

Coping With An Earthquake: Would You Know What To Do?

Earthquake Survival And Recovery Tips

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For people living in California, coping with an earthquake is a way of life. Many of us might never experience what it is like to go through an earthquake or have to learn earthquake survival skills. The truth is that there are many fault lines crossing the world and some are in the most unlikely places. Many places in the United States run a high earthquake risk. Yosemite National Park in California and the central United States near Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Kentucky all stand the chance of experiencing a major earthquake over the next 30 years or so. Parts of New England and the eastern coast of the United States are also at risk. Could you imagine what would happen if an earthquake the size of the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake hit New York City? If an earthquake should strike in your area, would you know what to do?

What Is An Earthquake?
The earth is composed of slices of earth called tectonic plates. These plates are in constant motion, moving only inches per day. The most common form of earthquake happens when two of these plates push so hard they grind against each other. The plates have no place to go and the forces behind them make the surface of the earth slide from side to side, or rise and drop suddenly. The fault line is the area where stressed plates meet.

Earthquakes occur on land and under the ocean. The tsunami that hit Sumatra in 2004 is an example of a massive earthquake that started deep in the ocean.

Other factors can create earthquakes. Bomb testing and other man-made events have been known to cause earthquakes.
The recent mine collapse in Utah registered as a small earthquake at 3.8 on the Richter scale (the device used for measuring seismic activity). Areas that have active volcanoes are closely associated with earthquakes. Ancient Pompeii is a prime example of a volcano's eruption and an earthquake going hand in hand to deal out destruction. Japan, located in the Pacific's Ring of Fire (the chain of volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean), frequently suffers from earthquakes. The intense pressure building up under the earth's surface has to go somewhere, and when it is blocked, it explodes.

Practice Makes Perfect
Coping with an earthquake or any natural disaster or emergency requires planning. From a young age, we are all taught what to do in case of a fire in the home or at school. An earthquake is frightening enough on its own and even people who know what they should do still might suffer a moment of panic. By running through drills before an earthquake occurs, you and your family will stand a better chance of earthquake survival. During an earthquake, most deaths are a direct result of buildings collapsing, heavy objects falling (bookcases, large appliances, cabinets, etc.) or explosions from ruptured gas or waterlines.

Here are some guidelines to follow during your earthquake preparedness drill:

- For protection from falling objects, get under a table or desk
- If you do not have a table or desk near, cover your head and face. You also need to do one of two things: either stand or crouch in a sturdy doorway or find an inside corner of the house and brace yourself there.
- Stay away from windows and other glass objects that might shatter.
- If you are inside a house or building, stay there. Many deaths occur when people rush out of the house or building as debris is falling all around.

Establishing priorities ahead of time will help in coping with an earthquake later on. If you should have to leave the house, decide what you can carry with you. During your drill, take those items with you. Create an evacuation plan and take your family through it step by step, discussing the details of each room and what needs to be done. Always have a plan B and a secondary means of escape, should the first route fail. Draw a map and note where you keep emergency supplies, extra food, water, first aid kits and fire extinguishers. During the drill, find out how to shut off the utilities. You may not have time during an actual earthquake, but this information is good to know, as it might prevent other potential disasters. Pick a spot outside of the house where your family will meet. This will enable you to count heads if anyone is missing.

Other Important Information for Coping with an Earthquake
Aside from getting you and your family to safety, you will need a list of emergency numbers and other important information kept in a safe place. Telephone numbers of the police department, fire department and hospitals should top the list. You will also need the numbers of your various insurance and utility companies. Write down specific medical information, including allergies to specific medications or other existing medical conditions you or a family member might have.
Also, make note of the identification numbers on all of your vehicles, including the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and license plate numbers.

Invest in a fireproof box or safe to store birth certificates, vehicle and property titles, social security cards, wills and insurance policies. If you have a video or digital camera, make a visual inventory of everything in your house for insurance purposes later on. If you cannot do this, write out the inventory and be sure to include serial numbers from appliances and items such as stereos, televisions and other media.

After The Damage Is Done
After the initial tremors are over, you might still experience aftershocks. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes as the earth begins to settle. These aftershocks may be small in comparison to the main tremor, but the aftershocks can still cause a lot of damage. Structures weaken during the earthquake, and an aftershock might be enough to bring the building or house tumbling down.

Coping with an earthquake means dealing with other disasters that arise after the event. Fires, landslides, chemical spills and other natural disasters such as tidal waves may have occurred. Expect blocked roads and bridges, or for the normal routes in and out of the city or town to be completely destroyed. Communications may have suffered, and you may not be able to get a signal on your cell phone and television. Radio studios may also be affected as well. Keep a battery-operated radio or television nearby for any news.

The first thing you need to do when the earthquake has stopped is check yourself and your family for injuries. If a person is unconscious or severely injured, try not to move the person unless he or she is in danger from live wires, flooding, another building collapse or other danger.
Someone trapped under a heavy object might not show any external injuries, but the person might have some severe internal injuries. Other precautions include:

- Stay away from downed power lines and report any electrical hazards immediately
- Clean up any flammable liquids or other potentially dangerous materials including medicine and drugs.
- Only use the phone for emergency purposes. Many other people will be using the phone too, and the lines could get jammed.
- Let the professionals do their job. You may want to help the police or the rescue teams, but your help could also impede these people from doing their job. Stay clear of damaged areas.
- Give these same officials complete cooperation. If the firefighters or police ask for assistance, they will tell you exactly what they need and how they need you to do it.

Coping with an earthquake or other natural disaster is not easy, but with a little forethought and careful planning, you can give your family and yourself a better chance of surviving. Plan as much as you can ahead of time so that you will know exactly what to do when an earthquake strikes.

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