MITIGATION
There are many things which people and communities can do to reduce the harmful effects of an earthquake. This includes actions before the earthquake, during and after the earthquake.
Before:
Before the earthquake, there are many things you can do to mitigate the effects of an earthquake and these include checking for hazards in the home and education. In your home, you should start with securing bookshelves to walls or overhead lighting to ceilings. Repair any possibly dangerous electrical wiring or gas connections to prevent the potential fire risks. Build shear walls to support the foundation of a potential weak house and repair deep plaster cracks in walls and ceilings. You should create emergency survival kits and locate safe places in the house or outdoors. Ensure that your home can withstand the shock of an earthquake by installing steel structures, dampers or shock absorbers in the foundation of walls. Steel supports should also be installed in public buildings such as school, hospitals and shops to prevent the walls and ceilings from collapsing in the situation of an earthquake. The community should prepare and build public storm shelters and sirens for an natural disaster, with easy access to anyone in the community.
At home, you should have a list of local and national emergency contact centres which include the fire department and ‘triple zero’. You should also have a list of family contacts in case you were split up during the earthquake. Ensure that everyone in the family knows how to contact these numbers and you discuss an emergency plan. You should learn how to turn off electricity, gas and water lines as these are dangerous hazards during an earthquake. If you are expecting an earthquake or you live in an earthquake prone area, you should keep a torch and battery powered radio beside your bed or somewhere with easy access in the house. Keep a collection of at least three days of food and water to take if you were leaving the house in an emergency.
During:
During the earthquake, there are many things which you can do to mitigate the harmful effects of an earthquake in terms of protecting yourself. This includes getting under strong furniture such as a heavy table, under a doorway or under any sturdy structure. Stay away from any contact with glass such as windows, mirrors and artwork or lighting fixtures. Also avoid being under tall heavy furniture which could fall such as bookshelves or artwork. When outdoors, you should stay away from electrical lines, trees, buildings, overpasses or elected expressways.
After:
After an earthquake, there are many things which can be done to reduce the devastating impacts of an earthquake. After an earthquake, you should be prepared for aftershocks. This includes a smaller earthquake that occurs after a large earthquake. After ensuring that you are safe, you should help the injured or trapped people. Avoid damaged buildings and only return home when authorities confirm it is safe. Listen to the radio for information on safety of an area. After an earthquake has occurred and rebuilding may be necessary, you should make sure you rebuild and make improvements to make the structure earthquake resistant..
Before:
Before the earthquake, there are many things you can do to mitigate the effects of an earthquake and these include checking for hazards in the home and education. In your home, you should start with securing bookshelves to walls or overhead lighting to ceilings. Repair any possibly dangerous electrical wiring or gas connections to prevent the potential fire risks. Build shear walls to support the foundation of a potential weak house and repair deep plaster cracks in walls and ceilings. You should create emergency survival kits and locate safe places in the house or outdoors. Ensure that your home can withstand the shock of an earthquake by installing steel structures, dampers or shock absorbers in the foundation of walls. Steel supports should also be installed in public buildings such as school, hospitals and shops to prevent the walls and ceilings from collapsing in the situation of an earthquake. The community should prepare and build public storm shelters and sirens for an natural disaster, with easy access to anyone in the community.
At home, you should have a list of local and national emergency contact centres which include the fire department and ‘triple zero’. You should also have a list of family contacts in case you were split up during the earthquake. Ensure that everyone in the family knows how to contact these numbers and you discuss an emergency plan. You should learn how to turn off electricity, gas and water lines as these are dangerous hazards during an earthquake. If you are expecting an earthquake or you live in an earthquake prone area, you should keep a torch and battery powered radio beside your bed or somewhere with easy access in the house. Keep a collection of at least three days of food and water to take if you were leaving the house in an emergency.
During:
During the earthquake, there are many things which you can do to mitigate the harmful effects of an earthquake in terms of protecting yourself. This includes getting under strong furniture such as a heavy table, under a doorway or under any sturdy structure. Stay away from any contact with glass such as windows, mirrors and artwork or lighting fixtures. Also avoid being under tall heavy furniture which could fall such as bookshelves or artwork. When outdoors, you should stay away from electrical lines, trees, buildings, overpasses or elected expressways.
After:
After an earthquake, there are many things which can be done to reduce the devastating impacts of an earthquake. After an earthquake, you should be prepared for aftershocks. This includes a smaller earthquake that occurs after a large earthquake. After ensuring that you are safe, you should help the injured or trapped people. Avoid damaged buildings and only return home when authorities confirm it is safe. Listen to the radio for information on safety of an area. After an earthquake has occurred and rebuilding may be necessary, you should make sure you rebuild and make improvements to make the structure earthquake resistant..