When Earthquakes Strike

1. When Earthquakes Strike Elaina Kouri Samantha Overfield

2. What is an Earthquake? • Earthquakes, aka Temblors, occur at fault zones where two tectonic plates that make up the upper layer of the Earth’s surface collide or slide against one another. • Most of the time the movement of the plates is gradual and unnoticeable above ground • However, when extreme stress is created it leads to massive vibrations known as seismic waves to be created and sent through the ground to the surface. • Earthquakes can also occur away from the fault zones

3. What is an Earthquake? • The magnitude of an Earthquake is determined by the strength and duration of their seismic waves • 3 to 5= minor/ light • 5 to 7= moderate to strong • 7 to 8= major • 8 and above= great • A magnitude 8 Earthquake usually strikes somewhere at least once a year and kills around 10,000 people. Most of these lives are claimed from buildings that collapse. But an earthquake can also lead to mud slides, fires, floods, or tsunamis. Smaller earthquakes can occur after a larger one and complicate rescue tremendously.

4. Protect and Prepare yourself • Practice! • Practice duck, cover, and hold drills at home, school, and work • Falling objects and collapsing structures cause injures and death during earthquakes. • Show children how to duck and safe places to take cover • Practice counting how long the practice earthquake last.

5. Make a plan • When an earthquake hits families may be separated for hours or days. • The local American Red Cross can assist in creating a plan. • The plan should include: • A safe place for your family to reunite after the earthquake • Select alternate routes and meeting places close to the school or work incase the roads or transportation were affected during the earthquake • Have relative or family member to contact out of the area to report your condition and location because local telephone calls could be extremely difficult • Make sure family members have this number at all times • Make sure you go over these plans repeatedly

6. Know the safest places in your home • This place should be away from: • Furniture • Appliances • Wood stoves • Fireplaces • Large panes of glass, pictures, mirrors • Know where and how to turn off gas, electric, and water shutoffs • Turn off utlitlies ONLY IF you suspect lines ar damaged or smell gas-contact supplier to turn them back on • Know school policy on releasing children after an earthquake

7. Store emergency supplies • After a major earthquake medical aid, transportation, water, electricity, and communication may be unavailable or restricted for days or weeks • BE PREPARED to take care of yourself and your family and neighbors • Store at home, work, and in car: flashlights, batteries, A-B-C rated fire extinguisher, battery operated radio, first-aid kit and handbook, at least one gallon of water per person per day, food, warm clothes, sturdy shoes, gloves, and medications may be needed • Store supplies in a safe and reliable place that can be easily accessed- everybody needs to know the location and how to use the supplies • Take a course in first aid from your local chapter of the American Red Cross • Include pets in planning- plan for food and water supplies for atl least three days • Arrange for neighbors to take care of pet if you are not at home when the earthquake strikes

8. Protect your belongings • Inspect your house before and after an earthquake to note cracks in the foundation and whether you may have serious structural damage from the earthquake • Move heavy items away from bed • Secure tall furniture and bookcases with lag bolts to wall studs • Add lips to shelves to prevent items sliding off • Put latches on cabinet doors • Secure file cabinets, computers, televisions, and machinery • Store potentially hazardous materials in appropriate containers and in sturdy cabinets attached to the wall

9. During an earthquake • What to do when an earthquake strikes • Earthquake • Indoors: • STAY! • Get under and hold onto a desk or table or stand against an interior wall • Stay clear of exterior walls, glass, appliances • STAY AWAY FROM: the kitchen, windows, outside walls, and elevators

10. Outside: • Get into the open • STAY AWAY from: • Buildings, power lines or anything that could fall on you • Driving: • Move the car out of traffic and stop • Avoid parking under or on bridges or overpassess • Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs, and power lines • When resume driving be aware of road hazards

11. Mountainous areas: • Be aware of potential landslides • Ocean • Tsunamis are associated with large earthquakes • GET TO HIGH GROUND • Crowded public place • DO NOT: panic or rush for the exit • Stay low and cover your head and neck

12. If trapped under debris • Do not light a match. • Do not move about or kick up dust. • Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. • Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust

13. Children • Keep the family together, reassures the child • Reassure chlildren with words and actions • Encourage the child to talk • Include the child in family activities • Checking for damage • Cleaning up • Trouble sleeping • Allow child to sleep in from with another child or in the parents’ room • Or spending more time with child in child’s room giving reassurance

14. After an Earthquake • Aftershocks occur, which are smaller earthquakes. • These smaller earthquakes are also extremely dangerous because they may lead to more buildings collapsing that were disrupted by the initial earthquake. • The aftershock earthquakes may not occur for days, weeks, or months after the first earthquake.

15. Resources • http://www.sanjuanislander.com/county/emergency/emergency-5.shtml • http://www.consrv.ca.gov/index/Earthquakes/Pages/qh_earthquakes_what.aspx • http://www.yespakistan.com/earthquake/whattodo.asp • http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_during.shtm