SEANep Publication

No one can predict or prevent an earthquake. When an earthquake strikes, you must be ready to act immediately. To help you survive, you and members of your household should prepare personal and family survival plans NOW!

Preparing for an earthquake takes time and effort. The information provided in this booklet can help you and your family plan, so you can:

• Avoid injury and help others
• Minimize damage to your property
• Survive at least 72 hours after an earthquake in your home or workplace without help from emergency response officials.

Tips on what to do BEFORE an earthquake

Chances of survival are improved if emergency plans are prepared and practiced together as a family, now. Start by discussing what could happen and what you should do at home, at school or at work if an earthquake strikes. Prepare a list of what needs to be done ahead of time to be prepared. Divide up tasks so that everyone involved in the plan participates as much as possible. Write down and exercise your plan. Make sure everybody has a copy and keeps it close at hand.

Prepare your home for earthquakes

• Go through your home, imagining what could happen to each part of it, if shaken by a violent earthquake.
• Teach everybody in the family how to turn off the water and electricity.
• If you have small children, tell them what to do if they are in school during an earthquake. It is usually best if they stay at school until you can go and get them.
• Clearly label the on-off position for the water, electricity and gas.
• If your home is equipped with natural gas: tie or tape the appropriate wrench on or near the pipe, to turn off the gas, if necessary. (Don't shut off the gas unless
• there is a leak or a fire. If the gas is turned off, don't turn it on again. A qualified technician must do that.)
• If you live in an apartment block or a multi-story building, you may experience more sway and less shaking than in a smaller, single-story building.
• Works with your building manager or condominium board to decide how best to "quake-safe" your unit. Seek advice from professionals (engineers, architects, emergency preparedness authorities) if you are unsure about what to do.
• Determine whether you live or work in an area that could be subjected to flooding, landsides or tsunamis damage. If you do, then plan evacuation procedures with members of your household, neighbors, and co-workers.

Check for home hazards

Previous earthquakes show that you have a better chance of surviving and minimizing damage to your home if you take the following preventive measures now:

• When building or remodeling a house, be sure to provide adequate bracing against horizontal forces. Make sure that the foundations are adequate and that the house is securely tied to the foundation.

• Make sure the walls are braced.
• Repair loose roof shingles.
• Make sure the chimneys are strong and well braced.
• Tie down the water heater and other heavy appliances (stove, washer, dryer) that could break gas or water lines if they topple.
• Secure top-heavy furniture and shelving units to prevent tipping. Keep heavy items on lower shelves.
• Affix mirrors, paintings and other hanging objects securely, so they won't fall off hooks. Locate beds and chairs away from chimneys and windows. Don't hang heavy pictures and other items over beds. Closed curtains and blinds will help stop broken window glass from falling on beds.
• Put anti-skid pads under TVs, VCRs, computers and small appliances or secure them with Velcro or other such product.
• Use childproof or safety latches on cupboards to stop contents from spilling out.
• Keep flammable items, poisons and household chemicals away from heat and where they are less likely to spill.
• Put plywood up in the attic on joists around each chimney to help prevent bricks and mortar from coming through the ceiling. (Check clearances with your local fire department.)

Discuss earthquake insurance with your insurance broker. Check your coverage - it could affect your financial ability to recover losses after an earthquake.

Assemble a home emergency supply kit

Assemble the essential emergency supplies listed below, now and keep them in your home emergency kit(s). Store them in secure containers (such as plastic garbage bins) in a safe place in your home (under the stairs, in a closet). Supplies should be in easy-to-carry containers, ready to take with you.

Store an emergency kit in your car, tool shed or garage in case you have to evacuate your home and can't go back in.

These supplies will help make you self-sufficient for three to five days.

Water is essential for survival

• Store the water you usually drink
• Use small-necked plastic bottles that have been washed, disinfected and are easily carried
• Store water in a cool, dark place
• on each bottle, record the date you bottled the water
• Replace stored tap water every six months
• if you have pets, don't forget to store adequate water for them. (Approximately 30 milliliters of water per kilogram of the animal's weight, per day.)

