Stairs at Cal State Northridge campus, 1994 Northridge Earthquake
(Photo: K. Anderberg/1994)
I am not a geologist, etc. I am merely a person who has been at the epicenter of 3 major earthquakes. In 1971, my family lived in Granada Hills, CA, where the 6.8 Sylmar earthquake shook
the wings off of local hospitals and flattened buildings, while leaving freeway overpasses dangling in the air. It was a bit eerie and creepy as a 10 year old to see the ruins
of a quake. Then in 1989, we began to have some pretty strong quakes in Santa Cruz, CA where I lived with my 4 year old son. In August 1989, we had some pretty serious tremors, I remember they
were strong enough to make me grab my kid in my arms and head for the door. Then in Oct. 1989, the Loma Prieta quake shook the Santa Cruz and Bay Area with a 7.1 quake that was pretty stunning.
My son and I were definitely shocked by the things we saw after that quake, and in the violent aftershock series that followed as well. Then in Jan. 1994, we were living in an apt.
in Northridge, CA when a 6.8 quake, the Northridge quake, hit, and that quake was like nothing I have ever felt. This page contains information borne of my own experiences in earthquakes.
I have learned the hard way that if you have a well-packed earthquake bag, but you have to run out your door asap and cannot get to the bag in the dark with the floor
shifting under you, the bag is useless. So I suggest
you have a bag you can grab in the dark, containing clothing, shoes, etc., right at the door, in case of quick evacuations.
As I said, I am only writing this from personal experience, based on things it seems are useful in major earthquake situations.
A hand-pumped flashlight is always ready in an emergency
(Photo: K. Anderberg 2005)
You can reduce your risks greatly by preparing for earthquakes. Preparedness will not only reduce your risk of injury during the quake, and the amount of damage
incurred, but it will also make the chaos after the quake more comfortable. One prepared resident on a block cannot do it all. That is why everyone needs to prepare to take
care of their families after earthquakes on this Rim of Fire I live on.
What would you do if all basic services - such as water, gas, electricity and telephones - were not available to you for several days? Relief workers and emergency officials will show up eventually, but often they are preoccupied with serious matters and are unavailable to the average citizen. They are dealing with folks who have nowhere to sleep and have nothing to eat or drink. They are overwhelmed with fallen infrastructures and looming urban chaos. So, it is really wise to look at this realistically and prepare yourself with supplies and preventative measures now. You won't be able to shop for supplies after the quake hits.
BEFORE A QUAKE:
* Learn how to open your garage door without electricity!!!
* Bolt your water heater down! It will save your rugs (and belongings) from being flooded and wet after a quake.
* Attach things to ceilings and walls with loops or thread hooks screwed deep into studs, not cheap hooks.
A potted plant on a hook is a volatile rocket, winding up and flinging itself. If the plant is attached by round eyelets, it goes round and round but never projectiles.
* Plan your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd exit route preferences. Evaluate bricks and debris that could fall from chimneys, overhangs, etc. during an exit. Also pay attention to the things just outside the doors, like powerlines and trees and neighbor's chimneys, etc. that could hit you in the dark.
* If you are in a hilly or mountainous region, be aware of landslide and avalanche possibilities.
* Watch for falling rocks above the highways after a quake too.
* If you live under a dam or in a low-lying coastal region, you need to scout out higher ground in case of a flood. You need to know your evacuation routes so you can
use them even in the dark if needed, if the dam breaks or a tsunami hits.
* It is a good idea to keep your tank full of gas in your car if you can afford it.
* Know the safe spots of every room (stay away from windows, outside walls, under chimneys, etc.
* Teach all family members how to use a fire extinguisher. Buy and inspect fire extinguishers.
* Built-in appliances, like microwaves, can slide out and hit you in the head in quakes. Secure them in place.
* Earthquake putty is available to put under vases, etc. to hold things in place during shaking.
Put a whistle in a drawer in every room and tell people where it is and to grab it in an earthquake. If buried, this may lead rescuers to you.
