News coverage of earthquakes has become more common lately and while it doesn’t mean we’re getting more earthquakes, it does suggest that earthquake preparedness tips in Whittier should be as common as traffic jams on a freeway.
By now you probably know that because of their unpredictable nature, earthquakes can happen anywhere at any time, so earthquake preparedness tips in Whittier could be the difference between getting through a quake relatively unscathed and losing everything.
Another issue associated with earthquakes being in the news is that people can tend to become nonchalant about getting prepared, so we figure it’s time to share some useful earthquake preparedness tips in Whittier.
There are a few myths associated with earthquakes that we’d like to dispel such as the one about earthquake weather – there’s no such thing. Many people mistakenly think summertime is when earthquakes strike more often because it’s warmer, but that’s not true. Earthquakes are caused by tectonic plates shifting and releasing energy beneath the earth’s surface, therefore temperatures above ground are irrelevant.
Running outside or standing in a doorway during an earthquake are yet two other myths that have been debunked by the experts. If you’re indoors stay there and get under a sturdy table or desk. Running outside will expose you to flying debris. Similarly standing in a doorway is asking for trouble because it’s a weaker point of a structure, not to mention that doors can slam shut in an earthquake.
People who live in active earthquake zones can take practical steps to make sure their household possessions are protected against potential damage. Those same steps will also help prevent injuries during a quake.
We get that it’s all well and good to talk about these things in general terms but you really want specifics, so let’s look at what you can do to get peace of mind.
Safety Tips
There are several things that you should do in order to get prepared including securing your space, having emergency kits or emergency supplies on hand and having a plan for what to do after an earthquake.
There are actually seven steps to earthquake safety and the first step is to identify potential hazards around your home and fix them by securing them in place.
Technically it’s called non-structural interior mitigation and if you’re new to our articles, it’s a combination of systems for fastening down furniture, TVs (as shown in the images), electronics and breakables to stop them from toppling over during an earthquake. The tall, heavier items are particularly susceptible to crashing down if they’re not secured.
A golden rule of thumb is if it's heavy enough to hurt you if it falls on you, it should be secured in place.
Most fastening systems comprise flexible nylon straps, quick-release buckles and industrial strength adhesives.
The great thing about these fasteners is that once you’ve attached them, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your furniture and electronics are secured and won’t fall over.
Being prepared also means that you and your loved ones will need access to earthquake survival kits and/or emergency supplies.
At least three days’ worth of food and water is an absolute must for everyone, along with survival blankets and first aid supplies. The number of people that live in your home will determine how many emergency kits you will need.
No matter what your needs are, pre-assembled 3-day emergency kits are readily available from QuakeHOLD!
There are other things that you can do to be prepared such as storing emergency tools where you can easily get to them, learning how to turn off gas, water and electricity if necessary and creating a disaster preparedness plan. These and many other tips are included in the Top 10 earthquake preparedness tips in Whittier.