For people living in earthquake-prone places, the following information is certainly helpful. Thank you, Lina, for passing this on!
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What to do during an Earthquake
If indoors
§ Depending on where you are - home or office.
– Being beside a large, heavy object is better than being under it.
– Even if the object is crushed, there will still likely be empty space beside it.
§ With as few steps as possible, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch against a load bearing wall, in a corner or next to large, heavy pieces of furniture.
– It is much better to be near the outside of the building than the interior.
– The more distance between you and the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.
§ If possible, carry your handheld radio outside with you.
§ Stay away from glass, windows, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures, and large wall-hung objects like mirrors.
§ If you are in your bed, roll onto the floor next to the bed.
– Even if the bed is crushed, a safe area will likely form next to it.
– Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall.
– In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
§ Avoid using a doorway for shelter unless you are sure it is a load-bearing doorway in a load bearing wall.
§ Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Injuries can occur when people inside a building attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
§ Be aware that the electricity may go out and that water and gas lines may burst.
§ If heating waterlines burst, the water will be very hot.
§ Water can also pose an electrocution risk if water pipes have burst but the electricity is still on.
If outdoors
§ Stay there.
§ Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires, including the overhead wires for tram and bus lines.
§ Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops.
– The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls.
– Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury.
– Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.
If in a moving vehicle
§ Stop as quickly as safety permits. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
§ Use your best judgment about whether to stay in your car or not.
§ People inside of their vehicles can be crushed when the roadway above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles
– This is what happened when the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway collapsed during the San Francisco/Oakland earthquake in 1989.
– Most of the Nimitz Freeway victims were found inside their vehicles.
– They might have survived if they had gotten out of their vehicles and crouched down next to them.
– The crushed cars typically had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
§ Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.
If trapped under debris
§ Do not light a match.
§ Do not move about or kick up dust.
§ Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
§ Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you.
– Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort.
– Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
TO GOD BE THE GLORY.
HONOR GOD. MAKE DISCIPLES.
Lina
