What To Do Before, During, and After an Earthquake Recent earthquakes remind us that we live on a restless planet. Learn about earthquakes. Stay away from the coast until officials permit you to return. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Depending on the circumstances, this could present a variety of challenges to you. Expect aftershocks. Do not use the elevator. Tsunamis can be tens of feet high when they hit the shore and can do enormous damage to the coastline. If you do not have a table, sit near … One of the most important ways to be prepared is to know what to do during and after an earthquake. If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. Minimize your … Aftershocks—following large quakes—can cause damage in their own right. If any are damaged, shut off the valves. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Disaster Response Planner, KPTV: Alert system could save lives before the 'Big One', KGW: Where to go after 'The Big One'? The largest tremor is known as the main shock. Get an emergency kit, so that you and your family can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Any special precautions, if you can suggest. If you are in the mountains, or near unstable slopes, be alert for falling rocks, trees or landslides that could be loosened by the earthquake. Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. If there isn't a table or desk near you, drop to the ground in an inside corner of the building and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, The 10 Deadliest Natural Disasters in History. Various disasters have occurred recently. New York Times: Buildings Can Be Designed to Withstand Earthquakes. Before an Earthquake … Bureaus & Offices of the City of Portland, Coronavirus (COVID-19) news and information, CityLab: How Portland’s Earthquake Preppers Are Planning for the Worst, OPB: Multnomah County Moves Forward To Hold Fossil Fuel Industries Accountable, City of Portland committee to work on reducing unreinforced masonry building earthquake risk, KATU: Community voices earthquake concerns over fuel tanks along Willamette River, Portland Monthly: Meet the Woman Who Helps Immigrant and Refugee Communities Get Ready for a Massive Quake. When an earthquake occurs, many smaller earthquakes follow in the same area. Have a plan in advance: Do you know where you’re going to go when the earthquake is over? Thank you for signing up to Live Science. If you're driving a car, pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Expect aftershocks. These secondary shock waves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake. Post by Yukari Shingyouchi. "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" offers the best overall level of protection in most situations. There are also a few things you really shouldn't do. Stay inside your car. This includes: 1) the actions you should take when an earthquake occurs, 2) the safe places in a room such as under a strong desk or along interior walls, and 3) places to avoid such as near windows, large mirrors, hanging objects, heavy furniture, and … It is important to think about what you will do to protect yourself, wherever you are, when the earth begins to shake. Do you know what you’ll do if you’re inside? If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire. Find … Do not move seriously-injured persons unless they are in immediate danger. Voynetch collects cookies to enable the proper functioning of our websites, and help us offer you the best possible user experience. Favourite answer. Even more severe earthquakes of magnitude eight and higher occur once a year, and there is no telling when or where any of them will strike. Main Shock. If you're by the shore, drop, cover and hold on until the shaking stops. If we are outdoors when an earthquake occurs, then: 1) We should stay at a clear spot away from buildings, trees and over-head power lines.We should also sit on the ground. could happen. Earthquakes can happen anytime, anywhere. So, an EARTHQUAKE can happen anytime that could possibly generate a Magnitude 7.2. Visit our corporate site. One of the best things you can do to ensure you and your family are prepared for any type of natural disaster is to have an emergency fund set aside to help you pay for unexpected expenses. This includes areas to avoid when using a vehicle, and safety and health hazards arising from collapsing … 1. You may be injured by breaking glass and falling objects if you run outside. Do not wait for official notification. It is a huge wave caused by an earthquake under the ocean. In tsunami-prone areas, warnings will be played in English. After an earthquake. © Copyright 2021 City of Portland, Oregon, USA. Take pictures of all of your belongings in their proper places and file the photos with your home owners insurance paperwork. Earthquake safety boils down to three basic steps: 1 - Drop to the ground 2 - Take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table3 - Hold on to it until the shaking stops… If you are inside, stay inside. New York Times: We’re Barely Listening to the U.S.’s Most Dangerous Volcanoes. Protect yoursel… Source: Living on Shaky Ground: How to Survive Earthquakes and Tsunamis in Oregon. Conversely, at the first sign … After an earthquake, aftershocks are expected. Where earthquakes happen most in the US. Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities. Seek Out Power Lines. 2. Before an earthquake occurs, especially if you live in a place where earthquakes are fairly common, such as California, you need to be sure that you walk through your home and assess your situation and all of your assets. A serious earthquake can be a traumatic experience, and it is easy to forget safety measures in the chaos. Make a family emergency plan, so that everyone knows what to do, and where to go in case of an emergency. Aftershocks following large earthquakes can be large and damaging. The car (or bus) should be driven slowly to a clear spot away from buildings, trees and over-head electric wires. The magnitude of an earthquake is recorded by a seismograph. Do not use the elevator. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. Teach all members of your family about earthquake safety. Do not try to run to another room just to get under a table. Portland Bureau of Emergency Management Home. Remember many injuries can occur after an earthquake. In order to survive during an earthquake, we should at least know the basic things to do if an earthquake occurs. