Earthquakes are one of the worst natural disasters that can happen. There is no exact way to tell when an earthquake will happen, which makes it even more devastating. The best way to lessen the effects of earthquakes on people is to be ready for them in case of an emergency.
When there is an earthquake, the ground will shake or roll. If the movement of the Earth's crust is very violent, you might even hear the ground rumbling or roaring. These things about an earthquake might make you panic, which could hurt your chances of staying alive. Even in places on the Earth's "ring of fire," where strong and dangerous earthquakes are rare, you and your family must have a plan for what to do in case of an emergency. Here are some things to keep in mind to make sure you are ready for an earthquake.
Safety comes from practise.
To stay safe during an earthquake, you need to act quickly. You should know what to do as soon as the ground starts to shake violently. To be ready to act quickly during an earthquake, you should practise earthquake drills often. This will help you be ready for the real thing.
Plan the building of your house.
If you live in an area where earthquakes happen often, you need to plan your home so that it doesn't become your deathbed. Use light materials to build your home and make sure there are lots of ways out in case of an emergency. During earthquakes, people often get hurt or die when their homes or buildings fall apart. To avoid this, you should make sure that most of your home's structure and appliances are not heavy enough to crush you.
Make sure your home also has strong doorways or doorframes. According to statistics, these are the places that are most likely to survive an earthquake. Fix heavy and tall items to the wall. Also, make sure your cabinets have latches so that nothing falls out during an earthquake.
Plan For Everybody
Everyone in your home or office should know what to do if there is an earthquake. Make sure everyone knows what to do when the big shaker happens. Coordination is a key part of staying alive, especially after an earthquake.
Know where you stand
During an earthquake, it could save your life and limbs if you know where to run and hide. Find out where to hide in your home or office. And go to these safe places as often as you can so that you can act quickly and go to these places during a real earthquake.
Plan a place for your family or coworkers to meet after an earthquake.
Delegate Responsibilities
In your office or with your family, give everyone a job to do when an earthquake happens. Getting ready for an earthquake should never be a one-person job. Your coworkers and family members should know what to do during an earthquake, especially if you are not with them.
Keep emergency kits ready.
Lastly, you should have several emergency kits ready at work or at home. These kits need to have the most important things that can help save lives in an emergency. Your emergency kits will be your lifelines. They should have everything you need, from food and water to first aid supplies. Make sure everyone knows where to find these emergency kits.
