Earthquake Preparedness
at Work or at Home
Earthquake Preparedness: Unlike hurricanes and some other
natural hazards, earthquakes strike suddenly and without warning.
Nevertheless, if you live in an area at risk for earthquakes (visit
Earthquake
Risk by State and Territory), there are things that you can do for
earthquake preparedness to reduce the chances that you or other members
of your household will be injured, that your property will be damaged,
or that your home life will be unduly disrupted by an earthquake. These
things all fit under the term earthquake preparedness,
because to be effective, they must be done before earthquakes
occur.
Earthquake Preparedness: Preparing for earthquakes involves
(1) learning what people should do before, during, and after
earthquakes; and (2) doing or preparing to do those things now, before
the next quake.
Earthquake Preparedness Before the Next Earthquake
Following are activities that you can undertake now:
Earthquake Preparedness Your Home
Make your home safer to be in during earthquakes and more resistant
to earthquake damage by assessing its structure and contents. Depending
on when and how it was designed and built, the structure you live in may
have weaknesses that make it more vulnerable to earthquakes. Common
examples include structures not anchored to their foundations or having
weak crawl space walls, unbraced pier-and-post foundations, or
unreinforced masonry walls or foundations.
If you own your home, find and correct any such weaknesses, yourself
or with professional help. If you are a renter, ask what has been done
to strengthen the property against earthquakes, and consider this
earthquake preparedness information in deciding where to rent. If you
are building or buying a home, make sure that it complies with the
seismic provisions of your local building code.
What is in your home can be as or more dangerous and damage-prone
than the structure itself, so knowing about earthquake preparedness in
advance is extremely important. Any unsecured objects that can move,
break, or fall as an earthquake shakes your home are potential safety
hazards and potential property losses. Walk through each room of your
home and make note of these items, paying particular attention to tall,
heavy, or expensive objects such as bookcases, home electronics,
appliances (including water heaters), and items hanging from walls or
ceilings. Secure these items with flexible fasteners, such as nylon
straps, or with closed hooks, or by relocating them away from beds and
seating, to lower shelves, or to cabinets with latched doors. Ensure
that plumbers have installed flexible connectors on all gas appliances.
Earthquake Preparedness: Guidance on strengthening new and existing homes:
Earthquake Preparedness: Guidance on securing the contents of your home:
For additional guidance, visit
Earthquake Preparedness Publications and Tools—Individuals and Families.
Prepare Yourself and Your Family to
- React Safely
Learn
What to Do During an Earthquake. Hold periodic family drills to
practice what you have learned. Through practice, you can condition
yourselves to react spontaneously and safely when the first jolt or
shaking is felt.
- Take Cover
In each room of your home, identify the safest places to “drop,
cover, and hold on” during an earthquake. Practice going to these
safe spots during family drills to ensure that everyone learns where
they are.
- Survive on Your Own
Assemble and maintain a household emergency supply kit, and be sure
that all family members know where it is stored. The kit should
consist of one or two portable containers (e.g., plastic tubs,
backpacks, duffel bags) holding the supplies that your family would
need to survive without outside assistance for at least 3 days
following an earthquake or other disaster. Make additional, smaller
kits to keep in your car(s) and at your place(s) of work.
- Stay in Contact
List addresses, telephone numbers, and evacuation sites for all
places frequented by family members (e.g., home, workplaces,
schools). Include the phone number of an out-of-state contact.
Ensure that family members carry a copy of this list, and include
copies in your emergency supply kits.
- Care for People, Pets, and Property
Get training in first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
through your local chapter of the American Red Cross. Find out where
you could shelter your pet should it become necessary to evacuate
your home. Ensure that family members know how and when to call
9-1-1, how to use your home fire extinguisher, and how, where, and
when to shut off your home’s utilities (water, natural gas, and
electricity). Ask your state insurance commissioner about the
availability of earthquake insurance in your state.
Earthquake Preparedness: Guidance on preparing yourself and your family:
Earthquake Preparedness: Prepare Your Community
Consider becoming involved in local, voluntary programs that
strengthen your community’s disaster resilience. Investigate training
and volunteer opportunities available through the American Red Cross.
FEMA works with local governments and other community stakeholders to
provide free training and volunteer opportunities through its Citizen
Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs. Visit
www.citizencorps.gov for more
information.
During the Next Earthquake
When earthquake shaking begins, immediately apply what you have
learned about
What to
Do During an Earthquake. Reacting safely will reduce your chances of
being injured.
After the Next Earthquake
Once the shaking stops, check for injuries among your family and
neighbors and, as needed, administer first aid and call for emergency
medical assistance. Also check for hazards in and around your home
created by earthquake damage. Keep in mind that aftershocks may strike
at any time, exacerbating these hazards and requiring you to immediately
drop, cover, and hold on.
Responding promptly to hazards can prevent further damage and
injuries. This may entail extinguishing small fires or reporting larger
blazes; shutting off the water supply when broken pipes are leaking;
shutting off the electricity when damaged wiring threatens to spark
fires; shutting off the natural gas when you suspect that gas is
leaking; or evacuating your home when any of these hazards or others,
such as structural damage, make continued occupancy potentially unsafe.
If it is necessary to leave your home, you may, in the days and weeks
following the quake, need to seek emergency assistance from the American
Red Cross. In the event of a presidential disaster declaration,
assistance for housing and other needs may also become available from
FEMA.
Regardless of the severity of this earthquake, learn from the
experience. If there are things that you could have done better in
preparing for this quake, do them better now in preparation for
the next earthquake. If your home must be repaired or rebuilt,
for example, use this opportunity to correct any structural weaknesses
and ensure compliance with seismic building standards. If unsecured
belongings were damaged, improve how you secure your home’s contents. If
your emergency supply kit proved inadequate, use what you learned to
make a kit that will better meet your needs.
Earthquake Preparedness: Guidance on what to do once the shaking stops:
