Earthquakes don’t often come with any warning, so let’s get the hint and GET PREPARED.
The recent string of earthquakes and aftershocks stemming from Easter Sundays’ Mexicali quake has left us shaking in our boots, so to say. Numerous aftershocks have rattled southern California and although they have been relatively small, scientists are predicting that stress from shifting plates has put major fault lines at higher risk of quake activity.
The Los Angeles Times reports, the 5.4 quake on Wednesday wasn’t exactly an aftershock of Mexicali.
“We’ve been calling those ‘triggered earthquakes,’ ” Caltech seismologist Kate Hutton said, referring to temblors north of the aftershock zone that runs from the Gulf of California to Ocotillo, Calif., near the Mexican border.
“We’ve been able to see an increase in activity,” Hutton said. Wednesday’s earthquake was the largest to hit the Elsinore and San Jacinto fault zones since the April 4 shaker.
The LA Region represents over 25% of the national risk for earthquakes, yet surveys show that over 60% of people have not taken any steps to prepare for the next disaster.
Don’t know where to start?
Here’s a list of things you can do.
| BEFORE | DURING | AFTER |
| Create an EMERGENCY SUPPLIES KIT and keep in your home, work and car.
Become aware of fire evacuation and earthquake plans for all buildings you occupy regularly Identify safe places to Drop, Cover and Hold when entering a room Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by the bed Make sure your house is securely anchored to its foundation Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs Bolt heavy and tall furniture to wall studs/Keep heavy items away from beds, couches and sitting areas Learn how to shut off gas valves and keep a wrench handy Learn about your area’s seismic building standards |
If you are inside…
DROP, COVER and HOLD ON If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on. Protect your head with a pillow. Stay away from windows to avoid shattered glass Remain indoors until the shaking stops and it’s safe to exit. Use stairs rather than an elevator. If you are outside… Find a clear spot and drop to the ground, remain until shaking stops (away from buildings, power lines, trees and streetlights) If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible. Stay inside with seatbelt fastened, when shaking stops drive carefully avoiding bridges and ramps that may have sustained damage If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance |
Expect and prepared for aftershocks, landslides or tsunamis. DROP, COVER and HOLD for all aftershocks which may occur minutes, days weeks and even months after an earthquake Check yourself for injuries and get first aid if necessary before helping injured or trapped persons. Put on long pants, long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves to protect against injury from broken objects Look quickly for damage in and around your home, get everyone out if your home is unsafe Listen to portable, battery-operated or hand-crank radio for emergency info Check phone in you home or work for dial tone, keep calls brief to report life-threatening information Look for and extinguish small fires (the most common hazard after a quake) Clean up spilled medications, bleach, gasoline and flammable liquids immediately Keep animals under your direct control Stay out of damaged buildings Be careful when driving anticipate traffic light outages |
Do it Now!
Don’t wait; don’t put it off till tomorrow. Prepare yourself, your family and your friends, then THINK BIG.
Where do you spend most of your days? Where do your children? You can Be Red Cross Ready but how is your workplace or your children’s school? With Red Cross Ready Rating, an easy 5 step process, we can get ourselves and those we love better prepared for the “WHEN, not if” of earthquakes.
Not satisfied?
If you’re not sure you’ve done everything you could to get prepared, you’re right. You made your evacuation plan, created your disaster kit and you stay informed. You have even taken steps to get your workplace and local schools on board, what’s next?
Volunteer. There are plenty of opportunities to receive FREE training and to help others. Red Cross volunteers are an integral part of the organization and an even more important asset to the community. No matter what your particular interest, there is a home for you at the Red Cross. If you are interested in volunteering, check out more information at: http://redcrossla.org/volunteers/how-to-volunteer.
More on Earthquakes:
7 Common Earthquake Myths: Exposed!
7 Steps to Earthquake Safety
Common Earthquake Terms
