Preparedness Phase Three

The Seismic Safety Zone

Preparedness Phase Three

"After The Earthquake"

Attend to personal injuries first. This is the time when your preparedness skills will shine. If someone is injured, if it's more than something requiring a bandage, but not life threatening, you may want to take a look inside the front cover of your telephone directory, as they all provide first aid guidance. If quite serious, you will need to go to call 911 or drive to your hospital or neighborhood clinic.

Hopefully, no one will be injured and to continue injury free during clean up always make sure everyone has shoes on, other than open toed sandals.

If you smell gas, find your wrench and go to the gas shut off value attached to your gas meter. Turn the valve one half turn, so the valve is horizontal to the pipe. Do not light a match for a candle or any other need until you attend to the gas problem. If you do not smell gas, do not shut off the valve. If you have broken pipes, go to your water main shut off and turn the knob down so the water will not come into the house until you fix the water leak.

If you have a small fire, use your fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Follow the manufacturers instructions, direct the spray nozzle to the base of the flame. At the same time, have someone call the fire department and then no time is wasted while the fire is in the early stages.

If there are no immediate emergencies, your first plan of action should be to take a damage assessment. Look inside and outside of your home and determine what task needs to be attended to first. Also during this time, it may require some emotional support for anyone who is upset by the earthquake.

Your children may cling to you, while at the same time, you have many things to pickup or clean up. If possible, ask your children to draw a picture of something they saw during the earthquake or if old enough ask them to write down what they remembered. Ask them if they saw anything totally unexpected happen. What seemed odd or out of place, what did it feel like when the place they were in began to shake? Did they become frightened? If so, what bothered them the most. You may want to use this as a pre-event preparedness discussion. Perhaps if you have more than one child, tell them you'll provide a prize for the best story.

As the saying goes, "timing is everything." What time your earthquake arrives has much to do with prioritizing what needs come first or last. But safety during this process is primary. Wearing good shoes, using gloves when needed and safety glasses may keep you from making a trip to the hospital.


	The Seismic Safety Zone Preparedness Phase Three "After The Earthquake" Attend to personal injuries first. This is the time when your preparedness skills will shine. If someone is injured, if it's more than something requiring a bandage, but not life threatening, you may want to take a look inside the front cover of your telephone directory, as they all provide first aid guidance. If quite serious, you will need to go to call 911 or drive to your hospital or neighborhood clinic. Hopefully, no one will be injured and to continue injury free during clean up always make sure everyone has shoes on, other than open toed sandals. If you smell gas, find your wrench and go to the gas shut off value attached to your gas meter. Turn the valve one half turn, so the valve is horizontal to the pipe. Do not light a match for a candle or any other need until you attend to the gas problem. If you do not smell gas, do not shut off the valve. If you have broken pipes, go to your water main shut off and turn the knob down so the water will not come into the house until you fix the water leak. If you have a small fire, use your fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Follow the manufacturers instructions, direct the spray nozzle to the base of the flame. At the same time, have someone call the fire department and then no time is wasted while the fire is in the early stages. If there are no immediate emergencies, your first plan of action should be to take a damage assessment. Look inside and outside of your home and determine what task needs to be attended to first. Also during this time, it may require some emotional support for anyone who is upset by the earthquake. Your children may cling to you, while at the same time, you have many things to pickup or clean up. If possible, ask your children to draw a picture of something they saw during the earthquake or if old enough ask them to write down what they remembered. Ask them if they saw anything totally unexpected happen. What seemed odd or out of place, what did it feel like when the place they were in began to shake? Did they become frightened? If so, what bothered them the most. You may want to use this as a pre-event preparedness discussion. Perhaps if you have more than one child, tell them you'll provide a prize for the best story. As the saying goes, "timing is everything." What time your earthquake arrives has much to do with prioritizing what needs come first or last. But safety during this process is primary. Wearing good shoes, using gloves when needed and safety glasses may keep you from making a trip to the hospital. \| home \| Mission Statement \| \|Safety Information\| \| Preparedness Phase One \| Preparedness Phase Two \| Preparedness Phase Three \| Making Contact \| News Article(s) \| \| Photo