What to do during an earthquake?

Past experiences in earthquakes may give you a false sense of safety like .....you didn't do anything, or you ran outside, yet you survived with no injuries.....Or perhaps you got under your desk and others thought you overreacted.

But mostly you may have never experienced the kind of strong earthquake shaking that is possible in much larger earthquakes: sudden and intense back and forth motions of several feet per second that will cause the floor or the ground to jerk sideways out from under you, and every unsecured object around you may topple, fall, or become airborne, potentially causing severe injuries. 

That is why you must learn to protect yourself immediately after the first jolt... don't wait to see if the earthquake shaking will be strong!

1. If you are INDOORS -- STAY THERE! DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during an earthquake.

2. DO NOT stand in a doorway. You are safer under a table.

3. If you are IN BED, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. 

4. In MOST situations, you will reduce your chance of injury if you: Get under a desk or table and hang on to it (Drop, Cover, and Hold on!) or move into a hallway or against an inside wall.

5. If possible before shaking intensifies, quickly move away from glass, hanging objects, bookcases, china cabinets, or other large furniture that could fall. 

6. Watch for falling objects, such as bricks from fireplaces and chimneys, light fixtures, wall hangings, high shelves, and cabinets with doors that could swing open.

7. DO NOT use the elevators. The electricity may go out, and the sprinkler systems may come on.

8.STAY CLEAR of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. 

9. If you are in the kitchen, quickly turn off the stove and take cover at the first sign of shaking.

10. GET OUT of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place (things can fall on you). 

11. DON'T run downstairs or rush outside while the building is shaking or while there is a danger of falling and hurting yourself or being hit by falling glass or debris.

12.If you are OUTSIDE -- get into the OPEN, away from buildings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.

13. If you are DRIVING -- stop, but carefully. Move your car as far out of traffic as possible. 

14. DO NOT stop on or under a bridge or overpass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs. 

15. STAY INSIDE your car until the shaking stops. 

16. When you RESUME driving, watch for breaks in the pavement, fallen rocks, and bumps in the road at bridge approaches.

17. If you are in a MOUNTAINOUS AREA -- watch out for falling rock, landslides, trees, and other debris that could be loosened by quakes.

18. If you are trapped, stay calm. Try to get someone’s attention by tapping on hard or metal parts of the structure. Doing so may increase your chances of being rescued.

Special circumstances:

References:

1. https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-should-i-do-during-earthquake?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products
2. https://www.shakeout.org/dropcoverholdon/
3. https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
4. https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/earthquakes/during.html
5. https://www.earthquakecountry.org/step5/
6. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/earthquake-safety-tips/
7. https://www.cdc.gov/cpr/documents/BeReady_Earthquakes.pdf photo credit
8. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_earthquakes_p-1078-protect-yourself-during-earthquakes_20171130.pdf
9. https://www.earthquakecountry.org/library/Earthquake_Protective_Action_Postcard_English.pdf photo credit
10. https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-07/fema_earthquakes_p-1078-protect-yourself-during-earthquakes_20171130.pdf photo credit