What is the best thing to do when there is an earthquake?

Answer 1

The most important thing to do is to remain calm. If you are inside a building stand in a corner or under an interior doorway, or under sturdy desk or table. Engineers actually approve of the idea of standing in an interior doorway- it is not just a myth. Avoid windows, fireplaces, large mirrors, and tall furniture. Stay clear of heavy machinery that may fall over. Do not get into an elevator. If you are outdoors, or near an exit move away from buildings and power lines that may fall. As long as your are in a structurally sound building, it is probably better to stay inside. If you are in an automobile stop in an open area away from overpasses and power lines. When driving, the shake of an earthquake will often feel like something is wrong with the car and may not be apparent. Stay away from beaches.

Immediately afterwards, be cautious about possible broken power lines and gas lines, and check to see if people are okay. Do not use the phone unless it is an emergency because if they are working, the lines will be jammed and need to be left open for emergency calls. Turn off the utilities like water, gas, and power to buildings if there is any chance of damage.

If you live in an earthquake prone area these are some easy things you can do to make your home more earthquake proof:

1. Find out if your homeowner's insurance covers earthquakes.

2. Be familiar with how to turn off your natural gas, water, and electric utilities. Consider installing an "earthquake valve" on your natural gas line. This type of valve shuts off automatically if there is shaking. It could prevent your house from burning down. Here are a few:
http://www.earthquakestore.com/gas_shut_...

3. Brace your water heater with at least two metal straps tied to a major wood stud or anchored to a concrete wall. The straps should be anchored with a wide angle extending laterally about two feet on each side of the water heater, if possible.

4. Install child-proof type latches on your overhead kitchen cabinets and other cabinets where things might fall out.

5. Anchor the top of tall furniture to a wall using a strap and anchor, or an angle bracket secured to a stud in the wall. Hanging pictures should be hung from hooks secured into studs.
Move chandeliers, tall bookshelves, and large mirrors away from beds. By the time a sleeping occupant has realized the earthquake is happening the hazard may have already fallen on the bed.

6. If you have an antenna attached to a masonry chimney, move it. Masonry chimneys should be checked and tuck-pointed if the mortar has begun to deteriorate. Be aware that masonry chimneys are very likely to shake apart in an earthquake.

Preparedness:
1. Be prepared to live without power and water for at least 72 hours. The water heater and toilet tank will supply up to 45 gallons of water if they are not damaged. Having a water purifying filter on hand is always a good idea. These camping type filters are the ones I recommend but either water purification tablets or those household water filtering kits are suitable:
http://www.rei.com/online/store/search?n...

2. Have a battery operated radio on hand, or even one of those self-powering crank units.

3. Flashlights and batteries are essential.

4. Don't expect the telephone, either land or cellular to work. If they are working, avoid using them except for emergencies as they will be overloaded.

5. Be prepared to live outdoors, preferably in a tent while there is risk of an aftershock. If your house is damaged seriously it may not be safe to re-enter.

6. Have a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit on hand.

7. Have a family plan, and plan ahead who will be responsible for helping elderly or children out of the house and the route. Know your neighborhood and the skills of your neighbors. If there are doctors or other emergency personnel in the area know how to contact them. If your family is spread out, have someone out of the area for everyone to check in with. Long distance calls will be easier than local calls.

8. Make some plans for your pets. Many pets get confused during earthquakes and get lost.

9. Keep a small camp stove handy, or at least some canned food and a manual can opener. Eat the food in your refrigerator first, then the food in the freezer. An unopened freezer will last about 3 days.

10. Apply the same concepts to your workplace. Know how you will contact the rest of your family if at work. Many emergency personnel have their entire family carry a small CB-radio because they realize they would not be able to function properly if they were uncertain about the status of their family.

11. Stay off the roads unless it is an emergency. Try to leave roads open for emergency services like ambulances and fire trucks.

