Emergency Management

Safety During an Earthquake:

Indoors:

• When you feel an earthquake, DROP and COVER under a desk or sturdy table. Stay away from windows, bookcases, file cabinets, heavy mirrors, hanging plants and other objects that could fall. HOLD onto the desk or table. If it moves, move with it. Do not run stay where you are and Drop, Cover and Hold.

Kitchen:

• Move away from the refrigerator, stove, and overhead cabinets. Drop, Cover and Hold under a table or near an inside wall. Take time NOW to anchor appliances and install security latches on cabinet doors to reduce earthquake hazards.

Outdoors:

• If you are outdoors, move to a clear area, away from trees, signs, buildings, or downed electrical wires and poles.

Downtown Area:

• If you are on a sidewalk near a tall building, get into a buildings doorway or into the buildings lobby to protect yourself from falling bricks, glass and other debris.

Crowded Store or Public Place:

• DO NOT rush for the exits. Move away from display shelves holding objects that could fall on you, and Drop, Cover and Hold.

Driving:

• If you are driving, slowly pull over to the side of the road and stop. Avoid overpasses, power lines, and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops.

Wheelchair:

• If you are in a wheelchair, stay in it. Move to safe cover if possible (this is the one time you might use a doorway), lock your wheels, and protect you head with your arms.

Theater or Stadium:

• If you are in a theater or stadium, stay in your seat, protect your head with your arms or get under the seat if possible. Do not attempt to leave until the shaking stops.

After the Earthquake:

• Check yourself and those around you for injuries.
• Be prepared for aftershocks.
• Use the phone only to report a life-threatening emergency.
• If you smell gas or hear a hissing sound open a window or leave the building. Shut off the main gas valve outside.
• Try to make contact with your out-of-area phone contact and continue to monitor your radio.

Please call or email our office if you have questions regarding disaster preparedness or would like some help in developing an emergency plan.

REALITIES OF DISASTER
THE SURVIVAL OF THE BEST PREPARED

In the event an emergency or disaster should occur, please consider the following:

• Environmental conditions could involve heavy rain or snow, cold temperatures, strong wind, and darkness.
• Electrical distribution, telephone, computer and possibly two-way radio systems may be damaged or overloaded.
• There may be numerous fires in the area due to broken natural gas lines.
• Buildings may be unsafe to occupy due to severe structural damage.
• Roads and bridges may be unusable due to structural damage or large amounts of debris.
• Police, fire, and emergency medical services will be totally overwhelmed.
• Do not expect a response to your location by fire or police within the first several hours following the disaster event. Emergency crews will be staffed to minimum levels and will be unable to conduct major search and rescue operations or extinguish large fires.
• Any response by government will be delayed for several days. Their staff may be dislocated or severely affected by the disaster and not able to report to work.
• You may not be able to go to the grocery store, gasoline station, or bank - they could all be closed because the disaster has also affected them.
• Be prepared to help yourself, your family, and your co-workers for a minimum of three days following a major disaster event.
• Learn first aid and assemble a disaster preparedness kit for yourself and your family.
• Teach your children what they will need to know to help them survive the disaster and where your family re-location place is so they can find you after the event.
  

If we were to experience a disaster event today would you and your family be prepared? Would your children and other family members know what to do, where to go, and how to contact you?

PREPARE … BECAUSE YOU CARE!

The following checklist was developed specifically for earthquakes. However,
it is also appropriate for other situations that may cause structural damage such as a vehicle colliding into a building, an explosion, or a severe wind storm.

HAVE A PLAN - KNOW WHAT TO DO … PREPARE IN ADVANCE!

• Find out if anyone is injured, dial 9-1-1 and administer first aid until help arrives.
• If you observe damage in your building or think that damage may have occurred, instruct co-workers and customers to leave the building in an orderly manner. If your building is undamaged, you do not need to evacuate unless there is a policy to do so or you are advised to evacuate by local officials.
• Check for fires. Stay away from large fires. Attempt to extinguish only small fires with an extinguisher.
• Check for gas leaks, broken water lines or potential chemical hazards. Turn off utilities if there is a leak; notify authorities of chemical hazards.
• Check for people who might be trapped. Check storage rooms and restrooms.
• Check for and help people who might require special assistance.
• Expect to find doorways and exit routes blocked. Assign people to clear exits, do not use elevators, make sure exit routes are safe from danger before using.
• Seek safety outside. Instruct those leaving your building to move to pre-designated safe areas away from buildings and other potential hazards.
• Conduct a personnel accountability check to make sure everyone is safety out of the building.
• Before sending employees home, make arrangements to get back in contact at a later specified time.
• If possible, secure your facility before leaving.
• Document property damage as soon as possible.
• Expect aftershocks. Aftershocks can inflict additional damage to weakened structures. Be careful when re-entering damaged buildings.
• Determine the safety of your building. Develop a prior agreement with a structural engineer to inspect your building immediately after an earthquake.

 

Download a copy of this checklist in Adobe .pdf format