special considerations:

Children and Earthquakes

Earthquakes may be traumatic events for all of us. They are especially frightening for children. A child does not usually understand such events and feels anxious and confused. After an earthquake, a child's fears are those of reoccurrence, injury, death, or of being alone, separated from the rest of the family. Seeing a parent or other adult become frightened adds to a child's anxiety. Aftershocks can increase these fears.

You can help to alleviate your child's fears before the next earthquake.

• Talk with children about what might happen during an earthquake. Let them ask questions.

• Involve children in reducing hazards and in developing an earthquake plan.

• Keep the family together. This provides immediate reassurance to a child; fears of being abandoned and unprotected are alleviated.

• Reassure children. Use words as well as actions. We are all together and nothing has happened to us, or You do not have to worry, we will look after you.

• Encourage the child to talk. It can be helpful to include other family members, neighbors and their children in a talk about reactions to the disaster.

• Include the child in family activities. There will be important things to do after an earthquake: checking on the damage, cleaning up broken glass and fallen furniture. Whenever possible, a child should be included in these activities.

To find out more about how children and adults react to emergencies, and what you can do to help, contact your local Mental Health Department.

DISABLED AND FRAGILE ELDERLY PERSONS

Persons with any special considerations will need to take extra precautions for their own safety in the event of a disaster. These tips are designed to be used in addition to the guidelines listed elsewhere in this booklet.

• Assess your own special needs, limitations and capabilities realistically and write them down. Be sure to include your requirements for medications and special equipment.

• Keep medications, duplicate prescriptions including glasses, and any special equipment close by and in a safe place where they can be easily reached. A cloth string bag, into which you can scoop these items quickly, is helpful.

• Keep a notebook, pencils, and a whistle or flashlight available in several locations if you have difficulty in communicating.

• Pet food, harness and equipment if you have a seeing eye or hearing dog.

During and after an earthquake

• If you can, get under a table or next to an interior wall away from pictures, lamps or other items which could fall on you. If you are in a wheelchair, lock the wheels of the chair once you are in a safe and protected position.

• If unable to move safely and quickly, stay where you are, even in bed, and cover your head and body with your arms, pillows, blankets, or even books to protect yourself from falling objects.

• Use your whistle or flashlight to call for help and signal others if you need it.

  

  This garage in Rio Dell slid down a hill during the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquake. Although severely damaged this building remained standing. Photo by Lindie Brewer.

OVERWHELMED?

DETERMINE THE SAFETY OF YOUR HOME AND SCHOOL

Most people on the North Coast are safe at home if they live in a well braced wood-frame building of one or two stories. These buildings are unlikely to completely collapse during earthquakes. Common damage in these structures is light cracking of interior walls, cracking of brick chimneys, and possible collapse of brick veneer on exterior walls. Bracing of chimneys in older homes may be required to prevent toppling during earthquakes. Have your chimney inspected by a qualified professional before using the fireplace after the earthquake.

What if I Rent?

Renters have less control over their buildings than homeowners, however, there are things you can do. When looking for housing, remember:

• Apartment buildings have to meet the same codes and structural requirements as houses.

• Avoid rental units made of unreinforced masonry or those with large openings in the lower floor such as garage doors and buildings on stilts.

• Consider the safety of attached structures such as stairways and balconies which can break during earthquakes.

Ask your landlord these questions:

• When was the building constructed? Structures built after 1976 had to meet more rigorous seismic safety criteria than earlier buildings.

• Has any seismic retrofitting been done?

• Have waterheaters been securely strapped to wall studs?

• Do you have permission to bolt heavy furniture to the walls?

Mobile Homes

Special considerations are needed for mobile homes and modular buildings not attached to permanent foundations. These structures can slide off their foundations if not properly secured to resist horizontal motion. The California Department of Housing and Community Development recommends that all manufactured homes be equipped with certified Earthquake-Resistant Bracing Systems (ERBS).

For more information regarding mobile home support systems, contact the Department of Housing and Community Development (916) 255 - 2501.

Schools

Modern public elementary and high schools and community college buildings must meet Field Act standards for seismic safety and have generally performed well during earthquakes. Following severe damage to many schools during the Long Beach earthquake of 1933, the Field Act was passed, requiring special seismic design standards for public school buildings. The provisions of the Field Act do not apply to colleges and private schools. Ask school officials whether your school building have been evaluated for earthquake safety recently.

Ask school officials:

• Have buildings been recently evaluated for seismic safety?

• Are hazardous materials properly stored?

• How frequently are earthquake emergency drills held? When was the last one?

• Have efforts been made to reduce non-structural hazards such as hanging light fixtures, bookcases, etc.?

• What will happen to my children after an earthquake?

Mental Health After the Quake

The primary concern for most of us immediately after an earthquake is the care and safety of our family. One way to alleviate this worry is to establish a family earthquake emergency plan ahead of time.

During the days and weeks following an earthquake you and your family may experience a variety of normal reactions. Here are a few tips on how to deal with those reactions.

• Talk to other people about your experiences, reactions, feelings, etc.

• Take it easy - do not push yourself.

• Plan extra time to do the usual tasks.

• Recognize that you may be running on adrenaline

• Rest - plan to let yourself sleep uninterrupted for a period of time at some point.

• Check to see if your decision-making ability has been impaired, ask for feedback on how you are doing.

• Let others do their part - you are not the only one who can do it.

• Discuss your current emergency plan with significant others and prepare for future crises.

• Remember to eat - and eat smart; small meals with protein and carbohydrates with lots of liquids. Avoid junk food, excessive sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.

• Exercise.

• Accept whatever feelings you have and let yourself do what makes you feel better e.g., if sleeping with a flashlight helps you feel better - then do it.

• Recognize that we may all be on different timetables, others may not handle things or be feeling the same way you do or vice versa.

Aftershocks

In the weeks and months after a strong earthquake, there will be many aftershocks, some strong enough to cause additional damage to structures already weakened in the main shock. A magnitude 7 earthquake in California is typically followed by about six aftershocks of magnitude 5 of larger. Most of these aftershocks strike during the first week, but some are possible as much as three to six months later. Because strong aftershocks impose additional hazards and may seriously affect emergency response efforts, scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey monitor aftershocks closely and regularly issue forecasts about the probability of large aftershocks in the near future. Because of the potential for large aftershocks, removal of belongings from damaged buildings may have to be delayed.

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