Every Life Secure - Emergency Preparedness Blog

Earthquakes in Western States

Several earthquakes were reported yesterday in Oregon, Alaska, and Utah. Each of these states is a known area in which major earthquakes may occur. There were no injuries, so these quakes serve as just a reminder of the potential danger.

Elsewhere in the world an earthquake was reported in Mexico and two strong quakes were reported new Indonesia.

If you live in areas at risk for earthquakes, make sure to have an emergency earthquake kit ready at all times. There will be no warning when an earthquake hits, so advanced preparation will be the only preparation possible.

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Who Has An Earthquake Early Warning System?

What countries are on the list of who has an earthquake early warning system that can provide a mass broadcast early warning that can provide precious seconds of warning for one to drop, cover, and hold on? Those with an earthquake early warning system include: Japan, Mexico, Taiwan, Turkey, and Romania.

Who doesn't have an earthquake early warning system? Yes, you guessed it, the United States. California doesn't have a system yet, though U.S. scientists are working on one and the midwest doesn't have a system. I have yet to find threat one for the midwest is in the works (please comment if you know about one. Given the threat of a central U.S. earthquake, we certainly could use one.

With or without an earthquake early warning system in your area, make sure your have your earthquake kit ready.

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San Antonio, Texas Earthquake - Yes, Earthquakes Do Reach Beyond California

The 4.6 San Antonio earthquake is just the latest reminder that a large part of the United States is subject to earthquakes.  This was the biggest earthquake in Texas in 30 years.  Luckily there was little damage and no loss of life.  This however, reminds us all to be prepared for an earthquake or any other disaster.  Often there will be no warning.

If you live in earthquake country, be prepared with an earthquake kit designed to protect your supplies in an earthquake and to support you after an earthquake.

  Every Life Secure - 450,000 lives secured and counting.

 

 

How To Survive an Earthquake - Video - Drop, Cover, Hold On

Here is a good video on how to survive an earthquake.  It's very simple, Drop, Cover and Hold.  You can increase your chances of survival by following these three steps.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8mUZFeMwhE&feature=player_detailpage

Make sure that you have the only earthquake emergency kit that actually helps protect your supplies from falling debris.  Your kit can't drop, cover, and hold on, so it is important that it be crush resistant so that you have the best chance of actually having usable supplies once the shaking stops.

Every Life Secure - 450,000 lives secured and counting.

Earthquake Preparedness Youtube Video - Preparing At Home for An Earthquake

This is a good Youtube video on earthquake preparedness at home.  This video is of a family in Southern California, but earthquakes can happen anywhere.  

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AjyF1qsi7e0

  Every Life Secure - 450,000 lives secured and counting.

If You Live In Earthquake Country, Do You Have An Earthquake Kit?

First Question:  Do you live in earthquake country?  Simple to find the answer, just check this map.  If you live in a shaded area (most of us do) then you live in earthquake country.

 

If you do live in earthquake country then go to question #2.

Second Question: Are you prepared to survive an Earthquake?  Hopefully so.  If you are not sure (or you are quite sure that you are not),consider these earthquake survival priorities...

Priority #1: Make sure that you survive the earthquake.

Priority #2: Make sure your emergency earthquake kit survives the earthquake.

In a severe earthquake, second only to surviving yourself is making sure that your earthquake emergency survival kit makes it through the initial earthquake with your emergency supplies intact.

As we have just been reminded by earthquakes in Virginia and Colorado, we can experience earthquakes almost anywhere in the United States, and after a big earthquake you'll need to be prepared with an earthquake kit to meet your own emergency survival needs for at least 3 days (72 hours) or longer. No government is prepared to immediately meet the needs of its entire population after a devastating earthquake.

 

It is critical then that your emergency supplies be protected from the falling debris that can crush your unprotected earthquake supplies. Your earthquake kit may have adequate emergency supplies to help you survive the first few days after an earthquake, but is it built to survive the initial earthquake and to protect your supplies?

Do you have an earthquake kit that is built to survive the quake and then to help you survive?

MobileAid 3-Day Emergency Earthquake Kits for 1, 2 or 4 people provide crush-resistant protection for your emergency supplies. These kits have a super-durable aircraft grade aluminum frame that can support over 300 lbs, but which weighs less than 9 lbs. This protective frame features a perforated exoskeleton design with secure joints, and chrome-plated screws with shake-proof nylon aircraft lock nuts for extra strength.

