Portland Now, Emergency Preparedness Plan

Safety Tips 2

Safety Tip #4 Earthquakes

From “Are You Ready?” by Department of Homeland Security and FEMA

EARTHQUAKES
Terms used:
Earthquake—A sudden slipping or movement of the earth’s crust, accompanied and followed by a series of vibrations.
Aftershock—An earthquake of similar or lesser intensity that follows the main earthquake.
Fault—The fracture across which displacement has occurred during an earthquake. The slippage may range from less than an inch to more than 10 yard in a severe earthquake.
Epicenter---The place on the earth’s surface directly above the point on the fault where the earthquake rupture began. Once fault slippage begins, it expands along the fault during the earthquake and can extend hundreds of miles before stopping.
Seismic Waves—Vibrations that travel outward from the earthquake fault at speeds of several miles per second. Although fault slippage directly under a structure can cause considerable damage, the vibrations of seismic waves cause most of the destruction during earthquakes.
Magnitude—The amount of energy released during an earthquake, which is computed from the amplitude of the seismic waves. A magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter Scale indicates an extremely strong earthquake. Each whole number on the scale represents an increase of about 30 times more energy released than the previous whole number represents. Therefore, an earthquake measuring 6.0 is about 30 times more powerful than on measuring 5.0.
During an earthquake:
Minimize your movements during an earthquake to a few steps to a nearby safe place. Stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.
If you are indoors:
Take cover under a sturdy desk, table, or bench or against an inside wall, and hold on. 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 a lighting fixture 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 strongly supported, load bearing wall.
Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Most injured during an earthquakes occur when people are hit by falling objects when entering into or exiting from buildings.
Be aware that the electricity may go our or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
Do Not use the elevators.

If you are outdoors:
Stay there.
Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.

If you are 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, watching for road and bridge damage.

If you are 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 do inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Be prepared for aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures.
Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
Stay away from damaged areas unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organizations.

The Portland Now Emergency Preparedness Planning (PNEPP) committee is sharing these for your safety. We may never experience an earthquake or have an emergency situation that requires us to look after ourselves, but if you save these tips and those from March’s Portland Anchor then you will be ready.
Our next meeting will be posted on our Neighborhood Link site at www.neighborhoodlink.com/louisville/pnepp. Of you may contact Mary Turner at the Portland Museum—776-7678.