* Teach every member of your family how to turn the gas and water on and off. If you smell gas, turn your gas off! Keep a gas wrench tied to the gas meter.
* Place beds away from windows and outside walls.
* Secure bookshelves, cabinets, file cabinets, etc. to walls and floors at work and home. Anchor tall shelves to wall studs with L-brackets.
* Meet your neighbors BEFORE the crisis. Find out who lives where, where are the elderly, who is a nurse, etc…
* Insert rails on stanchions on the tops of furniture and front of shelves to keep things from falling off.
* Mirrors and other heavy, hanging items need to be attached to studs on both sides if possible. Also, squeeze mounting hooks closed.
* Store heavy items in the kitchen, such as cans, on lower shelves.
* Ask NOW about your work/school's emergency exit plans, etc.
* Brace overhead light fixtures.
* Install latches on cupboards. This could save dishes and feet.
* Increase the amount of anchors bolting your house to its foundation
* Add lateral bracing to reinforce your house foundation
* Place baby locks on your cupboards so they do not swing open and smash every dish you own that is not locked in the dishwasher!
* Placing plywood sheathing over cripple stud walls helps in quakes a lot. 20% of this type of reinforcement is
required by law but using 100% of this reinforcement is best. I was told when my building collapsed in the Northridge
earthquake in 1994, that if it had had the proper plywood reinforcements required in the building codes, it would not have collapsed.
* Secure your chimney with reinforcements. Almost every chimney in town fell in the 1989 quake in Santa Cruz, CA.
I keep a bag of supplies and my crank radio right next to my door in case I need to run out in the dark in a hurry...
DURING A QUAKE:
One of the greatest hazards occurs when leaving a building. Canopies, overhangs, awnings, chimneys, outer building walls, shards of glass,
and live powerlines may be falling. Always look up when exiting a building and exit carefully. Likewise, stay away from building walls, windows, and
powerlines after quakes due to aftershocks, weakened stability, and live wires. Even large trees can be loosened by wide swaying during the quake, making them unstable and risks to buildings near them!
Here are some tips for riding out a quake:
* Get away from all glass: windows, mirrors, etc. Falling shards can be quite dangerous!
* If a doorknob is hot to the touch, DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR. Use fire awareness as fire often accompanies quakes.
* Move away from all tall bookshelves or objects that might fall over.
* Hang on to whatever you are under to keep it from getting away from you.
* WATCH OUT FOR FALLING CHIMNEYS! They can topple in one reinforced block or they can fly brick by brick. Chimneys are very dangerous. Nearly every chimney I saw in
Santa Cruz was downed in the Loma Prieta quake.
* Prepare for aftershocks to begin almost immediately.
* If your building has collapsed and you are trapped and you can reach a whistle, blow!
* Once outside, stay away from powerlines. They may be alive, even if broken and on the ground.
* Avoid underpasses while driving. DO NOT go under an underpass for safety in a quake. They collapse. Also, bridges are unsafe to drive on.
* Do not use elevators. Use stairs.
* If in a highrise, stay away from the outside walls and windows.
The most common injuries after a quake are foot and hand injuries.
If you do not prepare then try to find these needed items in the dark, in chaos, it can be frustrating. Plan ahead with a few emergency kits in your closet, garage, at work and in your
car NOW, and save yourself the stresses of locating these things when everyone else is trying to get them too….stores may be out of batteries and water before you get to them.
Take the time to learn about your area. Where are the local hospitals? Where is the nearest fire station? Where are the nearest hazards like chemical plants or utility
stations? Where are the nearest dams and flood plains? Mark these things on your map for the work, car and home emergency kits. Plan the best escape routes by car, and by foot.
More earthquake survival information to come, stay tuned!
Kirsten Anderberg. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint/publish, please contact Kirsten at kirstena@resist.ca.
Kirsten Anderberg. All rights reserved. For permission to reprint/publish, please contact Kirsten at kirstena@resist.ca.