Shake, Rattle, and Roll! Earthquake Tips

Earthquake damage - Bridge Street. by martinluff (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Monday, January 17th, marked the anniversary of the 1994 Northridge earthquake. We at NorthStar Moving® remember….like most Los Angeles residents who were living in the area at the time. Many of us have our stories of where we were during, how we felt, how we reacted at the moment and the moments that followed. It has come up in conversations in our offices over the years, especially since NorthStar Moving® called Northridge home for many years. We moved to the new NorthStar Moving® headquarters in 2005.

Living in California, we know earthquakes are something that we should always be prepared for. So, I thought I would share with you some useful earthquake preparedness tips:

Plan Ahead

An aerial view of destruction caused by the 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake taken by FEMA

The first step to being ready for an earthquake is to have a plan if one ever occurs. Have a designated meeting place where you and your family/coworkers/neighbors can meet afterward. (You should always practice the DUCK, COVER, and HOLD technique during the actual quake, so don’t try to move towards your meeting place if the ground is shaking.)

Knowledge is key! Know where your gas, electric, and water main shutoffs are located and how to turn them off in case the earthquake causes a leak or electrical short. Also, know where your nearest fire station, police station, and emergency medical facilities are. Police, firefighters, and paramedics might not be available during an earthquake, so have a first aid kit on hand. (Also, it never hurts to have CPR training under your belt.) Another great resource? Get to know your neighbors! They could help you and you could help them in case a stressful event like this occurs.

Have an Earthquake Kit

Having an earthquake kit will keep all the things you need organized and in one place. Having to move around in the dark in search for flashlight batteries is not a good thing. The USGS suggests that you keep these items in your kit:

  • Fire extinguisher
  • Adequate supplies of medications that you or family members are taking
  • Crescent and pipe wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies
  • First-aid kit and handbook
  • Flashlights with extra bulbs and batteries
  • Portable radio with extra batteries
  • Water for each family member for at least two weeks (allow at least 1 gallon per person per day) and purification tablets or chlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sources
  • Canned and package foods, enough for several days and MECHANICAL can opener. Extra food for pets if necessary
  • Camp stove or barbecue to cook on outdoors (store fuel out of the reach of children)
  • Waterproof, heavy-duty plastic bags for waste disposal.

Know How to Act

The scariest thing about an earthquake is that it can happen anytime, anywhere. If you are indoors during the quake, stay there! Try to DUCK and COVER under a desk or table and HOLD on to it, move into a hallway, or stay against an inside wall. Remember to stay away from fireplaces, windows, and heavy furniture and appliances. Also, stay away from the kitchen, since it is full of objects that can fall on you. If the building is shaking or there’s a possibility of things (furniture, appliances, glass, debris, etc.) falling on you, don’t try to run outside or down stairs.

photo by martinluff

If you are outside when the quake hits, move into an open area. Keep away from buildings, power lines, and anything else that could fall on you. If you are driving during the quake, carefully stop your car and move it out of traffic, if possible. Remember not to stop on or under a bridge or overpass. Also, don’t stop under power lines, trees, light posts, or signs. Do not get out of your car until the earthquake is over. When you start driving again, keep an eye out for any bumps in the road, broken pavement, or falling rocks. If you are in a mountainous area, watch especially for falling rocks, landslides, and any other debris like trees that could have been shaken loose.

Deal with the Aftermath

Always stay on the safe side and expect aftershocks. Be prepared to go through a shake all over again. The first thing you should do is check and treat for any injuries.  Remember not to move any seriously injured people unless they are in further danger of injury. Immediately seek out medical help for any serious injuries.

Northridge Earthquake Aftermath photo by Edmund Doran

The next thing to do is check for hazards–fire hazards, gas leaks,damaged electrical wires and utility lines. Shut off your main gas valve if you think you have a leak (if you see a broken pipe or smell gas). Shut off your power if there’s any damage to your house’s wiring.

The next step towards moving on to is to clean up, only if it is safe to do so. Clean up any spilled medicines, drugs, or other dangerous materials like gas, bleach, and cleaning products. Make sure that when you open any closet doors or cupboards you are mindful of items that might fall. Lastly, check your food and water supplies. If any open food containers were left near glass that shattered, don’t eat or drink it.  If your power goes out, keep your fridge and freezer closed as much as possible. This will keep your food from spoiling.

An earthquake can be a scary thing, but as long as you’re prepared and stay calm, you can get through anything! Do you have any tips that I forgot to mention? Let me know about them!

Top image credit: Andrea Booher for FEMA