How to React During an Earthquake: 15 Steps

2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Earthquakes occur when the earth's crust shifts, causing plates to shift and collide with each other. Unlike hurricanes or floods, earthquakes occur without warning and are usually followed by similar aftershocks, which are usually less powerful than the earthquake itself. If you find yourself in the midst of this natural phenomenon, you often only have a quarter of a second to decide what to do. Studying the advice in this article could make the difference between life and death.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Grounding, Covering, and Waiting (Internal)

Step 1. Drop to the ground

Lowering yourself to the floor, covering yourself and waiting for the earthquake to pass is a cousin technique of the famous "throw yourself down, cover yourself and roll", typical of fires. While this isn't the only way to protect yourself in an enclosed space during an earthquake, it's the one preferred by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross.

Large earthquakes occur with little warning or without warning, so it is recommended that you lower yourself to the ground as soon as one occurs. A small earthquake could turn into a big one in half a second: it is better to save yourself to prevent than to have regrets later

Step 2. Cover up

Settle under a solid table or other piece of furniture. If possible, stay away from glass, windows, exterior doors and walls, and anything that could collapse, such as lighting fixtures or furniture. If there isn't a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and curl up in an inner corner of the facility.

• Do not:

  • Run out. You are more likely to be injured if you try to get out of the facility instead of staying inside.
  • Head for an exit. Hiding under an entrance door is a myth. You are safer under a table than under a door, especially in modern homes.
  • Run to another room to get under a table or other piece of furniture.

  Step 3. Stay inside until it's safe to get out

  Research has shown that the risks of injury are higher when people move around looking for a place to hide or when, in a crowded place, everyone's aim is to escape to safety.

  

  Step 4. Wait

  The ground could shake and rubble could fall. Wait by stopping under any protected surface or platform that allows you to hide until the flickering stops. If you can't find a surface to hide under, keep holding your head shielded with your arms and bent down.

  

  Step 5. Stay in a safe place

  If you are in bed during an earthquake, stay there. Wait and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under heavy light armor and it may fall off. If so, move to the nearest safe place.

  Many injuries are caused when people get out of bed and walk barefoot on broken glass

  

  Step 6. Stay inside until the shaking stops and you can safely exit

  Research suggests that many are injured when trying to move from place to place within the building or when trying to escape.

  • Be careful when you go outside. Walk, don't run, in case of violent aftershocks. Take cover in an area that is free from cables, buildings, or cracks in the earth.
  • Don't use the elevator to get out. The electricity service could have problems and risk of being trapped in it. Your best bet is to use the stairs if they are clear.

  Part 2 of 3: Triangle of Life (Internal)

  

  Step 1. Use the triangle of life method as an alternative to laying down, covering yourself and waiting

  If you can't find a desk or table to settle under, you have other options. Although this method has been questioned by many world experts regarding safety during earthquakes, it could save your life if the building you are in collapses.

  

  Step 2. Find a nearby facility or furniture

  According to the triangle of life theory, people who find shelter near, not below, elements of a home, such as sofas, are often protected from the gaps or other spaces created by a pancake collapse. Hypothetically, the rubble of a collapsing structure would fall onto a sofa or desk, breaking the object but leaving an empty space next to it. Proponents of this theory suggest that the shelter constituted by this clear corner represents the safest refuge opportunity for earthquake survivors.

  

  Step 3. Curl up in a fetal position to the side of the frame or cabinet

  Doug Copp, a leading proponent and speaker of the triangle of life theory, says this safety technique feels natural to dogs and cats and can work for humans as well.

  

  Step 4. Consider this list of things not to do in case of an earthquake

  If you can't find a safe place to stop, cover your head and get into a fetal position wherever you are.

  • Do not:

    • Get under a door. People who choose this location would commonly be crushed to death if the doorposts collapsed under the weight of the earthquake impact.
    • Go upstairs to place a piece of furniture underneath. Stairs are dangerous places to walk in during an earthquake.

    

    Step 5. You must be aware that the triangle of life method is not supported by scientific research and / or expert consensus

    This is a controversial technique. If you find yourself having several options for how to proceed during an earthquake in an enclosed space, try the grounding, covering and waiting technique.

    • The triangle of life technique has several shortcomings. First, it is difficult to know where the triangles of life are formed, as objects, during an earthquake, move up and down, as well as sideways.
    • Second, scientific studies tell us that most of the deaths caused by earthquakes are due to falling debris and objects, not structures. The triangle of life is predominantly based on earthquakes which cause structures to fall, not objects.
    • Many scientists believe it is even more likely that you will be injured if you try to move elsewhere instead of staying where you started. The triangle of life theory is based on the assumption of moving to safe areas instead of standing still.

    Part 3 of 3: Surviving Earthquakes Outdoors

    

    Step 1. Stay outdoors until the shaking has subsided

    Don't try to heroically save someone or venture inside a building. Your best chance is to stay outdoors, where the risk of collapsing structures is lower. The greatest danger lies directly outside the structures, at the exits and along the external walls.

    

    Step 2. Stay away from buildings, street lights and utility cables

    They are the main risks when outside during the progress of an earthquake or one of its aftershocks.

    

    Step 3. Stop as quickly as possible if you are in a vehicle and stay inside

    Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, railroad crossings and utility cables. Proceed with caution once the earthquake is over. Avoid roads, bridges or ramps that may have been damaged by the phenomenon.

    

    Step 4. Stay calm if you are trapped under the rubble

    While it seems counterintuitive, waiting for help to arrive is the best choice you can make if you find yourself trapped under rubble that you can't move.

    • Do not use matches or a lighter. Leaking gas and other flammable chemicals could accidentally cause a fire.
    • Do not move or raise dust. Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or dress.
    • Clap your hand on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if you have it handy. Screaming is the last resort, as it can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

    

    Step 5. Be prepared for a possible tsunami if you are near a large body of water

    This natural phenomenon occurs when an earthquake causes extreme agitation underwater, sending powerful waves towards coasts and towns.

    If there has recently been an earthquake and its epicenter is in the ocean, there is a good chance that a tsunami will occur

    Advice

    • If you are driving in a mountainous area, you should know how to get out of a car that is on the edge of a precipice and how to escape from a sinking car.
    • If you are on a beach, look for a more prominent area.