In order to establish an earthquake preparedness plan for your home and your family, you need to start as soon as possible. Preparation before an emergency occurs can make a significant difference in how well you are able to survive the event. The first step is to walk around your home and find possible safety hazards that can be a danger during an earthquake. In your home, move heavier items to a location away from where your family sits down or goes to sleep at night. Items such as bookshelves can easily over and easily injure someone if the house starts to shake. Secure shelving and items hanging on the wall with fasteners and straps to keep them in place.
Call a professional to come out and inspect your plumbing and gas pipes for leaks or damage and have them repaired. It is also smart to have a shut off valve installed on your major gas appliances to that they can easily be shut off. Each family member should know where these valves are and how to turn them off. You should also secure collectibles, store chemicals closer to the floor in your garage and secure all of your cabinets so that items will not come flying out in case of an earthquake.
Sit down with your family and set out a safe place for all of you to meet after an earthquake occurs. Everyone should know where it is and several alternative routes to get there. Find places in your home that are safe to to go during the earthquake, such as under a well-made table or desk. Practice regularly with every member of the family how to find a safe spot, get under cover and hold on until things are quiet.
Your family should also know what to do after the earthquake occurs. In bedrooms, each family member should have a pair of shoes and a flashlight that works within easy reach. If you have a family member that has a health condition or disability, you will need to keep extra medication and know how to get that person to a safe place. Adults and older teenagers should be trained in basic first aid and CPR in case of a medical emergency.
Place a plastic, watertight container with extra food, medications, extra money, cash, bottled water and extra flashlights with batteries should be put in one location. Keep a toolkit and extra personal hygiene items in it as well. It is also helpful to add some of the following items:
— trashbags
— extra pet supplies
–can opener
–emergency radio
–blankets
–important papers and identification.
You should practice your plan and go over everything on a regular basis to keep it fresh in everyone’s mind. This is especially important with younger children who need to understand what is going on and how to deal with it. This will help your family to survive an earthquake and to avoid injury.