Do you live in an area where an earthquake is likely to occur? Then you should prepare in advance so that if and when a strong earthquake occurs, your home with be prepared and you and your family will have a plan of action.
Do you live in an area where an earthquake is likely to occur? Then you should prepare in advance so that if and when a strong earthquake occurs, your home with be prepared and you and your family will have a plan of action. How can you prepare yourself in advance for an earthquake?
Prepare your Home.
1. Secure your heavy appliances to studs in the wall so that they are less likely to move during a severe earthquake. These appliances should include water heaters, stoves, washers, driers, and any other gas or electrical equipment that might either fall or bounce onto someone in your family or when bouncing or falling, break electrical or gas connections.
2. Put all heavy items on lower shelves. You do not want anything falling on your head.
3. Put latches on cupboards to prevent doors from swinging open. This will help reduce the amount of broken plates and cups that you will have to deal with after the quake is over.
4. Look at everything hanging on your walls. Those paintings, mirrors, and clocks will not stay on there during an earthquake unless they are eye bolted or eye screwed into the wall. Even lighter hanging items can fall, break, and potentially hurt someone, so make sure those are secured to the wall as well.
5. All of those pretty knick-knacks are going to come crashing down. Consider gluing them to the shelf or using Velcro to keep them in place.
6. Any liquid flammables should be placed on the lowest shelves in the garage or even better, in a storage shed away from your house.
7. Consider having safety film put over your windows, particularly those in bedrooms near beds. Glass can break easily during a severe earthquake and is a serious safety hazard.
Have a Plan of Action
1. Take some time to discuss everyone's responsibilities and the actions that everyone should take should an earthquake occur.
Where is the safest place to be in your home? Given the fact that you and your family may or may not be able to stay on your feet, an inner hallway is probably the safest place in your home. The least safe are kitchens and garages.
2. Discuss what to do if you can not move into the hallway. Getting under a strong table or desk or at least covering your head with your arms will afford you some protection.
3. Make sure that everyone knows how to get out of the house even if the front door is blocked. Look at all possible exits.
4. Set up a meeting place in advance so that everyone knows how to find each other should an earthquake occur when someone is at work or at school.
5. Know where the shut off valves are for your utilities and how to turn them off if need be.
Food, Water, and Supplies
1. Food: Keep a seven day supply of food on hand for you, your family, and your pets. This is not just a physical requirement; people feel better when they are able to eat at least some familiar foods. Some suggestions of what to keep on hand include canned meats, fruits, and vegetables; dried beans, fruits, and eggs; evaporated milk; and packaged snacks like granola bars, cookies, and beef jerky. Remember that these foods need to be rotated (eaten) periodically before package dates expire.
2. Water: Plan on having one gallon per person in your family per day for seven days. Water, like food, should be rotated in a periodic basis, roughly every six months. You can also drink the fluids from canned vegetables and fruits.
3. Medical Supplies: Keep over the counter antibiotics, insect spray, band-aids, latex gloves, disinfectants, peroxide, rubbing alcohol, gauze swabs, and any other supplies that that may help in a medical emergency.
4. General Supplies: Keep extra batteries on hand at all times. Have flashlights for each member of your family. Also have at least one portable radio to on hand for news. Keep fire extinguishers, heavy duty trash bags, and extra-prescription drugs on hand as well.