Keep a supply of water-purifying tablets and non-perfumed chlorine bleach in your emergency kit. In an emergency, water can also be made safe to drink by using water purification tablets according to directions or by adding one drop of liquid [non-perfumed] chlorine bleach per liter of water or three drops per liter of cloudy water. Stir and let sit for 30 minutes before drinking.

Water can also be made safe to drink by boiling it for 10 minutes.

You may be able to get an emergency supply of water for washing from the hot water heater or toilet tank.

Food

Choose foods that require no refrigeration, cooking or preparation, are compact and lightweight. Choose food that is liked by and familiar to those most likely to eat it. If food must be cooked, include a "camp stove" and fuel. Some examples of food choices include:

• Ready-to-eat canned meals: stews, baked beans, pasta, meat, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, cereals, "trail mix," oatmeal cookies, candies or jellies;
• Freeze-dried foods;
• Canned milk, juices, coffee, tea; staples such as sugar, salt, pepper, powdered coffee whitener;
• Eating utensils;
• Any special dietary requirements: such as baby food and formula;if you have pets, don't forget food for them.

Keep a manual can-opener with the canned foods

Clothing

Include one change of clothing and footwear per person: sweaters, woolen socks, hat, scarf, mittens, underwear, rain gear, sturdy, waterproof shoes or boots, heavy work gloves are a must.

Bedding

A sleeping bag or two warm blankets per person

Shelter

First Aid Kit

• Keep a complete first aid kit and basic first aid manual in your home and car.

• Include over-the-counter medications such as pain reliever, antiseptic etc.
• Include a list of the prescription medications taken by each family member. List the name of family physician/specialists, style and serial number of medical devices such as pacemakers, hearing aids, and eyeglass prescriptions.
• If required, include denture needs, contact lens liquids, hearing aids, mobility aids and a few days supply of any essential regular medication such as insulin.

After a major disaster, hospitals may be overcrowded and medical personnel may be occupied with more serious cases. One should have knowledge of first aid procedures.

Supplies and Tools

• Keep a battery-powered AM/FM radio and spare batteries at home and at the workplace
• Candles
• Flashlight and spare batteries. Keep a flashlight (one per person) near your bed, in your car and at work. Have spare batteries in each location
• Hammer and nails, crowbar, pry bar, axe (spare pry bar should also be stored outside in tool-shed or garage)

• Lantern and fuel
• Matches (in waterproof container)
• Mosquito repellent
• Plastic sheeting/tarpaulin
• Pliers
• Rope, duct tape
• Small shovel
• Pen, marker, note pad
• Pocket knife
• Whistle (three short blasts is the recognized signal for help)
• Gasoline-powered generator and appropriately rated extension cord

Always keep the following items handy

• One or more class ABC fire extinguishers in convenient locations (make sure everybody knows how to use it). Garden hoses attached to faucets (if water pressure is adequate, they can be used immediately in the event of a fire).
• Wrench (crescent or pipe if you have to turn off the natural gas). Tie or tape the appropriate wrench to the pipe. Remember: Don't shut off the gas unless there is a leak or a fire. If the gas is turned off, don't turn it on again. A qualified technician must do that.)
• Shoes - heavy enough to protect feet from broken glass and other debris (consider everybody keeping a pair under the bed).
• toilet paper, moist towelettes, facial tissues, liquid detergent
• Personal items: soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, towel, face cloth, comb, lip balm, sanitary napkins/tampons
• Plastic garbage bags and ties
• Chlorine bleach, liquid disinfectant
• Portable toilet

Special items

• Cards, games, books appropriate to family interests/ages
• Coloring books, crayons, toys, drawing paper for children
• Photos of family members and loved ones

Family records and documents

Store important family documents and records (such as the following) in waterproof container(s):

• Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds;
• Passports, social insurance cards, health cards, immunization records;
• Cash/coins;
• Savings and chequing account numbers;
• Credit card account numbers and companies;
• Important telephone numbers for ambulance, fire and police services;
• Family records (birth, marriage etc. certificates).

