” I felt the earth move under my feet” Sorry had to bust out in some Carole King… All joking aside, it was a scary experience for some people and one not many of us will forget. The sad part is no one was prepared for it and there was no warning. Luckily, there wasn’t extreme damage and everyone in the LV and the region was OK. But how many of us found ourselves drawing a blank on what to do and either just ran out of the building you are in or just sat there. Most of us had tornado and earthquake drills in school, but for me that was at least 15 years ago or more. Who ever thought a earthquake would hit Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland? I was watching the Philly news last night and the one thing most people said was “I panicked and ran out of the building”… My guess is if you are in a city, filled with lots of glass buildings that the windows can pop and shatter, one of the last things you should do is run outside. Just a thought. And I am by no means judging because I had no idea what to… more
” I felt the earth move under my feet” Sorry had to bust out in some Carole King…
All joking aside, it was a scary experience for some people and one not many of us will forget. The sad part is no one was prepared for it and there was no warning. Luckily, there wasn’t extreme damage and everyone in the LV and the region was OK. But how many of us found ourselves drawing a blank on what to do and either just ran out of the building you are in or just sat there. Most of us had tornado and earthquake drills in school, but for me that was at least 15 years ago or more. Who ever thought a earthquake would hit Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland?
I was watching the Philly news last night and the one thing most people said was “I panicked and ran out of the building”… My guess is if you are in a city, filled with lots of glass buildings that the windows can pop and shatter, one of the last things you should do is run outside. Just a thought. And I am by no means judging because I had no idea what to do when the moment happened. I’m just taking it as a learning experience and one I won’t forget again. So what are you supposed to do in an earthquake???
This excerpt is directly from FEMA
HERE:
If indoors
•DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
•Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
•Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
•Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.
•Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
•Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
•DO NOT use the elevators.
If outdoors
•Stay there.
•Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
•Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.
If in a moving vehicle
•Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
•Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.
If trapped under debris
•Do not light a match.
•Do not move about or kick up dust.
•Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
•Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.
OK, now how many of you did those things? Not me. The cat and I sat on the couch down stairs in shock. I thought our house got hit by something. I ran upstairs and was in disbelief until I called hubs and he felt it to. Then I heard the fire trucks go out and police cars and it was mass chaos. Pretty crazy..
People…. teach your kids this stuff. Teach them what to do in a Hurricane, a Tornado, An Earthquake, A Tsunami, A Flood. You never know when it could happen. Have an emergency plan and go over what to do. Review it yearly or more frequently if you wish, so it is fresh in every ones mind. You never know when they will need it. They may be travelling to California in college and be in an earthquake or in my husband’s cousins case – travelling with her 3 kids and husband to Tokyo for his business when the big one hits. They could be at the beach on spring break and their is a tsunami warning. They could be on a girl scout trip (like I was at 12) when a tornado hits the town you are staying in and you are stuck in a car with someone elses mom has no idea what to do but just sit there and watch the power polls bending from the wind. Educate them on what to do in case they are with someone who has no clue. You aren’t there 100% of the time.
Here are some other Natural Disaster Precautions you may want to review –
or just go to FEMA’s Natural Disaster page and review the full list
HEREP.S. If you drive a car – lets use a Honda Civic for example – DO NOT GO THROUGH floodwater that is a foot or two deep or more. You will have to be rescued. We will see you in the news. People will be saying – look at that idiot who tried to drive their little car through a raging river. Anyone, SUV drivers for that matter – don’t be brave, don’t be in a hurry, if you see standing water that is deep – do not go through it. Please. From the wife of someone who will be called on to rescue you and put their life on the line. It’s just not worth it.
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