How to Prepare and RespondUnlike most other natural disasters, earthquakes often strike without much warning in advance. For residents of places that are especially prone to earthquakes, such as Chile, there are several ways to prepare to significantly reduce the impact of the earthquake and lessen chances of death, injury, and damage to property.
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Preparation
PREPARE YOUR HOME - Make your home safer and more resistant to earthquakes by thoroughly assessing and refurbishing the structure and its contents
• Depending on factors such as the design and layout of the house, or when it was built with what materials, the structure may have certain weaker points. Find and correct these weaknesses with professional help. • What is in your home can be more dangerous than the structure itself. All unsecured objects will move, fall or break and are risky safety hazards. Take note of these around the house, paying attention to the taller, heavier and more expensive objects. Fasten shelves securely to walls, placing heavier and more fragile objects on lower shelves. • Teach any children in the house how to turn off the gas, electricity and water • Have critical supplies ready: batteries, flashlight, first aid kit with medication, emergency food and water and documents. • Plan how you are going to communicate with family members in a situation you may be separated • For those with pets, prepare an emergency supply of dry pet food and a large water container that can last days, as pets may not be permitted in evacuation shelters. |
Responding During the DisasterDuring the earthquake:
(INDOORS) • Stay where you are and drop down onto your hands and knees so you aren’t knocked down. Do not run outside or get in a doorway, you may not be able to remain standing • Cover your head and neck with arms for protection against falling debris. If you are aware that you are in danger of falling objects and you can move safely, crawl quickly for cover under a sturdy table • Stay well away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, as well as anything that could potentially fall, such as light fixtures or taller furniture • If getting to the floor isn’t safe or takes too long, make your way to an inside corner of a room that seems least likely to have objects falling there • It is advised you are as close to the floor as possible. For those in wheelchairs or other mobility devices should lock their wheels and remain seated until shaking subsides. Cover your head and neck with arms, pillow, book, or anything else within reach • If you happen to be in bed, stay there and protect your head and neck with a pillow. In the dark night, it may be more difficult to see hazards and debris and more dangerous if you attempt to move • Leash any dogs, and keep them fenced in a safe area (OUTDOORS) • Move immediately into the open, away from tall buildings, streetlights and utility wires. Stay there until shaking stops. • If you are in a crowded city, it may be simpler to duck into the nearest building and follow the above (IN A MOVING VEHICLE) • Stop the vehicle as soon as possible when in a safe area. Avoid pausing even momentarily under or near buildings, trees and utility wires. • Stay in the vehicle until shaking stops. Avoid bridges or ramps because they may have been damaged. |
Responding After the DisasterAfter the earthquake:
(IMMEDIATELY) • Aftershocks may occurs from hours to several months after the initial earthquake, so be prepared at all times to drop, cover and hold. • Check for any injuries to your family and surrounding neighbours. • Check for fires or fire hazards • In indoors and the structure of building looks unsafe, evacuate immediately until a professional is able to examine it in further detail. Buildings damaged from main shock are at more of a risk to receive additional damage from aftershocks. • Wear shoes at all times in areas near debris or broken glass • Do not touch damaged power lines or objects these have touched • Thoroughly clean any medicines or potentially harmful materials immediately. Approach with extreme caution, as spilt chemicals mixed with others could cause harmful effects. Open windows to provide ventillation • Check for damaged utilities. Do not inspect for leaking gas lines by using candles, matches or other open flames - inspect by smell only. If you smell gas, open all windows and doors, shut off the main valve at your gas meter, leave the house and notify authorities immediately. Do not enter until repairs have been made and your hose declared safe. If water pipes are broken, shut off the main valves that bring water into the house. If there is a short circuit, turn off the electricity at the meter box. • Check to see that sewage lines are all intact before flushing toilets • The danger of glass contamination exists - do not eat or drink anything found in open containers near shattered glass • If the power is off, check refrigerator and plan to use up the foods that spoil quickly • Inspect chimneys for damage - serious cases may lead to fires • Unless in genuine emergencies, do not use phone and do not use vehicles (LONG-TERM) • In the days or weeks following the earthquake, it may be required for you to leave your home. It may be necessary to seek emergency assistance from organisations such as Red Cross. • Much damage can be done to houses, crops and livestock, and it can become difficult to support yourselves. Many die of starvation. The local economy is immensely damaged, as businesses are shut down while you are forced to pay for damages done to buildings and surrounding structures. • If deaths occur during the earthquake, bodies can be left out and not found for long periods of time, resulting in decomposing which can cause diseases that can lead to more deaths • On top of the already financially struggling economy, tourism can rapidly decline due to historical landmarks or monuments being demolished, or simply out of fear that a similar occurrence may happen again |
Regardless of the damage done by the earthquake, learn from the experience and evaluate if there are things you can do better in preparing for future earthquakes. Use this opportunity to repair or rebuild and strengthen structural weaknesses, improve how you secured your home’s contents, and add to our emergency supply kit what you found to be missing previously.