Spot an Earthquake: How to Stay Safe and Ready

by Ronel Forbes

March 17, 2022

What to do in the event of an earthquake to keep safe outside, inside, in a car, or if you are stuck?

If you’ve ever been in an earthquake, you know that the shaking can happen at any time, so it’s essential to be prepared at all times. You should be ready before it happens and have a plan in place for what to do if it does.

Knowing what to do during the earthquake will assist you in taking the most vital step: remaining cool. How you react to an earthquake will be determined by your location at the time of its occurrence.

If you’re indoors during an earthquake

If you’re indoors, you should keep put during the tremors. Going outside during an earthquake could put you in danger from falling debris.

To acquire the most stability and protection, you’ll want to “drop, cover, and hold on.” You’ll want to get down on your hands and knees.

Then, if feasible, seek cover beneath a table or desk. Crawl to an inner wall away from windows if no shelter is available. With your arms, cover your head and neck.

Any shelter you’re using should be kept safe and ready to go with you. If you’re looking for a place to hide, make sure it’s a well-supported, load-bearing entryway.

If you’re in bed when it happens, put a pillow under your head and move away from any windows or light fixtures. You should also consider where you will seek refuge if you are not at home and are staying in a hotel or restaurant.

If you’re outside during an earthquake, stay safe.

If you’re outside, you should stay outside until the shaking stops. During an earthquake, the greatest threats outside are falling structures and debris.

You should make an effort to move to the most open area possible. Streetlights and utility lines should be avoided because they can pose electrical hazards. Continue to stay in an open place until the shaking has subsided.

If you’re in a car during an earthquake,

If you’re in a car, it’s best to keep put during the shaking. If the ground begins to shake, pull over to the side of the road as soon as possible. Stopping in the middle of the road can cause accidents and obstruct emergency personnel.

Stopping near buildings, trees, or overpasses should be avoided. Turn on your hazard lights once you’ve come to a complete stop.

After the shaking ends, be mindful that roads, particularly bridges and ramps, may be damaged.

If you’re caught in the middle of an earthquake,

If you’re trapped under rubble, the easiest approach to alert rescuers is to tap pipes or blow a whistle. To avoid inhaling deadly levels of dust, shouting should only be used as a last resort. If at all possible, cover your mouth and avoid lighting any matches.

The first step in dealing with an earthquake is to prepare for one. If you’ve taken the procedures outlined above, you should be safe.

However, you should rehearse what to do on a regular basis so that you’ll be prepared in an emergency. It is critical to follow sound guidance in order to safely exit an earthquake.

You are in a MOUNTAINOUS AREA

Keep an eye out for falling rock, landslides, trees, and other debris that quakes may dislodge.

Things not to do in the event of an earthquake

There is a lot of disinformation out there, so it’s natural to be perplexed. Make sure you know what not to do now that you know what to do:

Please do not run outside.

Do: Drop, Cover, and Hold On to find a safe location to hide.
Do not enter through a doorway.
Do: Take cover beneath a table. Doorways in modern homes and structures are no safer, and they do not provide protection against flying or falling debris.

Do not enter through a doorway.

Do: Take cover beneath a table. Doorways in modern homes and structures are no safer, and they do not provide protection against flying or falling debris.

Make no phone calls.

Text is something you should do. It’s normal to want to reach out to friends and family after a severe earthquake. A text message is more likely to get through than a phone call, which is more likely to encounter network congestion.
Too many calls can cause the communications system to become overburdened, making it more difficult for first responders to receive their calls. After an earthquake, everyone will be safer if you minimize your phone calls. If you don’t have access to electricity, you’ll want to save your phone’s battery power for when you do.
Similarly, only dial 911 if you are facing a serious emergency. Leave that system open unless someone is injured so that first responders can get to the injured as fast as feasible.

Bottomline

Preparation can reduce the number of people killed or injured, which is why you should have a plan in place in case of an earthquake.

If you know how to prepare , you will be able to come up with a strategy quickly. The preparation will teach you all you need to overcome the incoming earthquake.