What should prepare for earthquake

Survive when the earth shakes by performing Drop , Cover, and Hold On. What would it be like to be in your home for days without water, electricity and phone service?

After the Loma Prieta earthquake, 16, housing units were left uninhabitable and people were displaced without the simple necessities. Visit our How to Make an Earthquake Emergency Kit blog for basic and detailed lists of earthquake preparation supplies. Decrease your risk of damage and injury from an earthquake by identifying possible home hazards. Complete your earthquake plan by identifying and securing the following hazards:.

Last but not least, protect the investment in your home with CEA earthquake home insurance. Earthquake insurance will provide your with the peace of mind, when, not if, the big one hits. Choose from our affordable and flexible policies today. The violent shaking from earthquakes can rupture the earth, trigger landslides and turn the surface of the earth to liquid.

Your home also may be vulnerable to serious structural damage if it was built before Earthquake safety preparation includes your understanding of the potential structural threats to your home in case of an earthquake.

CEA offers earthquake home insurance premium discounts for houses and mobilehomes that have been properly retrofitted. For cities and agencies, this means working with engineers to retrofit older structures and design new buildings, bridges, and highways to withstand an earthquake as best as possible. For individuals and families, this means putting together an earthquake preparedness plan and kit and knowing what to do before, during, and after an earthquake. Earthquakes strike suddenly, violently, and without warning.

Identifying potential hazards ahead of time and planning in advance can reduce the dangers of serious injury or loss of life from an earthquake. Repairing and reinforcing building foundations, anchoring overhead lighting fixtures to the ceiling, securing furniture and other objects to walls and floors, and following local seismic building standards will help reduce the impact of earthquakes. Many injuries suffered during earthquakes result from items falling or shifting due to the shaking of the earth.

Identifying potential hazards prior to an earthquake can protect you and your family. Do an inventory of your house and where you work. Anything that can move or fall during a quake should be placed in a closed cabinet or a secondary container. Avoid hanging pictures or mirrors near beds or places where people sit. After an earthquake, you might not have access to water, food, electricity, or other necessities for up to a week. Creating a disaster supply kit will help you get through the aftermath of an earthquake.

Store enough water, food, and other basic items to meet your needs for at least 72 hours. Keep the kit in a place where you spend most of your time so that it will be easily accessible if an earthquake strikes. It is also a good idea to develop an emergency communication plan. Do not rely on cell phones or other devices that require electricity. Develop a plan for reuniting after the disaster in case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake.

Ask an out-of-state relative or friend to serve as the family contact. After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance than locally. Make sure everyone in the family knows the name, address and phone number of the contact person. Make a plan for reuniting after the disaster in case family members are separated from one another during an earthquake a real possibility during the day when adults are at work and children are at school.

Publish a special section in your local newspaper with emergency information on earthquakes. Localize the information by printing the phone numbers of local emergency services offices, the American Red Cross, and hospitals.

Work with local emergency services and American Red Cross officials to prepare special reports for people with mobility impairments on what to do during an earthquake.

Interview representatives of the gas, electric, and water companies about shutting off utilities. Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks, and a larger earthquake might occur.

Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place. If you are indoors, you should drop, cover, and hold—drop to the ground, find cover under a table or other sturdy piece of furniture, and hold on until the shaking stops. Stay inside until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe. Once outside, move away from buildings to an open space. Take cover beneath a sturdy piece of furniture or against an indoor wall away from glass that might break.

Stay inside! The most dangerous thing you can do during an earthquake is to try to leave. During an earthquake outdoors Move into the open, away from buildings, street lights, and overhead utility wires. Stay there until the shaking stops. During an earthquake in a moving vehicle Try to find a clear area away from buildings, trees, overpasses, and overhead wires.

Stop quickly and stay in the vehicle. Once the shaking has stopped, proceed with caution. Bridges and ramps may have been damaged during the shaking. Dealing with pets The behavior of pets may change after an earthquake, and they may become aggressive or defensive. Leash dogs or keep them in a fenced area. Pets may not be allowed in emergency shelters, so prepare an emergency supply that includes a several day supply of dry pet food and a large water container. After the earthquake