EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

Transcription

1 Naval Supprt Activity Mnterey / Naval Pstgraduate Schl EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS What t D Befre an s strike suddenly, vilently and withut warning. Identifying ptential hazards ahead f time and advance planning can reduce the dangers f serius injury r lss f life frm an earthquake. Repairing deep plaster cracks in ceilings and fundatins, anchring verhead lighting fixtures t the ceiling, and fllwing lcal seismic building standards, will help reduce the impact f earthquakes. Six Ways t Plan Ahead 1. Check fr Hazards in the Hme Fasten shelves securely t walls. Place large r heavy bjects n lwer shelves. Stre breakable items such as bttled fds, glass, and china in lw, clsed cabinets with latches. Hang heavy items such as pictures and mirrrs away frm beds, cuches, and anywhere peple sit. Brace verhead light fixtures. Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas cnnectins. These are ptential fire risks. Secure a water heater by strapping it t the wall studs and blting it t the flr. Repair any deep cracks in ceilings r fundatins. Get expert advice if there are signs f structural defects. Stre weed killers, pesticides, and flammable prducts securely in clsed cabinets with latches and n bttm shelves. 2. Identify Safe Places Indrs and Outdrs Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk r table. Against an inside wall. Away frm where glass culd shatter arund windws, mirrrs, pictures, r where heavy bkcases

2 Naval Supprt Activity Mnterey / Naval Pstgraduate Schl r ther heavy furniture culd fall ver. In the pen, away frm buildings, trees, telephne and electrical lines, verpasses, r elevated expressways. 3. Educate Yurself and Family Members Cntact yur lcal emergency management ffice r American Red Crss chapter fr mre infrmatin n earthquakes Teach children hw and when t call 9-1-1, plice, r fire department and which radi statin t tune t fr emergency infrmatin. Teach all family members hw and when t turn ff gas, electricity, and water. 4. Have Disaster Supplies n Hand Flashlight and extra batteries. Prtable battery-perated radi and extra batteries. First aid kit and manual. Emergency fd and water. Nnelectric can pener. Essential medicines. Cash and credit cards. Sturdy shes. 5. Develp an Emergency Cmmunicatin Plan In case family members are separated frm ne anther during an earthquake (a real pssibility during the day when adults are at wrk and children are at schl), develp a plan fr reuniting after the disaster. Ask an ut-f-state relative r friend t serve as the "family cntact." After a disaster, it's ften easier t call lng distance. Make sure everyne in the family knws the name, address, and phne number f the cntact persn. 6. Help Yur Cmmunity Get Ready Wrk with lcal emergency services and American Red Crss fficials t prepare. Interview representatives f the gas, electric, and water cmpanies abut shutting ff utilities. Wrk tgether in yur cmmunity t apply yur knwledge t building cdes, retrfitting prgrams, hazard hunts, and neighbrhd and family emergency plans.

3 Naval Supprt Activity Mnterey / Naval Pstgraduate Schl What t D During an Stay as safe as pssible during an earthquake. Be aware that sme earthquakes are actually freshcks and a larger earthquake might ccur. Minimize yur mvements t a few steps t a nearby safe place and if yu are indrs, stay there until the shaking has stpped and yu are sure exiting is safe. If Indrs DROP t the grund; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table r ther piece f furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stps. If there isn t a table r desk near yu, cver yur face and head with yur arms and cruch in an inside crner f the building. Stay away frm glass, windws, utside drs and walls, and anything that culd fall, such as lighting fixtures r furniture. Stay in bed if yu are there when the earthquake strikes. Hld n and prtect yur head with a pillw, unless yu are under a heavy light fixture that culd fall. In that case, mve t the nearest safe place. Use a drway fr shelter nly if it is in clse prximity t yu and if yu knw it is a strngly supprted, ladbearing drway. Stay inside until the shaking stps and it is safe t g utside. Research has shwn that mst injuries ccur when peple inside buildings attempt t mve t a different lcatin inside the building r try t leave. Be aware that the electricity may g ut r the sprinkler systems r fire alarms may turn n. DO NOT use the elevatrs. If Outdrs Stay there. Mve away frm buildings, streetlights, and utility wires. Once in the pen, stay there until the shaking stps. The greatest danger exists directly utside buildings, at exits and alngside exterir walls. Many f the 120 fatalities frm the 1933 Lng Beach earthquake ccurred when peple ran utside f buildings nly t be killed by falling debris frm cllapsing walls. Grund mvement during an earthquake is seldm the direct cause f death r injury. Mst earthquake-related casualties result frm cllapsing walls, flying glass,

4 Naval Supprt Activity Mnterey / Naval Pstgraduate Schl and falling bjects. If in a mving vehicle Stp as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avid stpping near r under buildings, trees, verpasses, and utility wires. Prceed cautiusly nce the earthquake has stpped. Avid rads, bridges, r ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake. If trapped under debris D nt light a match. D nt mve abut r kick up dust. Cver yur muth with a handkerchief r clthing. Tap n a pipe r wall s rescuers can lcate yu. Use a whistle if ne is available. Shut nly as a last resrt. Shuting can cause yu t inhale dangerus amunts f dust. What t D After an Expect aftershcks. These secndary shckwaves are usually less vilent than the main quake but can be strng enugh t d additinal damage t weakened structures and can ccur in the first hurs, days, weeks, r even mnths after the quake. Listen t a battery-perated radi r televisin. Listen fr the latest emergency infrmatin. Use the telephne nly fr emergency calls. Open cabinets cautiusly. Beware f bjects that can fall ff shelves. Stay away frm damaged areas. Stay away unless yur assistance has been specifically requested by plice, fire, r relief rganizatins. Return hme nly when authrities say it is safe. Be aware f pssible tsunamis if yu live in castal areas. These are als knwn as seismic sea waves (mistakenly called "tidal waves"). When lcal authrities issue a tsunami warning, assume that a series f dangerus waves is n the way. Stay away frm the beach. Help injured r trapped persns. Remember t help yur neighbrs wh may require special assistance

5 Naval Supprt Activity Mnterey / Naval Pstgraduate Schl such as infants, the elderly, and peple with disabilities. Give first aid where apprpriate. D nt mve seriusly injured persns unless they are in immediate danger f further injury. Call fr help. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasline r ther flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if yu smell gas r fumes frm ther chemicals. Inspect the entire length f chimneys fr damage. Unnticed damage culd lead t a fire. Inspect utilities. Check fr gas leaks. If yu smell gas r hear blwing r hissing nise, pen a windw and quickly leave the building. Turn ff the gas at the utside main valve if yu can and call the gas cmpany frm a neighbr's hme. If yu turn ff the gas fr any reasn, it must be turned back n by a prfessinal. Lk fr electrical system damage. If yu see sparks r brken r frayed wires, r if yu smell ht insulatin, turn ff the electricity at the main fuse bx r circuit breaker. If yu have t step in water t get t the fuse bx r circuit breaker, call an electrician first fr advice. Check fr sewage and water lines damage. If yu suspect sewage lines are damaged, avid using the tilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, cntact the water cmpany and avid using water frm the tap. Yu can btain safe water by melting ice cubes.