aftershocks.
Near the shore - Tsunamis from local earthquakes may flood low-lying coasts within minutes of the quake. Distant, large earthquakes can produce tsunamis that may arrive hours later at California’s beaches. If you feel a strong quake, hear a tsunami warning, or notice the water suddenly withdrawing from the beach, evacuate immediately to higher ground. Tsunami waves may continue to arrive for hours, so do not return to the shore until an “all clear message” has been issued.
Below a dam - Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you are downstream from a dam, you should know flood-zone information and have prepared an evacuation plan. For more information go to the Association of Bay Area Governments web site.
Protect Your Pets
Keep up-to-date identification on your pets at all times. Use a properly fitted collar with an identification tag.
If you know disaster is imminent, bring your pets inside immediately. Get your animals under control as quickly as possible, either using a leash or a carrier.
Prepare a disaster kit with the following items: Portable carrier, Food/water bowls, One week supply of your pet’s food, pet’s regular medications and health records, a favorite toy.
Step 6: After the quake, check for injuries and damage
Once earthquake shaking has stopped, follow your disaster preparedness plans (see Step 2). Most importantly:
Check for injuries
NOTE: The manual in your first aid kit and the front pages of your telephone book have instructions on first aid measures.
Check yourself for serious injuries before helping others. Protect your mouth, nose, and eyes from dust.
If a person is bleeding, put direct pressure on the wound. Use clean gauze or cloth, if available.
If a person is not breathing, administer rescue breathing.
If a person’s heart is stopped, begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Do not move seriously injured persons, unless they are in immediate danger of further harm.
Cover injured persons with blankets or additional clothing to keep them warm.
Check for damage causing hazardous conditions
Fire—If possible, put out small fires in your home or neighborhood immediately. Call for help, but don’t wait for the fire department.
Gas leaks—Only turn off the gas if you suspect a leak because of broken pipes or detect the odor or sound of leaking natural gas. Use a manual gas shut off wrench to close your main gas valve by turning it counterclockwise. Don’t turn gas back on by yourself—wait for the gas company! (Your telephone book has information on this topic.)
Damaged electrical wiring—Shut off power at the main breaker switch if there is any damage to your home wiring. Leave the power off until the damage is repaired! (Your telephone book also has information on this topic.)
Downed utility lines—If you see downed power lines, consider them energized and keep yourself and others well away from them. Never touch downed power lines or any objects in contact with them!
Falling items—Beware of heavy items tumbling off shelves when you open closet and cupboard doors.
Spills—Use extreme caution; when in doubt, leave your home! Spilled medicines, drugs, or other relatively non-toxic substance can be cleaned up. Potentially harmful materials, such as bleach, lye, garden chemicals, paint, and gasoline or other flammable liquids should be isolated or covered with an absorbent material, such as dirt or cat litter.
Damaged masonry—Stay away from brick chimneys and walls. They may be weakened and could topple during aftershocks. Don’t use a fireplace with a damaged chimney, as this could start a fire or trap toxic gases in your home!
Step 7:
When safe, continue to follow your disaster-preparedness plan.
