Preparing for an earthquake is crucial, especially for those living in earthquake-prone areas like California. Steps include securing furniture and water heaters, creating a home earthquake plan, stocking an emergency supply kit, and knowing how to turn off utilities. It’s also important to have cash on hand and copies of important documents.
For most people living in the United States, how to prepare for an earthquake is the furthest thing from their minds. However, for those who live in earthquake zones or earthquake-stricken countries, such as California, earthquake “season” is 365 days a year. Disaster experts emphasize that it is imperative to prepare for an earthquake by educating yourself in disaster preparedness.
Since most of California’s major population centers are located in earthquake hotspots or along major fault lines, overcoming an earthquake is inevitable at some point. Taking steps to mitigate damage to your home or business is a good start to preparing for an earthquake. Your home should either be anchored to the foundation or retrofitted to make it strong enough to withstand an earthquake. If you rent, ask the owner of the building if steps have been taken to make it more structurally sound in the event of an earthquake. While making plans to prepare for an earthquake at home is smart, ask your job and your child’s school if they have contingency plans as well.
Inside your home or office, the next step in preparing for an earthquake is to make sure large bookcases and heavy furniture are securely fastened to the wall to prevent them from falling over. Four of the deaths in the Northridge earthquake in California were attributed to falling objects or furniture. Experts suggest securing furniture and water heaters to wall studs using straps. Water heaters pose a particular danger because they can be knocked over, damaging or rupturing the gas line.
Latches on cabinets can also prevent items from falling over during an earthquake. Heavy electronics can be secured to the shelves using nylon straps, and fragile or valuable items can be secured to the shelves with Velcro. Closed hooks are useful for keeping frames hanging on the wall, which can also become hazards in the event of an earthquake.
Once you’ve secured your home, the next step in preparing for an earthquake is devising a home earthquake plan. Find a safe area in every room of your home – usually an inside door or under a sturdy table is the best place. Practice often with children who reach the safe area quickly, away from heavy furniture and windows. Then, designate an out-of-town contact to whom everyone can receive a message if family members are separated and there is a communication breakdown. Also, choose a spot outside your home where the family can gather after an earthquake.
One of the most important aspects of earthquake preparedness is stocking an emergency supply kit. Your kit should include the necessary medications, a first aid kit, food, water, clothing, bedding, a radio, flashlight, and batteries. Many experts say the supply should run you anywhere from three to seven days, but some suggest supplies last anywhere from three months to a year. The needs of babies should not be forgotten and emergency kits should include diapers, formula and comfort foods for adults and children. Of course, this is only a partial list of the many things you may need to prepare for an earthquake – the Red Cross is an excellent resource for a more comprehensive list.
It is good practice to prepare in advance to be able to switch off potentially dangerous utilities in the moments immediately following an earthquake. Make sure you know where the turn locations are and how to turn them off. It’s a good idea to include a wrench or the necessary tools in your emergency kit.
To prepare for an earthquake, you need to anticipate some obstacles you may encounter later. Widespread power outages can mean that banks and ATMs won’t be able to function normally. For this reason it is smart to have a small amount of cash on hand for emergencies. Copies of important documents, insurance information, and a home inventory will also help you pick up the pieces later. If your home is unlivable after an earthquake, it’s also helpful to know where the nearest emergency shelters are most likely to be and draw maps of how to get there by car or on foot.
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