Earthquake Preparedness
San Francisco will almost certainly be affected by a very big earthquake in the near future. This document covers the basics of earthquake preparedness. It is designed for people who have always intended to get prepared for the earthquake but find that task overwhelming and instead give up, and remain unprepared. It is an intentionally brief and action-orientated document. It explains small, simple, steps that you can take before, during and after the earthquake.
Imagine if the earthquake happened right now: dangerous shaking with things falling all around you. Once the shaking stops normal living will be severely disrupted. Your home might be uninhabitable. City services will be overwhelmed. Your phone won’t work. You will have difficulty finding your friends in the crowd. You or some of your friends might be injured or trapped.
Work through this document and its checklist in advance and you’ll be more prepared to deal with those possibilities. It will improve your chances of surviving the earthquake, reuniting with friends quickly afterward, dealing with disruptions effectively, and helping people in need.
– Donal Mountain, November 11 2010
Before the earthquake
Things to designate
A meeting point for you and your friends. A specific landmark in an open area. Parks are the obvious choice but they will be extremely crowded. Choose a specific point.
An out-of-state point person. After the earthquake you can call them and they can relay messages to and from your friends and family. It’s best if they’re out of state, as long distance calls will be easier to make than local calls. Give them your friends’ and family’s contact details, and give your friends and family their contact details.
Make your home safe
Secure heavy wall and ceiling hangings. These include pictures, mirrors, shelves and lighting. Don’t hang these things near beds or places where people sit.
Store dangerous items securely. These include breakable glass items, poisons and flammable products. Use low, closed cabinets with latches.
Know where your gas, water and electricity shut-offs are, and how to use them.
Know how to get out of your house if the main way isn’t working
During the earthquake
Seek nearby shelter. Moving around will be extremely dangerous during the earthquake. Immediately find the safest spot that is within a few steps of where you are. Drop to the floor, cover your face and head with your arms, and hold on until the shaking stops. Stay there until the shaking stops. Don’t move outside during the earthquake. There will be a lot of things falling right outside the building.
If you’re indoors: Get under sturdy furniture. E.g: a desk, table or bed. Something that will protect you from falling debris. Preferably be against an inside wall near a corner of the building, away from windows. Get away from heavy objects or glass things that could fall over or shatter. Kitchens and bathrooms are generally unsafe (lots of glass and things falling). Doorways are generally unsafe, despite what you may have heard.
But… if you’re in bed: stay there and cover your head with your pillow. It’s safer than getting out and running around barefoot in the dark.
If you’re outdoors: Stay outdoors, but get away from things that could fall or collapse. E.g. buildings, bridges and overpasses, tunnels and underpasses. Get away from steep mountainsides and other places prone to landslides, rock slides and avalanches. Get away from shorelines at risk of tsunamis. Stay away from downed power lines.
But… if you’re outdoors downtown: there’s no way to avoid buildings downtown, so go into one and shelter there.
If you’re driving: Turn on your hazard lights and slow down gradually. Drive as far out of the traffic as possible and stop. But only when you’re away from dangerous things, including overpasses and bridges, tunnels and underpasses and downed power lines. Stay inside your car until the shaking stops. If you need to drive once the shaking has stopped, drive slowly and cautiously, watching for more dangerous things such as broken pavement, fallen rocks, pedestrians and abandoned vehicles.
After the earthquake: General
Between aftershocks, move to a safe place. Quickly grab what parts of your earthquake kit you can and leave. Get outside and away from buildings and other dangerous places. Aftershocks can do even more damage to already weakened structures. When you leave a location, put a message near the door with information for others to find, including where you’re going to.
If you’re downtown: you may be better off staying inside since there are too many tall buildings to get away from between aftershocks. However, if there’s a fire or gas leak, get out. Quickly find shelter in a safer building nearby.
If you’re trapped inside and can’t get out: Avoid making dust: limit your movements. Avoid inhaling dust: cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. Help rescuers find you: make noise; tap on a pipe or wall; whistle. Shout only as a last resort, due to the dust.
Reunite with your friends. Go to the meeting place you’ve established with your group of local friends. Check back at the meeting place every six hours at 6am, noon, 6pm and midnight (or decide different times). Leave notes at the meeting place. Tape them to a surface, up high up so they don’t get covered. Put names in big writing. All the other writing can be small. Include specific instructions for how and where to meet up. Treat injured friends. Give the first aid and get them medical help if they need it. Have some people go find friends who are missing. Check their homes. Look for notes. Try to contact your out-of-state point people to send and receive updates.
