What to do in the event of an earthquake

At last Sunday's neighborhood potluck, we had a conversation about natural disasters. Someone had a sister who was involved in the earthquake south of Seattle in 2001. She worked in an old stone 2-level school & wondered if she should leave the building or what. We had some disagreement on whether to stay inside or go out in this event.

The following information from my disaster manual for NET training is taken from Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project & FEMA, as well as other sources. I've also had a friend who lived through numerous So Cal earthquakes tell me some of these as well.

"Remain calm. Remember that your brain is your most important tool.

There is no one safe place to be during an earthquake. The following are some recommended actions. The specific actions that you should take should be adapted to your situation & location at the time of the quake.

If you are inside a building when an earthquake hits, stay there. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER....DUCK, COVER & HOLD. Try to get under something that will protect you from falling debris like a table or a desk and hold on to it. (Someone in my class said if they are in the bedroom they'll shield themselves with their mattress...not a bad idea.) Stay there until the shaking stops. Try to get at least 15 feet away from any windows so that you are not cut by flying glass. Never run outside during a quake. Most people are injured by falling debris. Running outside just increases your chances of being injured. If you are in a hallway or open area of a building, sit down against a wall & cover your head & neck with your hands. Remain there until the shaking stops. If you are in an elevator, go to the closest floor and get out. Sit down & cover your head & neck with your hands and remain there until the shaking stops. NEVER TAKE ELEVATORS AFTER AN EARTHQUAKE.

If you are outside when an earthquake hits, stay there. Move away from buildings to an open area, if it is safe to do so. Watch out for downed power lines. If a large amount of debris is falling try to find some cover such as a building doorway. Stay there until the shaking stops.

If you are driving when an earthquake hits put your emergency flashers on and slow to a stop, off the roadway if possible. Watch for traffic approaching from the rear while doing this. Turn the ignition off & set the parking break. Remain inside the car until the shaking stops. Do not stop on overpasses, underpasses, ,or bridges, and be aware of overhead hazards such as power lines or falling building debris.

In the downtown area it is safer to remain inside the buildings after an earthquake. Unless the building has suffered structural damage or there is a fire, chemical spill, or a gas leak, it is much safter to remain inside. When windows in a highrise buidign break, the glass does not always fall straight down; it can catch a wind current and sail great distances. Outside is no place to be in the downtown area during or after an earthquake because of falling objects. Aftershocks can cause additional damage, and more glass and debris can fall."

I won't go into subduction quakes here. If you want more information you can find lots with a search engine.