Transcript How to Survive an Earthquake - New Capitol Estates News Cap

How to Survive an
Earthquake
 Earthquakes are among the most
destructive natural disasters.
 They can happen just about anywhere.
Earthquakes cannot be predicted.
 Your chances of survival are much better if
you prepare in advance and you know what
to do in case an earthquake strikes.
1. If you are in a
vehicle
1. Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle.
Avoid stopping near, or under buildings, trees, overpasses,
and utility wires. These can fall onto your vehicle.
2. Stay seated where you are in your car, and wait until it is
over.
 Cars are made of metal and that metal will protect you and
your family from most debris and falling objects.
 The only exception to this is when you are in a garage or
multi-level parking lot.
 When you are in a garage, get out of the car immediately,
and crouch down next to it. The metal will not protect you
from the concrete that will fall on it.
 If you are in a multi-level parking garage, survival mainly
comes down to luck. They best way to maximize your
chances of survival would be to do what you do in a garage
-- crouch next to the car.
 Do not try to rush back to your home. Most major
earthquakes have aftershocks, which should not be
underestimated.
 Aftershocks have the power to bring down buildings that
were damaged in the main quake.
 Aftershocks can range from very slight, to the power of the
original earthquake itself. These secondary quakes can last
for about 10 seconds or longer and can be life-threatening.
Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing when they will
happen, so there is no choice but to Stay Alert.
3. Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid
roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by
the earthquake.
4. Wait for government relief efforts. You shouldn't have to
wait in your car for very long for relief efforts to arrive with
food, water, and supplies.
2. If you are in a
building or indoors
1. Steady yourself. Hold onto a solid object or get to the floor so
that you do not fall.
2. Drop, cover, and hold. This is the national standard for
earthquake safety in the United States, and should be quite
applicable in our country too.
It means that if you’re indoors, stay there. Get under – and hold
onto – a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay clear
of exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, fireplaces and appliances.
The kitchen is a particularly dangerous spot.
If you’re in an office building, stay away from windows and
outside walls and do not use the elevator.
The alternate advice is to get next to a sturdy piece of furniture so
that if a wall falls, it will create a crawl space in which you can
survive. This “triangle of life” method, however, is inconsistent
with earthquake research and not recommended by the
American Red Cross, Structural Engineers Association of Northern
California Response, and Earthquake Country Alliance.
3. If you are in a building that collapses while you are in it, you
have to first make sure you and the people around you are
alright.
Call out their names to get in contact with them, then find out
which of them have injuries and how extensive they are. Minor
injuries can wait, but major ones have to be given first aid.
If you smell gas, whether it is natural gas, or the kind you put in
your car, try to find the location of the leak using your hearing
and sight. Talk to the people in your group to see which one is
closest to the leak, and have them tell you how bad it is.
Do the same with any fires or if you see or smell smoke. Do not
approach any fires.
If you can see light, try to go towards it to get to the outside.
If there is any rubble standing vertically in some way that you
think you'll need to move to get to the outside, test it first, to see
if it's load-bearing.
First, knock your knuckles against the object. If it doesn't move,
push or gently nudge. If it doesn't move, It is probably loadbearing, and therefore you shouldn't mess with it.
If it DOES move, however, it is safe to proceed.
When you get out of the building, help everyone else out as fast
as possible, without injuring anybody any further. Count each
person to see if everyone you were with inside has escaped with
you.
If not, DO NOT go back into the building to get them. An aftershock may occur at any time and trap you inside. It is better to
wait for rescue teams to come and take care of any person still in
the building.
Once outside, go to a safe place away from tall buildings, trees,
power lines, telephone poles, and semi truck trailers. In an
aftershock a trailer such as one on the back of a semi truck could
easily be tipped over onto anybody next to it.
It is better to find a place on the top of a hill or flat area.
If sinkholes are common in your location, watch for any signs of a
sinkhole opening up around you.
For emergency assistance, please call any of the following
numbers:
Emergency:
PNP:
BFP:
MMDA:
NDRMMC:
RED CROSS:
112
117
7295166
136
9111406
9111876
4. Protect your head and neck. Use your hands and arms. Cover
your head with a t-shirt or bandana until all the debris and
dust has settled, especially if you have any respiratory disease.
Inhaled dirty air is not good for your lungs.
5. Do not move. If it is safe to do so, stay where you are for a
minute or two, until you are sure the shaking has stopped.
Remember, aftershocks are possible at any time, and likely after a
big earthquake.
Aftershocks can range from being felt by only a few people to
knocking down entire cities. They can collapse weakened
buildings, especially mobile homes.