These features mean that your emergency supplies will stand a much better chance of making it through a major earthquake undamaged in a MobileAid Emergency Earthquake Kit than will earthquake supplies stored in a regular backpack or plastic bin.

The crush-resistant frame of these MobileAid 3-Day Emergency Earthquake Kits can help get you through the earthquake while these additional features can help you cope with the aftermath until help arrives:

Compact/Comprehensive Emergency kit: emergency–grade supplies recommended by the U.S. Government and numerous others supplies for increased protection and comfort.

Quick–access organization: Emergency preparedness supplies are organized in Quick–Response vinyl–lined pouches with carrying straps. This means that you will be able to quickly identify and access your emergency supplies.

Easy–roll/flexible transport: dual 4" polyurethane wheels aid in rapid–response and climbing curbs or other uneven surfaces with little effort. In an evacuation, it will be much easier to roll your emergency supplies a long distance than it will be to carry them on your back.

Seating and gear-carrying platform: allows for people to be seated to rest and can be used to transport additional equipment and supplies (supports up to 300 lbs). These features can be critical if you are left out-of-doors and have to transport additional belongings as you find suitable shelter.

Easy identification: highly visible orange bag and flashing (red/blue) LED wheels make this earthquake kit bag easy to find and identify in a disaster.

MobileAid Emergency Earthquake Survival Kits provide superior crush protection, mobility, functionality, organization, and design. All of these features together will allow you to respond immediately, effectively and confidently to a major earthquake and its aftermath.

To help you be prepared for an earthquake, see the LifeSecure full line of earthquake preparedness kits and earthquake supplies.

If you are helping to prepare a school, workplace, or other large facility, you may need to provide emergency first aid. MobileAid Multi-function Trauma First Aid Stations featured the same crush-resistant frames as our earthquake kits and provide comprehensive trauma first aid supplies that meet OSHA guidelines and ANSI standards. These stations also feature such practical extras as a flexible stretcher and first aid flag.

MobileAid Emergency Earthquake kits and Emergency Trauma First Aid Stations can help you survive by helping your earthquake supplies survive.

Every Life Secure

 

Twin Earthquakes In Colorado and Virginia Remind Us of the Risks Throughout the United States

A powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Virgina today follows on the heels of a significant quake in Colorado last night.  These are two regions not used to significant seismic activity. 

This reminds us that much of the U.S. is at risk of significant earthquakes.  No matter where you live, you need an emergency kit and emergency supplies.  If you live an an area specifically prone to eathquakes, we recommend an earthquake kit specifically designed for such events.    Our MobileAid earthquake kits are designed to protect your supplies from falling debris and then support you in the aftermath.

No matter where you live, let these quakes be a reminder of the need to be prepared for any emergency or disaster.  Make your emergency plan and get an emergency kit today.

Every Life Secure

5.9 Earthquake Causes Evacuation at White House, Pentagon, and Capitol

A 5.9 earthquake just hit northwest of Richmond Virginia and caused building evacuations in Washington D.C. at the White House, the Pentagon, and the Capitol.  The tremor was felt as far away as New York City and Rhode Island.

Make sure you have your earthquake kit prepared as much of the United States is covered by earthquake zones.

Every Life Secure

Unexpected Deadly Earthquake in Spain Reminds Us That Many in U.S. Live on Fault Lines

"We know we live near a fault line but we never thought this would happen to us," one survivor said as he dealt with the shock of Spain's most deadly earthquake in over 50 years.  The deadly magnitude 5.1 earthquake in southern Spain reminds us that many of us in the U.S. live on fault lines yet would be surprised to experience an earthquake of any real magnitude.

The Agence France-Presse quotes another survivor as saying, "People are afraid. No one here has ever seen anything like this before."  These same sentiments will no doubt be expressed by millions of Americans at some time in the future as inevitable earthquakes happen in their "home town".  Many in the U.S. live on little-known fault lines.  One of the potentially most dangerous is the New Madrid Fault that will one day create another catastrophic earthquake in the Central U.S. like the quake recorded in 1812.

What is the lesson?  Learn about your earthquake risk and prepare for a devastating earthquake in your neighborhood.  Learn what to do in an earthquake to protect yourself and have an earthquake kit in case you have to evacuate or shelter-in-place without the necessary basic services that we all take for granted (electricity, gas, water, sanitation, ready access to food, etc).

Every Life Secure

What Do You Do In An Earthquake?

