Preparing for an Earthquake

Preparing for an Earthquake

Earthquakes strike suddenly, sometimes violently and always without warning. Identifying and fixing potential hazards ahead of time can reduce the danger to your family and your home. Before an earthquake, check for hazards in your home. Fasten shelves to walls securely. Put heavy items on the lower shelves. Store breakable items, such as china, or bottled foods on lower shelves with doors that latch shut. Do not hang heavy items on the wall, such as pictures or mirrors over beds or couches or anywhere people sit. Make sure overhead light fixtures are secure. Check for and repair and defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections because they are a potential fire risk. Secure your water heater by strapping it to the wall and bolting it to the floor. Check for and repair any deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Store weed killer, pesticides, and flammable products in a safe, securely closed cabinet that latches shut. Identify safe places in each room. Such places may be under sturdy furniture, such as a heavy desk or table, against an inside wall, and away from where any glass could shatter around windows and mirrors, pictures, or where there is a heavy bookshelf or piece of furniture that could fall over. Also, locate safe places outdoors. Such places may be in the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical wires, overpasses or elevated expressways. Make sure all your family members know what to do during and after an earthquake. Teach all your family members where and how to turn off the gas, electricity, and water. Teach children how to call 911, and which radio station to tune into for emergency information. Go through an earthquake drill with your children. Have disaster supplies on hand. Assemble a Survival Kit (72 hours, 3 days) and develop your food storage program. Develop an emergency communication plan with your family and in case you are separated from family members after an earthquake, you should have a plan on where to reunite.

• Develop a family earthquake plan we your children.
• Look for potential hazards in your home.
• Have a Survival Kit for each person in your family.
• Have a communication plan incase family members are separated.