|Safety Information|

The Seismic Safety Zone

Safety Information

Making preparations for an earthquake need to include not only safety at home, but at your workplace, in your car and while you are shopping. Earthquakes don't always arrive at the most fortuitous time, therefore, you need to be ready everywhere you go.

For the next week, mentally keep track of every place you go. Take note of your surroundings and imagine what you would do if an earthquake of some size occurred while you were there. Ask yourself these questions:

Where are the exits inside of your shopping mall?

If you were in the grocery store and the lights went out and food began to fall from the shelves, what would you do?

You're on the freeway and suddenly you feel like you're getting a flat tire, but you notice the cars around you are moving up and down, and you realize an earthquake is occurring. What is your next course of action?

You're at work. An earthquake occurs and you are told to go home. What would you do before you attempted to drive home?

At the time of an earthquake, you're inside an unreinforced masonry building and the building is moving considerably. Where is the safest place inside of this building?

There is one single rule in regard to all of the above, remain calm. While the shaking is occurring, place yourself where you will have shelter over your head. When the shaking stops, think of where you are going to go next. Be aware of your surroundings and make a slow, well thought out plan of exit.

These are the answers to the above questions:

1. Most shopping malls have emergency lighting. Your greatest problem may could occur if you were in a crowd of people rushing to the exits. You may wish to take a few minutes and allow those who may run to the exits to clear and then make your way, slowly and safely out of the building.

2. If possible, place yourself at the end of the grocery store aisle. Most often lighter weight objects are placed on shelving. This provides you with a place to try to sit down to ride out the earthquake, without fear of glass jars, or heavy cans falling on you.

3. When you are on the freeway many different circumstances arise. In some places you can simply pull off the freeway and come to a stop. However, if you are on a high rise overpass, there may not be any space provided. If possible, pull over to the right shoulder and stop. Stay in your car. Wait for the earthquake to pass and observe your surroundings. Listen to the radio for news of the earthquake and determine the safest route home.

4. If you're at work and are told to go home, listen to your car radio first. You may not be able to take your regular route to your home.

5. Unreinforced masonry buildings in earthquakes sometimes loose their outer walls. Therefore, move to the center of the building in a hallway for the duration of the earthquake.


	The Seismic Safety Zone Safety Information Making preparations for an earthquake need to include not only safety at home, but at your workplace, in your car and while you are shopping. Earthquakes don't always arrive at the most fortuitous time, therefore, you need to be ready everywhere you go. For the next week, mentally keep track of every place you go. Take note of your surroundings and imagine what you would do if an earthquake of some size occurred while you were there. Ask yourself these questions: Where are the exits inside of your shopping mall? If you were in the grocery store and the lights went out and food began to fall from the shelves, what would you do? You're on the freeway and suddenly you feel like you're getting a flat tire, but you notice the cars around you are moving up and down, and you realize an earthquake is occurring. What is your next course of action? You're at work. An earthquake occurs and you are told to go home. What would you do before you attempted to drive home? At the time of an earthquake, you're inside an unreinforced masonry building and the building is moving considerably. Where is the safest place inside of this building? There is one single rule in regard to all of the above, remain calm. While the shaking is occurring, place yourself where you will have shelter over your head. When the shaking stops, think of where you are going to go next. Be aware of your surroundings and make a slow, well thought out plan of exit. These are the answers to the above questions: 1. Most shopping malls have emergency lighting. Your greatest problem may could occur if you were in a crowd of people rushing to the exits. You may wish to take a few minutes and allow those who may run to the exits to clear and then make your way, slowly and safely out of the building. 2. If possible, place yourself at the end of the grocery store aisle. Most often lighter weight objects are placed on shelving. This provides you with a place to try to sit down to ride out the earthquake, without fear of glass jars, or heavy cans falling on you. 3. When you are on the freeway many different circumstances arise. In some places you can simply pull off the freeway and come to a stop. However, if you are on a high rise overpass, there may not be any space provided. If possible, pull over to the right shoulder and stop. Stay in your car. Wait for the earthquake to pass and observe your surroundings. Listen to the radio for news of the earthquake and determine the safest route home. 4. If you're at work and are told to go home, listen to your car radio first. You may not be able to take your regular route to your home. 5. Unreinforced masonry buildings in earthquakes sometimes loose their outer walls. Therefore, move to the center of the building in a hallway for the duration of the earthquake. \| home \|Mission Statement \| \|Safety Information\| \| Preparedness Phase One \| Preparedness Phase Two \| Preparedness Phase Three \| Making Contact \| News Article(s) \| \| Photo