What do you do in an earthquake?  If you are indoors the simple answer is, "DROP, COVER, HOLD ON." Specifically... DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

The natural tendency is to want to run outdoors.  However, the greatest danger in an earthquake is from falling objects.  these can be items indoors like book shelves, ceiling fixtures, and other items.  In an attempt to flee, one may be injured by such items.  Additionally many injuries and deaths occur as the fascia of buildings crumble and fall on people attempting to exit a crumbling building.

Here is a more complete list of "what to do in an earthquake" that addresses several different scenarios that one might find themselves in when an earthquake strikes.  This list is adapted from advice given by the Southern California Earthquake Center.

If you are...

Indoors: Drop, cover, and hold on. Drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to it tightly. Hang on in this position until the shaking stops. If you are not near a desk or table, drop to the floor against an interior wall and protect your head and neck with your arms. Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and kitchen cabinets with heavy objects or glass. Do not go outside!

In bed: If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken glass on the floor can cause injury to those who have rolled to the floor or tried to get to doorways to escape.

In a high-rise: Drop, cover, and hold on. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators.

Outdoors: Carefully move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles, and other hazards.  Essentially, get away from things that may fall on you.

Driving: Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops. If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.

In a stadium or theater: Stay at your seat and protect your head and neck with your arms. Don't try to leave until the shaking is over. Then walk out slowly watching for anything that could fall in the aftershocks.

Near the shore: Drop, cover and hold on until the shaking stops. Estimate how long the shaking lasts. If severe shaking lasts 20 seconds or more, immediately evacuate to high ground as a tsunami might have been generated by the earthquake. Move inland 3 kilometers (2 miles) or to land that is at least 30 meters (100 feet) above sea level immediately. Don't wait for officials to issue a warning. Walk quickly, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, debris and other hazards.

Below a dam: Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you live downstream from a dam, you should know flood-zone information and have prepared an evacuation plan.  Be prepared to evacuate.

In many scenarios you may need to evacuate after the initial quake is over.  This may be true if your home or office is no longer safe, if there is a threat of a tsunami, or if there are other hazards (e.g. the risk of a dam collapse)  Be prepared to evacuate and be self-sufficient by having an earthquake kit that will support you and your family for at least 72 hours.

Every Life Secure

Sign Up to ShakeOut

It is gratifying to see that the Central United States is beginning to wake up to the fact that those of us who live here, do indeed live in "earthquake country." I just joined 2.4 million others already signed up for the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut.

Because of the earthquake risks associated with the New Madrid fault, if you live in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, or Tennessee you need to be prepared for a severe earthquake. The ShakOut is an earthqauke response exercise to be held on April 28, 2011 at 10:15 a.m.. Very simply, at that appointed hour, those involved in the drill will DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON. The point is to teach us each how to protect ourselves in the event of an earthquake.

 
If you live in live in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, or Tennessee, I invite you to register now for the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut and prepare yourself for a future earthquake. I also encourage you to build or buy an earthquake emergency kit that will help to sustain you and your family for at least 72 hours after a severe earthquake.

Every Life Secure

 

How Long Can An Earthquake Last?

As I read about the strong aftershock following the 9.0 Japan earthquake, I was interested to see that it lasted about 1 minute.  Watching some video of office workers in Tokyo holding on to their computer equipment to keep it from tumbling over, I was impressed by how very long the quake seemed to last.  As I thought about the earthquakes I have experienced, I realized that most seemed to last for less than 30 seconds. This cause me to ask myself, "How long does and earthquake usually last?"

Here are some of the interesting answers that I found in my web search (as usual, the answer seems to be "it depends" and "it can vary widely"):

1) A typical earthquake may last a minute to a minute and a half

2) A magnitude 6 quake may last 30 to 40 seconds

3) The Indian Ocean earthquake or 2005 last between 8.3 and 10 minutes

Is it really helpful to know how long an earthquake may last?  Well, if you are not used to experiencing earthquakes, it may indeed be helpful to have an idea of how long any given quake can last.  For one thing, it can reduce the shock of the experience to realize that the quake may last longer than just a few seconds.  It amy also help in making key decisions and judgements about how to respond to the earthquake.

The bottom line, is that earthquakes are destructive and can last well beyond just a few seconds of shaking.  So if you live in earthquake country (and many more of us do than actually realize that fact) be prepared for an earthquake with the right understanding of what to do in an earthquake and with an earthquake survival kit.

Every Life Secure