Be Prepared: "Earthquake"...
Listen to your
radio for emergency broadcast: AM Radio: 980, KFWB; 1070 KNX; and 640 KFI; FM
Radio: 88.1 KLON; Charter Cable TV: Channel 21, Home Town Television
Do not use the telephone except
for emergencies. Do not expect 9-1-1 to
be available.Before an Earthquake
Before the Next Earthquake
Take the necessary actions to minimize risk at
your home and office.
* Prepare Your Family- Be familiar with the safest places in your
home-away from heavy furniture or
appliances, masonry veneers (such as
fireplaces) and large windows, pictures,
bookcases or mirrors.
- Learn how to turn off your gas, electricity
and water main. If in doubt, ask your
utility company.
- Establish a family plan, including a place
where your family can reunite after the
earthquake. Know the earthquake plan
developed by your children's school. Keep in
mind that transportation and communication
may be disrupted.
- Choose a person out of the area to act as a
contact for your family. It will probably be
easier to place a call out of the earthquake
area, so all family members should call this
contact to report their location and condition.
Make sure this contact name and number is
on school and work records, as well as
known by friends and relatives.
- Know the locations of your nearest fire
and police stations, and local emergency
medical facility.
During an Earthquake
* Crowded Public Place
DO NOT rush for the exits. Stay calm.
* Driving- STOP if it is sate-but stay inside the vehicle.
- DO NOT stop on or under a bridge, overpass
or tunnel. Move your car as far out of the
normal traffic pattern as possible.
- DO NOT stop under trees, light posts,
electrical power lines or signs.
* Indoors- Duck or drop down to the floor. Take cover
under a sturdy desk, table or other furniture.
Hold onto furniture and be prepared to move
with it. Hold the position until the ground
stops shaking and it is safe to move. Stay
clear of windows, fireplaces and heavy
furniture or appliances.
- DO NOT rush outside. You may be injured
falling glass or building parts.
- DO NOT use stairs or elevators while a
building is shaking or while there is dang
of being hit by falling glass or debris.
* Outside
Get into the open, away from buildings ar
power lines.
After an Earthquake
* Check for Injuries- If a person is not breathing, open the vict
airway (see page 38). If after a few secor
the victim is still not breathing, immediat
begin Rescue Breathing.
- If a person is bleeding, apply pressure to
the wound using clean gauze or cloth.
if available.
- DO NOT attempt to move seriously injured
person unless they are in immediate danger
of further injury.
- Cover injured persons with blankets.
* Safety Check- Check for fire or fire hazards.
- Shut off the main gas valve if you suspect or
identify the odor of natural gas. After the
emergency, ask the gas company to check
and turn it back on.
- Shut power off at the control box if there
any damage to your house wiring. DO NO
touch downed power lines or objects of a
kind that are touching them.
- Approach chimneys with caution. They mi
be weakened and could topple during an
aftershock. Don't use a damaged chimney
could start a fire.
- Immediately clean up any spilled medicine
drugs or other potentially harmful materials
such as bleach, lye, gasoline or other
petroleum products.
- Beware of items tumbling off shelves where
you open cupboards or closet doors.
- Check that each telephone is on its receiver.
Phones that are off-hook unnecessarily tie up
the telephone network.
- Wear sturdy shoes and gloves to avoid injury
from broken glass and debris.
- If damage is extensive, wear a dust mask
wet handkerchief or other cover for the nose
and mouth to reduce dust inhalation.
- Check your food and water supplies. DO
NOT eat or drink anything from open
containers near shattered glass. If power is
off, plan meals to use up foods that will
spoil quickly, or use frozen foods.
CAUTION NOTES- DO NOT smoke or use lighters, candles or
open-flame appliances until you are sure
there are no gas leaks.
- DO NOT operate electrical switches or
appliances, including telephones, if you
suspect a gas leak. The appliance may create
a spark that could ignite the leaking gas.
- DO NOT go sightseeing afterward, especially
in beach and waterfront areas where large
surf may unexpectedly occur on shore.