6. Slowly evacuate the premises. See what is left, and meet
your family at a prearranged open place away from buildings
and power lines, such as a nearby park. Government help
should be on the way soon.
7. Check for any fires. You should check your house or the
building you are in for any fire or likelihood thereof.
8. Inspect your house for anything that might be in a dangerous
condition. Glass fragments, the smell of gas, or damaged
electrical appliances are examples of hazards.
 Glass fragments, the smell of gas, or damaged electrical
appliances are examples of hazards.
 Do not turn electrical devices on or off. Simply switching a
light switch could create a spark, which in turn could
electrocute you and/or start a fire. These fires can be more
deadly because they are near electrical cords.
 Clean up dangerous spills. Gasoline could be fatal if it
explodes or touches something flammable. If you only have
paper towels, use several layers of them because gasoline is
poisonous and is very hard to wash off. Covering gasoline
spills with some shovelfuls of sand is a good idea, but
remember to mark the area, by putting up even a handwritten
sign that says 'Gasoline spill here' (tape it to a chair or even a
nearby car, for example).
 Stay away from damaged areas. Stay away until a police
officer, a plumber, a fire fighter, or relief worker inspects the
area and pronounces it safe to enter.
 Do not drink water from the sink since it may not be pure. The
sewage will be damaged in major earthquakes, so do not flush
the toilet. Instead, shut off the water system from the main
valve (have a plumber do this job for you if you don't know
where the main valve is).
 Make sure that you plug up drains from sinks and bathtubs to
prevent any sewage back-flow.
 Inspect utilities.
 Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or
hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the
building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you
can and call the gas company from a neighbor's home.
Remember, if you turn off the gas for any reason, it must
be turned back on by a professional, so only turn off the
gas if you believe that gas lines are damaged or gas is
leaking.
 Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or
broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn
off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If
you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit
breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
 Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect
sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call
a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water
company and avoid using water from the tap. You can
obtain safe water from bottled water or by melting ice
cubes.
9. Open your cabinets cautiously.
The items may fall on you if you open the doors quickly.
Inspect the damage, use caution with glass bottles, they may be
cracked and leaking.
Use extra caution with alcohol, acids, cleaners, or anything that is
toxic to the human body.
Containers may be leaking or tipped over.
3. If you are
outdoors
1. Stay there. Observe your surroundings, especially if you are in an
urban area. Keep in mind that earthquake-proof buildings have a
chance of falling too, so don't assume you are completely safe. A
sinkhole can appear in the ground due to the earthquake, so don't
walk around too much.
2. Move away from buildings, street lights, power lines, and
anything else that could fall. Also make sure you are not near an
open fault. People have died after falling into large holes which
suddenly appeared at the time of the earthquake. These can
appear anywhere, including on roads or parks.
3. Seek shelter near a hill or somewhere where the debris is not
going to fall down on you.
If you can, seek shelter in a place where you are protected from
the weather, but make sure that the rock and soil does not land
on you when aftershocks occur. Do not seek shelter under a
bridge, even if you think it is a sturdy one. Some bridges can be
earthquake-proof, but not completely safe as items, like signs or
lights, can fall on to you.
4. Stay in your shelter, and do not move. The earthquake is
spread across hundreds of square kilometers, so running
around would be the worst thing to do while the earthquake
is happening.
5. Observe buildings, power lines, or anything large or heavy,
that can fall on you if you were near it.
 Imagine how they could kill you if you stood near them? Also
as in during and after a typhoon, do not walk near power
lines, fallen streetlamps, or building remnants.
 Glass looks smooth and still, but when broken apart, a small
piece can damage your foot. This is why you should wear
heavy shoes to protect your feet at such times.
6. Use caution when you decide to come out of your shelter. It
is likely that there are other people near to you or near to
your area. Things like a cell phone are handy for everyone,
because if one person is injured, another can call for an
ambulance.
7. Wait a moment or two after the first quake, before moving
to any other place. It is best to do this, because aftershocks
right after an earthquake are usually the strongest. You can
also go out, but take care that debris does not fall on you.
TIPS
 If you are trapped, try to alert authorities to your presence.
 Sulphur dioxide (which normally smells like rotten eggs)
carbon dioxide and other toxic and dangerous gases can be
harmful to your body, yet may have no odor at all.
 A whistle or a horn can help people to find you, if you are
trapped or if you are uncertain of your safety.
 Generally, earthquakes that have a magnitude of less than 6.0
should be non-life-threatening. Bracing yourself to a wall or
heavy furniture when these weaker earthquakes strike usually
works.
 Listen to the latest emergency information on a batteryoperated radio. This is very useful if you need help.