About phones: You probably won’t be able to use your phone immediately after the earthquake. Phone service will be restored slowly. Consider having an extra phone with a different carrier. Avoid making unnecessary phone calls. Conserve your battery. Free up phone lines for people in need. Text messages may be delayed, but they are much more likely to go through than phone calls. Long distance calls are more likely to go through than local ones. If possible, change your voicemail message to say you’re safe. Charge your battery whenever you have a chance.
After the earthquake: Hazards
Things to expect Your house may be uninhabitable for 3-7 days so plan to live in close quarters either at a friends house or in a shelter, or outside. Nights will be cold so wear warm clothes. You will be walking a lot, so wear sturdy shoes. There may be unruly crowds and civil unrest. Local services may be unavailable: police, paramedics, fire department, gas, electricity, telephones, internet. KCBS Radio (740 AM) will be broadcasting emergency information and instructions.
Structural Damage (cracks, partial collapse). If your home is damaged, don’t enter it until authorities say it’s safe to do so. Approach buildings — and especially chimneys — with extreme caution. Open cabinets cautiously, as objects can tumble off the shelves.
Fighting Fires. Put out fires immediately and call for help.
Gas Leaks (gas smell, hissing noise). Don’t enter the building. If you’re inside the building, open a window and then quickly leave. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve. Don’t turn the gas back on yourself. Don’t use matches or electrical switches.
Electrical system damage (sparks, frayed wires, downed power lines, burning plastic smell). Turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker, unless doing so requires stepping in water. Don’t touch downed power lines or any objects in contact with them.
Sewage or water line damage (flooding, shitty smell). Turn off the water at the mains. Don’t drink the tap water or use the toilet,
Food, water and cooking. Do not eat or drink anything from open containers near shattered glass. Food in the freezer should be good for a couple of days at least. Don’t use BBQs or camping stoves indoors.
After the Earthquake: First Aid
Seriously injured people. Try to get get medical help for seriously injured people. Don’t move them unless they are in further danger of injury. Keep them warm by covering them with blankets
Killer 1: Airway Obstruction and Breathing. Check for breathing (look, listen, feel). Open the airway. Tilt the head back, lift the chin. Use your fingers.
Killer 2: Bleeding and circulation. Put direct pressure on the wound, use clean gauze or cloth if available. Elevate the wound above the heart. Apply pressure to pressure points
Killer 3: Shock. Check for rapid, shallow breathing and heartbeat. Pale skin. Nausea. Loss of consciousness. Immobilize fractures. Elevate legs above head. Keep the victim warm. Cover, and insulate from ground. Loosen clothing. Watch for vomiting. Don’t let them eat or drink
Broken and fractured bones. Immobilize to avoid internal bleeding, shock and brain or spinal injury. Cover wounds. Don’t re-insert protruding bones
Cuts, punctures, amputations. Cleanse, control bleeding, don’t remove impaled object, keep amputated things on ice.
Burns. Remove from heat, cover with sterile dressing, cool with water, watch for hypothermia.
Appendix: Earthquake Kit
Keep all these things at home where they’re easy to find. Also keep some emergency supplies at work or in your car.
Absolute basics.
Keep these in a plastic bag tied to the foot of your bed.
- Sturdy shoes and socks
- A flashlight
- A whistle
Extended Basics.
Keep these in a small backpack tied to the foot of your bed
- Warm clothes
- Some water and snacks
- Heavy-duty garbage bags
- Work gloves
- Protective face mask
- Utility wrench (to turn off gas and water)
- Cash ($20s and 0.25¢s) and a credit card
- Spare keys
- Pens, markers, paper
- Photos of your friends
- Address book (names, street addresses and phone numbers for you and your friends, your out-of-state point people, your next of kin.)
- Local map
- Copies of health insurance details
- Small radio (KCBS 740AM)
- Spare phone and SIM from a different network (if possible)
- Spare batteries and chargers
- Pocket knife
- Matches and lighter
- Duct tape
Other things to grab
- Phone and charger
- Passport
First Aid, etc.
Keep this in the small backpack too.
- Medicines, etc (prescription drugs, inhalers, contact lenses)
- Basic toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, hand sanitizer, etc)
- First aid kit and manual.
Food, etc.
You won’t be able to grab this stuff immediately, but have it all in once place where it’s easy to find.
- Water: 7 gallons per person (one gallon a day for seven days)
- Food: Enough for several days. Canned and package foods are good.
- Water purification tablets or chlorine bleach to purify drinking water from other sources
- Zip-loc bags, aluminum foil and cellophane.
- Camp stove and fuel, pots and pans, eating utensils
Shelter, etc.
You won’t be able to grab this stuff immediately, but have it all in once place where it’s easy to find.
- Tent
- Blankets or sleeping bag
- Ground mat
- Space blanket