Put together Individual evacuation packs

You should have the items in this list in addition to the supplies for your home emergency kit. Each person in your household should have the items in a tote bag or back-pack, stored in a secure place with the other emergency supplies. They should be ready to go if you have to evacuate on short notice.

• Food such as dried fruit, high-energy food bars, candies etc.
• First aid kit and booklet; survival manual

• Flashlight and batteries
• Money, including coins/phone card
• Photographs of family and loved ones
• Gloves and other warm clothing
• Address book with important family phone numbers, particularly those in another town/city

Remember to add necessities for babies, small children, elderly and people with disabilities in your household.

When you evacuate, supplement the items in individual evacuation packs with other items from your store of emergency supplies including:

• Bottled water (ideally, 4 liters per person per day);
• Cooking/eating utensils. Be sure to take prescribed medications such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin set, with you when you evacuate.

Put together an emergency pack for your vehicle

The items in this list are in addition to the supplies in your home emergency kit. Keep them in your vehicle in a separate pack (such as a tote bag) in case you are "on the road" during an earthquake. Make up a pack for each vehicle in your household.

• Booster cables, tools
• Bottled water - at least four liters
• Canned food/opener, dried fruit, cookies, crackers

• Outdoor clothing and a backpack
• Sleeping bag(s), "space" blanket(s)
• First aid kit
• Flashlight and spare batteries
• Waterproof matches, candles
• Toilet tissue, moist towelettes, small plastic bags
• Cash, coins
• Map of the region where you live
• Pen/pencil and paper
• Consider including playing cards, coloring books etc. for children

Remember. Fill up your vehicle's gas tank when it is about half full. Gas stations are likely to be inoperable after a major earthquake

Put together an emergency pack for your workplace

Keep the following items in a separate pack (such as a tote bag) stored in a convenient place in your workplace/office ready in case you have to walk home or to safety.

• Gloves, walking shoes, outdoor clothing
• Emergency ("space") blanket
• Flashlight, radio and batteries (stored separately in waterproof bags)
• Whistle (three short blasts is the recognized signal for help)
• Bottled water
• Dried fruit, nuts, high-energy food bars
• Small photos of your family loved ones
• Paper with your name, address and any special medical conditions

Make sure you have a family/household emergency contact plan

• Make sure each family member knows what to do if at home, at school or if the quake separates one or more family members from the others.
• Pre-select an appropriate out-of-the area contact that should be notified about the family's status after the earthquake. This contact, ideally a family member or close family friend, should also agree to pass on news to other family members if individuals get separated and call the contact separately. Each member of the household should memorize this contact's phone number and address and keep it with them at all times.
• Agree on an alternate meeting place if it's impossible to get home.
• Become familiar with the emergency plans for the school(s) your children attend.

Support Community Programs

Support efforts to improve building codes. Support zoning regulations that control the kinds of construction permitted near known active earthquake faults. Support efforts to remodel and rehabilitate old and unsafe buildings, including the removal or reinforcement of unsafe parapets and cornices.

Reminders

• Rely on emergency authorities for guidance.
• Listen to radio or television broadcasts for instructions from emergency authorities after the earthquake.
• Emergency phone numbers are found on the inside cover of most telephone books. Phone them only in an extreme emergency. However, your telephone may not work after an earthquake, or it may take a while to get a dial tone.
• Learn how to shut off the utilities in your home - gas, electricity and water. (Don't shut off the gas unless there is a leak or a fire. If the gas is turned off, don't turn it on again - a qualified technician must do that.)
• Make sure each member of your family knows how to use a fire extinguisher.
• Take a first-aid course including cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Become familiar with the emergency plan for the school(s) your children attend.
• Share your emergency plan with neighbors.