 Lend a hand. If you have survived a major earthquake,
volunteer to do whatever you can to help find survivors, get
families and pets re-united, and cleaned up after the disaster.
 Appoint a trusted relative out of the area as the point of
contact in case of any major emergency. Remember that
telephone lines are very likely to be tied up, so use the phone
sparingly, especially during the first hour(s) after the quake.
 If you are at a school, listen to what your teachers say.
Generally, you should duck and cover under a desk, and
protect your head and upper body.
 Do some earthquake drills at your home with your family so
that you are ready. Remember that the best place to take
shelter would be void spaces, or near heavy furniture.
 Help the injured, especially the young and the elderly. They
need special care, and there is no exception to this.
 Dial emergency assistance for emergencies only. The
authorities will know that there has been a major earthquake.
If you can safely handle the situation yourself or wait for
assistance, do so. The phone lines will most likely be tied up
with calls from people who do need help.
 Do not panic. Earthquakes do not last for a long time,
generally a few seconds to a minute. The 1989 San Francisco
earthquake only lasted 15 seconds. Even though being in an
earthquake for 15 seconds might seem an hour, it will
eventually stop.
About Tsunamis
If you hear of a tsunami warning, leave the beaches immediately.
Thousands of people were drowned in the 2004 tsunami when
people stared at the “empty ocean.” Moments later, a powerful
tsunami hit the shoreline, drowning thousands and destroying
many buildings, and millions more were displaced.
WARNINGS
 Never flee outside a building when an earthquake strikes.
Many people who attempt to flee a building are injured or
killed by glass, debris, falling, cladding, and collapsing
buildings and/or walls. Wait until the shaking has stopped to
evacuate the building carefully.
 Do not ignore warnings, even if they are false alarms. Assume
that if a warning is issued, prepare immediately. Even though
you may waste time in a false alarm, it would be 10 times
worse if you didn't listen to it at all.
 Include suitable gear in your emergency kit for surviving the
weather too. If a major earthquake strikes during bad
weather, you will also have to keep warm. Likewise, you will
need to wear things that will keep you cool in temperatures
above 32°C (90°F).
 Beware of other hazards triggered by earthquakes.
Earthquakes can trigger landslides and can cause tsunamis if
you live near the ocean or sea. Beware of damage to
buildings, highways, and other structures. Also, beware of
fires following earthquakes. During the typhoon season,
volcanos can cause mud or lahar flows, which are extremely
deadly.
 Being on the upper floor(s) of a building is more dangerous
than being on the 1st floor. While you can get crushed by
rubble from the upper floors if on the 1st floor, falling down
onto the rubble is much worse. The basement isn't the best
place to go either for the same reason, but the fact that you
can get completely buried, especially if there is more than one
sub-level.
 Earthquakes do not happen only on fault lines. In 1886, an
earthquake shook Charleston, South Carolina on August 31 at
9:50 pm. The magnitude was 7.3, classified as major. The city
was over 250 miles from the nearest earthquake fault.
Things You'll Need
REQUIRED:
 Water - 2 to 4 liters (2 quarts to 1 gallon) per person, per day.
 Food - canned or individually packaged. Consider infants, pets,
and other special dietary requirements.
 First Aid Kit - ample and freshly stocked.
 Critical medication and eyeglasses, contact cases and supplies.
 Can opener.
 Radio - portable battery operated with spare batteries.
 Flashlight – with spare batteries and bulbs.
 Heavy shoes for every family member.
 Heavy gloves for every person cleaning debris.
 Sharp knife - or razor blades.
 Clothing - complete change kept dry, over and underclothes for
both cold and hot weather.
Recommended
 Blankets
 Fire Extinguisher-dry chemical, type ABC
 Feminine supplies
 Infant supplies (for those with infants)
Supply Kit for Automobiles
 Non-perishable food-store in coffee cans
 Boiled water
 First aid kit and manual
 Blanket
 Flashlight-spare fresh batteries and bulb
 Critical medication, extra eyeglasses
 Tools-screwdriver, pliers, wire, knife
 Short rubber hose
 Feminine supplies
 Sturdy shoes and gloves
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The foregoing PowerPoint presentation was put together from, and
largely based on two sources:
http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-an-Earthquake
wikiHow -- How to Survive an Earthquake
If you are in a VehiclelIf you are in a BuildinglIf you are Outdoors
Edited by General Jackson, RMunsonNJ, VC, Hawkstar and 78 others
And
http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/Earthquakes/Pages/qh_earthquakes_what.aspx
California Department of Conservation
Be Prepared: Before, During and After an Earthquake