If you want to read more about earthquake preparation buy or check out a copy of this book:
Yanev, Peter I. , 1991, Peace of Mind in Earthquake Country: How to Save Your Home and Life. San Francisco: Chronicle Books. 218 pp. ISBN: 0877017719
(at this moment there are 18 copies available used on Amazon.com starting at $4.25. I am sure other booksellers will have this book as well)

Answer 2

Well that really depends on the size of the earthquake and where you are.

If it's a monster quake (like a 7 on the Richter Scale) and you are within a few miles of the epicenter, just kiss your sweet a** goodbye. If you are half a world away from the epicenter, you can continue with whatever you were doing without ever noticing that an earthquake occurred. Once you find out, then start sending aid.

If you are right on top of a tiny earthquake (say a 2 on the Richter Scale), just wait for the dishes to stop rattling and then try to figure out what happened. By the time you mind finally gets to the realization that it was indeed an earthquake, everything will have already returned to normal. In that case there is nothing left to do, but resume your activities that were interrupted (if they were) by the gentle shaking.

Answer 3

The absolute safest place to be during an earthquake is a large open area where nothing can fall on you. If you're stuck inside a building, doorways are generally the strongest structural point...but if the building isn't to code, you may be in trouble anyway. It seems ironic, but inside a skyscraper is also a fairly safe place to be....most are built to withstand windloads that are much greater than any load an earthquake could impart onto the structure.

The real problem is that when a strong earthquake hits, you have no warning and it's almost impossible to stay standing, let alone run anywhere....so generally there isn't anything you can do.

Answer 4

A couple of things.

First of all if you are in a building GET OUT!! If you do make it out get into open fields and not stand some where debris can fall on your head.

If you can't get out then there are a few places you can stand in. You can stand under the stair IF and ONLY IF they are cement or concrete not the wood ones. Those stairs are one of the last things to fall in a structure. Better yet stand in a corner - again this is the corner of the building not the corner of a room whose walls are made of wood - corner are more likely to fall the last. Or you can stand under doors - again the doors have to be in solid cement/concrete structures - no use standing in a door which is held by wooden walls.

Also, as a habbit and not just for earthquakes, always know where the exits to the building you are in are. I am not saying that you have to know each and everyone but just pay attention to the exit signs when you are walking around in a building - that might be handy! :)

And if you believe in prayers, PRAY!

Stay safe!

Answer 5

If you are indoors, when you feel strong earthquake shaking, drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it firmly until the shaking stops.

The previous pages 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 (see STEP 2)!

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.

If you are 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. For more tsunami survival tips go to http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/c1187/.

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 at http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/eqfloods/floods.html.

Don’t be fooled!— Myth number 6

“HEAD FOR THE DOORWAY”

In the early days of California, many homes were made of adobe bricks with wooden doorframes. After a powerful earthquake, doorframes were sometimes only parts of these houses still standing. From this came the myth that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. Today, few people in the Bay Area live in old, unreinforced adobe houses. In modern houses, doorways may be no stronger than any other part of the house and do little to protect you from falling debris. You are safer under a table, so “DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON.”

CHECK OUT THE SOURCE

Answer 6

1. Panic. It is only in panic mode when people experience adrenalin rush, thus, you can save your beloved refrigerator and your food supply.

2. Don't stay under the table. You'll get blocked in and it would take many days for the rescuers to find you - dead or alive.

3. Jump on your bed. At least you'll fall on something soft and comfortable and if you'll get hit by falling debris, you look as if you're just asleep.

4. Smile.

Answer 7

I'm not sure but I see people go under doorways and desks and things like that when there's an earthquake.

Answer 8

if you are in a building get out if possible or if not get under a desk or stand in a doorway as these tend to be reinforced. If you are outside and nowhere near any buildings thank your lucky stars and stay there till its over. alternatively you could have a panic/heart attack but neither will save you.

Answer 9

Stand in the doorway. The overhead support structure will offer the best protection.

Answer 10

Pray