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. However, if you feel a large earthquake, it’s always good to find higher ground until you are sure it is safe. Riding It out in a Vehicle Stop in a clear area away from trees, buildings, and other structures. • COVER your head with your arms from falling objects. If you're at the movies or a sports game, stay at your seat and protect your head and neck with your arms. Hold on to it and stay put until the shaking stops. 1. When an earthquake is happened, look for shelter under the table and stay calm until the ground stops shaking. Stay up to date on the coronavirus outbreak by signing up to our newsletter today. 1 decade ago. New York, Earthquakes are virtually impossible to predict. Don't wait for officials to issue a warning. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. Across the world, more than 14,000 earthquakes occur every year. Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and kitchen cabi… Don't run outside. Well, before an earthquake, try to nail big bookshelves to the wall so they don't fall during a real thing. An early earthquake image of California is a collapsed adobe home with the door frame as the only standing part. Answer Save. Preparedness includes planning for an earthquake before it occurs, equipping workers with information and emergency supply kits, training, and implementing preparedness plans. DO NOT run outside or to other rooms during an earthquake. If You Are Indoors. © In addition, studies of injuries and deaths caused by earthquakes in the U.S. over the last several decades indicate you are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects (TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases, etc.) Drop to the Ground. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but dams can fail during major earthquakes. Wear sturdy shoes to protect your feet from broken glass. Drop to the ground and stay there until the shaking stops. Save for an emergency fund. Check for hazards such as fires, gas leaks, downed utility lines and fallen objects. What should we do if earthquake happen? Plan and practice what to do if an earthquake strikes. The Response/Recovery page provides useful details on the hazards to avoid after an earthquake. Not true. Build More of Them? Earthquake safety boils down to three basic steps: 1 - Drop to the ground 2 - Take cover by getting under a sturdy desk or table3 - Hold on to it until the shaking stops. If you are near the coast and a large earthquake occurs, there may be a tsunami risk. What should we do after an earthquake occurred. Keep reading to learn how to prepare your home and family for an earthquake, as well as what to do during and after earthquake to stay safe. Luckily, these kinds of earthquakes only happen in cartoons and the Bible. Outside isn't safer than inside, if you stand next to power lines, streetlights, … If you live downstream from a dam, you should know flood-zone information and have prepared an evacuation plan. Many injuries occur within 10 feet of the entrance to buildings. In an earthquake, if you are on an upper story of a building, do not try to leave the building during the earthquake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. What to Do During an Earthquake. [15] This article explains what to expect during an earthquake, how to properly deal with the tremors, and other tips for a safe trip. if we are in our school, colleges, seminar, etc, we should protect us under the heavy furniture. Earthquakes can be deadly - especially to those who don't know how to behave when the shaking starts. Having supplies is one way to be prepared, so you'll have exactly what you need on hand should disaster strike. Relevance. Don't try to leave until the shaking is over. This should also include: Check for injuries. If severe shaking lasts 20 seconds or more, immediately evacuate to high ground as a tsunami might have been generated by the earthquake. The best time to prepare for an earthquake is before it happens. You are … Teach all members of your family about earthquake safety. If you live in a region prone to earthquakes, you might at some point find yourself in your car when one strikes. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. Information provided by The Great California Shake Out. Create an Account ». Follow this list of post earthquake tips: Check yourself and others for injuries. Read these tips for Being Prepared for an Earthquake provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Unlike hurricanes or floods, earthquakes come without warning and are usually followed by similar aftershocks, although the aftershocks are usually less powerful than the quake.If you find yourself in the middle of an earthquake, there's often only a split-second to decide what to do. Earthquakes are dangerous natural disasters that occur every year. We are in Malaysia. Indoors: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Don’t let an earthquake knock you to the ground. However, there are regions of the country where earthquakes happen more often. Post by Yukari Shingyouchi. In case of an earthquake, if a person is indoor, he should stay inside and take cover under a table or other furniture, and if a person is outdoor he should stay away from the things that can fall and injure him, like trees and building. But there are many important things we can do before, during, and after an earthquake to protect ourselves, our homes, and our families. Check for … if we are in our school, colleges, seminar, etc, we should protect us under the heavy furniture. 4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. Inform workers of the plan. Earthquake is a natural disaster in which Earth surface shakes. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake. Get under a table instead. However, it is only identified as a foreshock after the the main earthquake has happened. Foreshock occurs before the main tremor in the same area. Trees, streetlights, and power lines may also fall, causing damage or injury. Make sure family members all know how to … An Earthquake like the one(s) striking Kumamoto can happen anywhere in Japan at any time, which is why the old saying: 備えあれば憂いなし, (sonae areba urea nashi), which means, “be prepared and have no regrets”, or in plain English – Better safe than sorry, still holds true – … In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. Earthquake. This means you should drop to the ground, get under a sturdy shelter, maybe a desk or table, and hold on until the ground stops shaking. What should you do if an earthquake happens while you’re in your vehicle? 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