- Keep streets clear for emergency vehicle;
and cooperate with public safety officials.
- Be prepared for aftershocks. Most of
these are smaller than the main quake,
but some may be large enough to do
additional damage.
How to Shut Off Gas Supply
Turn off the gas ONLY if you notice structural
damage to your house or if you smell or hear
leaking gas.- The main shut-off valve is located next to
your meter on the inlet pipe.
- Using a crescent or pipe wrench, give the
valve a quarter-turn in either direction. The
valve will now run crosswise on the pipe.
The line is closed.
- DO NOT turn on the gas again; let the gas
company do this.
How to Shut Off Electricity- Look closely at your circuit breaker box or
fuse box.
- Be certain that you can turn off the
electricity in an emergency.
Disinfection of Water- Before attempting disinfection, first strain
water through a clean cloth or handkerchief
to remove any sediment, floating matter
or glass.
- Water may be disinfected with 5.25%
sodium hypochlorite solution (household
chlorine bleach). DO NOT use solutions in
which there are active ingredients other than
hypochlorite. Use the following proportions:
* Clear Water
1 Quart 2 drops
1 Gallon 8 drops
5 Gallons 1/2 teaspoon
* Cloudy Water
1 Quart 4 drops
1 Gallon 16 drops
5 Gallons 1 teaspoon - Mix water and hypochlorite thoroughly by
stirring or shaking in a container. Let stand
for 30 minutes before using. A slight chlorine
odor should be detectable in the water. If
not. repeat the dosage and let stand for an
additional 15 minutes.
Note: Water may also be purified by bringing
it to a rapid boil. However, due to its chemical
content, swimming pool or spa water
should not be used as a primary source of
drinking water. Emergency Supplies
Keep these supplies in an accessible location in
your home. Keep many of the same supplies in
your car and your workplace. Inspect emergency
items twice a year for leakage and quality.- Fire extinguisher.
- Portable radio and extra batteries (long-life
alkaline batteries are best).
- Flashlights and extra batteries.
- First-aid kit and handbook.
- Enough drinkable water for each family
member for at least three days: allow one
gallon per person, per day. Keep a canteen of
water in the car too.
- Food (canned foods, can opener and
powdered milk for at least one
week's meals).
- Required medications, eyeglasses.
- Pipe or crescent wrenches to turn off gas
and water supplies.
- Alternate means of cooking, such as a
barbecue or camp stove. These must be used
outdoors. Be sure to store fuel, matches and
lighters out of children's reach.
- Small bottle of chlorine bleach to disinfect
drinking water.
- Blankets, warm clothes and sturdy shoes.
- Waterproof, heavy-duty plastic bags for
waste disposal.
Evaluate Your Home- The water heater should be braced, anchored
or strapped to prevent tipping.
- Your house should be attached to its
foundation with bolts through the sill.
- The perimeter foundation cripple walls (the
walls that enclose the crawl space under
your home) should be braced.
- Mobile homes should be securely anchored
to the ground or a certified earthquake-
resistant bracing system installed.
- Children's play areas should be located away
from earthquake hazards, such as brick walls
or chimneys.
- Household chemicals should be stored so
that containers will not easily tip over.
- If you have reason to be concerned, or if there
are cracks wider than 1/8 inch, contact an
architect, engineer or local building official
for advice on needed repairs or strengthening.
If you live in an apartment, ask the building
owner to do these repairs. Know the
locations of emergency exits, fire alarms and
fire extinguishers.
The FollowingWeblinksOpen in a
New WindowCaltech || USC Strong Motion || UCLA Earthquake || Pasadena usgs.gov || UC Berkely || NISEE Education || So Calif EQ Data
Quake Maps || USGS Hazard FAQ || consrv.ca || Seismosurfing || Global Resourse
The FollowingWeblinksOpen in The
Current WindowCaltech || USC Strong Motion || UCLA Earthquake || Pasadena usgs.gov || UC Berkely || NISEE Education || So Calif EQ Data
Quake Maps || USGS Hazard FAQ || consrv.ca || Seismosurfing || Global Resourse
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