Earthquake Preparedness:
Steps To Take Before, During and After an Earthquake
In the wake of two recent catastrophic earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, Riverside County Fire Chief John R. Hawkins and Riverside County Office of Emergency Services Deputy Director Peter Lent wish to reinforce the vital importance of disaster preparedness.
Earthquakes are an inevitable, natural event – often catastrophic. The question you must ask is "As a resident of Riverside County, am I ready to live for three weeks to six months without basic necessities?" What will you do without food, electricity, landline or cell phone service, no clean water or sewage system? Even worse, no paycheck because you cannot get to work because of impassible or heavily damaged roads and freeways….the list goes on and on. The time to prepare is not next week or next month; why not be prepared now?
The recent catastrophic earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, the serious, but minimally destructive earthquakes near Eureka, California and the recent swarms of minor earthquakes in Southern California should serve as a wake-up call to determine our collective degree of readiness to live without basic life necessities that we have come to expect.
Readiness is more than having a Firefighter, Paramedic or Deputy Sheriff at your door. Readiness is about public agencies and residents coming together to weather any catastrophic event. In California, it's not IF we have a major earthquake…it's WHEN. A catastrophic earthquake can occur at any time in Southern California.
Below are some basic, but vital steps you can take to prepare for a major or catastrophic earthquake:
- Reduce hazards in your home, workplace or school. By identifying repairing or removing these hazards, you are reducing the risk of injury or death by securing televisions, shelves, bookcases, computers, heavy mirrors/pictures, water heaters, etc. Don't forget the outside area of your house! Check for vulnerable water and gas pipes, unreinforced walls, cracked foundations and other hazards outside of the home. Do you or your family members know where the gas meter and water main are located? Do they know how to shut them off in the event of a gas leak or water main break?
- Create a family disaster plan! Remember that disaster kit you were planning on making but you just haven't had the time to do it? A disaster kit for you and your family is one of the single most important survival items you can have. Visit http://www.rvcfire.org/opencms/functions/oes/EarthquakePreparedness.html for tips on how to build your own disaster kit to sustain you and your family for 14-21 days following a major disaster. Don't forget about your pets! Food, medication and special needs should be taken into consideration when preparing your disaster kit.
- The Riverside County Early Warning Notification System (EWNS) is a communication tool activated by designated public safety agencies only when there is a potential risk or imminent threat to life and/or property. The system is designed to provide detailed messages to Riverside County residents in the event of a major or catastrophic disaster. Riverside County residents with listed and unlisted phone service through common carriers are already in the County's EWNS database and are programmed to receive notifications. In addition to your home phone, residents are permitted to add up to three cell phone numbers and your internet/cable phone. Click here or visit www.countyofriverside.us and look for the Riverside County Early Warning Notification System link in the News and Highlights section and sign up for this free emergency notification service. Do you have an out-of-state friend or relative designated as a point of contact after a major earthquake? Do all of your family members have their number?
- During an earthquake - DROP, COVER and HOLD ON! This step, whether indoors, outdoors, at school or home can save lives and reduce the risk of injury.
- After the shaking stops – Check for injuries. Check for Damage. Not trained in these areas? The Community Emergency Response Team program (CERT) provides training to citizens, neighborhoods and community groups to assess post-disaster damage, administer first aid and report findings to their City or County Government Emergency Operations Centers (EOC's). For more information on the CERT program, visit http://www.rvcfire.org/opencms/functions/oes/CommunityServicePrograms/Riverside_County_CERT_Program.html.
- Following a major disaster, stay informed on safety messages regarding damage, hazards, relief efforts and other vital information. Make a battery-operated radio or disaster radio with several spare batteries a priority in your disaster kit!
The Riverside County Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services publish a multitude of useful safety tips and disaster planning information. We urge you to take advantage of the many disaster preparedness resources offered on our website at www.rvcfire.org or contact the Riverside County Office of Emergency Services at (951) 955-4700.
Take the steps to keep you and your family safe by preparing now - it's that simple.
