Is Your Home Earthquake-Resistant?

The Philippines were shaken on Wednesday by an earthquake measuring magnitude 6.3 on the Richer scale, the National Center of Seismology (NCS) reported via a post on social media. At a depth of 160 km, the earthquake struck on Wednesday at 16:51:49 IST.

“Earthquake of Magnitude:6.3, Occurred on 04-10-2023, 16:51:49 IST, Lat: 5.34 & Long: 126.43, Depth: 160 Km, Location: Philippines,” read a post on NCS’s official X account.

Please allow us to assist you in learning more about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Learn more about what makes a house earthquake-resistant. We will now go through what an earthquake is, how it happens, and its different types.

What to Do Before an Earthquake

If you have learned that an earthquake could occur, follow these instructions to prepare:

• Keep a first aid kit on hand.
• For increased security, purchase earthquake safety kits.
• Find a shelter where you can store supplies like first aid kits, gallons of water, canned goods, dust masks, torches, radios, and radios.
• A house should not be purchased or built in an earthquake-prone area.
• Before laying the foundation, consult with experienced structural engineers and architects to learn how to make your home earthquake-resistant.
• Make sure your friends, family, and relatives are aware of the safety precautions that need to be done.

What to Do During an Earthquake?

Here are some emergency procedures for earthquakes:

Inside the House

If you are inside your home during an earthquake, follow these instructions:

1. Stay indoors and hide behind a bed, desk, or table, covering your head and neck.
2. Till the shaking stops, cling to the cover you have chosen and remain there.
3. Avoid being near doors, windows, and large items.
4. If you’re unable to find something to cover your head with, lean against the closest wall.

Outside the House

If you are outside during an earthquake, follow these instructions:

1. Stay outside and keep your cool.
2. Aim to avoid buildings and go somewhere open instead.
3. Take cover behind a sturdy item if you find yourself in a crowded area like a hospital, school, or shopping center.

Driving a Vehicle

If you are driving a vehicle during an earthquake, follow these instructions:

1. Stop driving and move your car to a spot where you are not blocking traffic.
2. Ensure there is enough for emergency vehicles to pass
3. Avoid parking your car next to structures such as bridges, overpasses, underpasses, and buildings.
4. Keep driving as you wait to be rescued.
5. To be informed of any updates to the emergency officials’ instructions, turn on the radio in your car.

What to Do After an Earthquake

What to do in the home following an earthquake is listed here.

• Look over your house to see if there is any structural damage
• Turn on the radio and make an effort to stay informed of any updates from rescue and emergency personnel.
• Observe the guidance offered by the authorized personnel.
• Until you are certain that there have been no flammable liquid spills or gas leaks caused by an earthquake, do not light matches or turn on the gas.
• Prior to flushing the toilets, make sure the sewer lines are in good working order.
• Verify the well-being of your neighbors, relatives, and close pals.
• If you require rescue assistance, post a HELP sign on a door or a window.

Visual Checks to Determine Whether Your Home Is Earthquake-Resistant

If your current residence exhibits any of the following, you should exercise greater caution regarding the structural stability of your residence:

1. Large fissures between the slab and the beam
2. Continuous, deep roof fractures
3. When shifting furniture or jogging on the floor, there are strong vibrations.
4. Columns and retaining walls in the basement have noticeable, ongoing fissures.

Checking Your House’s Structure to See whether It’s Earthquake-Resistant

You can perform specific structural inspections to determine if your home is earthquake-proof.

Steps will show you how to determine whether a newly constructed building is earthquake-resistant or not.

• Verify if the building was built and planned in accordance with the Indian building code.
• Ask the certified architect or structural engineer who designed the building for the Seismic Design Compliance Certificate.

Steps will show you how to determine whether an old building is earthquake-resistant or not.

• To start, you should make an effort to speak with the architect or engineer who created the construction and request a compliance certificate.
• Verify conformity by cross-checking the current structural drawings, if any are available.
• If these designs and drawings are unavailable, specific structural stability tests, such as the load bearing test, must be conducted. A structural engineer who has earned certification conducts these examinations.
• Here are the specifics if you want to know what an earthquake is and how it happens.

What Causes Earthquakes?

The crust of the earth is divided into four layers: the outer core, the mantle, and the inner core. In addition to these layers, there is a region known as the lithosphere, which is composed of enormous puzzle pieces called tectonic plates. These plates continue to move, slamming into or drifting apart from one another. Both animals and other living things on earth may sense the movement of these plates.

Mountains, rocks, and valleys are created by the tectonic plates’ continuous movement. When any of these rocks in the deep crust of the Earth shatter or move quickly, an earthquake results.

These tectonic movements cause stress to be released and energy to be released, which results in seismic waves that shake the ground.

During an earthquake, these rocks, plates, or blocks keep moving and only stop when they become lodged once more. The epicenter is the location directly above the focus, where these rocks break, and the focus is where the ground begins to shake.

Please read: HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS READY FOR A TYPHOON

Conclusion

Keep in mind that we are all accountable for our own security. These are fairly easy to remember checks that anyone may perform. Keep an eye out for earthquakes in the future and be more prepared. The finest thing you can do for your loved ones is to educate them about how to avoid this natural calamity.

Numerous scientists have tried a variety of methods to anticipate earthquakes, but none of them have been successful. Many lives would be spared if such a device could be developed. For the time being, it is crucial that you are informed of the dos and don’ts in the event of an earthquake and that your home is an earthquake-resistant structure.

Don’t forget to purchase from us fire insurance that covers catastrophic events.