Earthquake Preparedness Tips and Guidelines

With the recent devastating earthquake in Nepal, there is a need to address the issue of earthquake preparedness and what that entails. There are certain myths surrounding earthquakes that have been drilled into our heads that need to be dispelled so you can possibly survive such a natural disaster without placing yourself in danger without a point. The following will explain some details and what you can do to deal with them before, during and after an earthquake:

• Doorways are not really stronger than the rest of your structure, so you should avoid using them for protection. The best you can hope for during an earthquake is to find a good piece of furniture and hold on to it, which would help in most cases, but the most severe earthquakes.
• You need to be intimately aware of any earthquake safety plans, fire evacuation routes and more in the building you inhabit, especially if you live in a quake-prone area.
• Pick safe zones in each room around your home, school or workplace. Safe zones would be somewhere under sturdy furniture pieces, an interior wall well away from windows with your head and neck in your hands, away from bookcases or any tall furniture that may end up falling on you.
• Keep a pair of sturdy shoes and a flashlight nearby just in case you deal with a quake in the middle of the night.
• You will need to make sure heavier items such as mirrors and pictures are kept away from places where people sit or sleep. Bolt your cabinets and other taller pieces of furniture to the walls to keep them safe from falling.
• You would do well to shut off your gas valves when you’re not using them and to do so rapidly during a quake to keep yourself safe. Only one spark is needed for instant inferno, so keep your tools nearby in a quake-prone area.
• Prepare emergency supplies in an easy to find and safe zone away from your home in case of a building collapse.
• Keep in mind that aftershocks are a strong possibility after an earthquake, so you would do well to be prepared for them, as well as landslides and tsunamis if you live close to the beach.
• Each time you feel an aftershock happening, you will need to drop and cover regardless of how weak it may seem at first.
• Put on long-sleeved shirts and long pants, as well as a pair of strong shoes and work gloves plus a safety helmet if you have one. The danger of falling objects after an earthquake is ever present, so you would do well to keep yourself as safe as you can.
• Have a portable hand-crank radio to listen for emergency information and updates.