There are some fault zones in the United States people usually ignore as earthquake-prone while California being labelled as the most at risk for extreme sudden tremor or earthquake. Geologists and seismologists have forecasted about 90 percent chance of a major quake in the central United States from this year until the coming couple of years.
And as early as now, people are encouraged to know proper planning in cases like this and to be able to practice what one should do when earthquake happens. By doing so, the possible number of deaths and injuries may be reduced and more lives would be saved.
Know the safe areas in each part of your house
The whole family should be trained going to safe spots during earthquakes. Going under an earthquake drill will help your kids understand the basic things to know in case you are away from them during a tremor.
As a parent, you also have to make certain that your children also know the emergency procedures of the school they are attending to for calamities like this. The most basic that you should teach your kids is how to properly drop down onto their hands and knees to protect them from falling but still lets them to move to safer area.
It is important to teach them to cover themselves under a secure table or desk. However, if there’s no strong table around, they should get down near the wall or next to low fixtures that won’t fall on them. And they should know that they must stay in this shelter until the tremors stop.
Making your Evacuation Plans
If a trembling happens, you have to evacuate the devastated area as soon as you can. Proper evacuation planning and practicing it will help you more on how to react properly to possible signs of dangers and to guidelines imposed by civil experts.
The first thing to do is to discuss a proper home evacuation plan to your entire family. It will be easier if you draft your house’s floor plan and go through all rooms while talking over the evacuation particulars. If it is possible, also make an alternative exit plan from each of your house’s room. Evacuation equipment like rope and loft ladder’s location must be discussed.
Aside from evacuation equipment, make sure to provide and properly mark your first aid supplies and fire extinguishers. You can also stock emergency food and water if possible. Another important reminder you should give emphasis are utility switches and their locations so that members of the family know which to switch off during this calamity.
Plan Your Priorities
Apart from the safety guidelines, you and your family should also know the priority list of items each of you should hand carry going to your exit plan. The items that are of importance to you and your family are usually documents and other significant official papers.
You also need to come up with a list of important information and secure in a place known to all the family members.
What to Do After an Earthquake
The first thing you need to do is to check for fire or fire threats. When you smell a gas that might have diffused from your stove because of the tremor, you have to shut off the chief gas valve. If there is an indication of harm or dislodge to electrical wirings, you have to turn off the main switch at your house’s control box.
You have to be aware of the dislodged items which might fall off from cubbyholes or storerooms. If you have a chimney in your house, the earthquake episode might have weakened it so you shouldn’t touch it until someone come and have it checked. You have to check for fissures and damage to your house’s rooftop, pillar and walls of your house.
And lastly, stay tuned to news for some essential information and possible instructions to people living in the affected area. Usually, aftershocks are causing much greater and sometimes followed by more intensified quakes. Some helpful websites like US Prepperscan provide you with possible important and helpful information to guide you about the Do’s and Don’ts’s during the aftershock.
