protect yourself:

During the shaking, duck, cover and hold. Photo by Lori Dengler.

1. Practice duck, cover, and hold drills at home with your family and at work

   Injuries and deaths during earthquakes are most often caused by falling objects and collapsing structures. Show children safe areas to duck and cover. Practice counting how many seconds your test earthquake lasts. This will help you keep calm when a real earthquake strikes.

2. Develop an earthquake plan

   If an earthquake hits during the day, family members may be separated for hours or even days. Your local chapter of the American Red Cross can help you develop a plan at home, at work, and in your neighborhood. A family plan should include:

   • A safe place where your family can reunite after the earthquake. Transportation may be disrupted. Select alternate meeting places near work or schools.

   • Designation of an out-of-the-area telephone contact. Completing local telephone calls may be difficult. It may be easier to telephone someone out of the earthquake area. Select a relative or friend to act as a clearing house for information about your family. All family members should call this contact to report their condition and location. Make sure family members carry this number with them at all times. Let friends and relatives know this number too.

   • Discuss the plan with all family members. Tell children what will happen to them if an earthquake occurs while they are at school.

   Include tsunamis in your plan.

3. Know the following:
   • What to do during and after an earthquake.

   • The safest places in your home. Avoid heavy furniture or appliances, wood stoves, fireplaces, and large panes of glass, pictures, or mirrors.

   • Where your gas, electric, and water main shutoffs are and how to turn each off. Now is the time to buy a wrench that fits your gas turnoff and to fasten it next to the valve. Remember, turn off the utilities only if you suspect the lines are damaged, if you smell gas, or if you are instructed to do so. If you turn the gas off, you must contact your utility company to turn it back on.

   • How to fight fires, provide first aid, find help for dire emergencies, and assist others, especially the fragile elderly or disabled. Ask your local American Red Cross or County Office of Emergency Services for more information.

   • The policy of your local school concerning release of children after an earthquake. Arrange with neighbors to watch out for your family and property in case you are not home.

4. Store emergency supplies
   • Be prepared to take care of yourself, your family, and your neighbors for at least three days - longer if you live in a remote area.

   • Make sure emergency supplies are located in a safe and readily available place.

   • Make sure everyone in your family knows where these supplies are and how to use them.

   • Include pets in your planning. Plan for their food and water supplies for at least three days. Make arrangements with a neighbor to care for your pet in the event you are unable to get home.

5. Find out more
   • Look at the first aid and survival guide in the introductory pages of your telephone book.

   • Go to your local library.

   • Ask your city or county Office of Emergency Services or your local American Red Cross for pamphlets on preparedness and survival.

   • Invite a speaker to talk to your club or organization about earthquake and tsunami preparedness.

   • Take a course in first aid from your local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Emergency Supply Check List

Be prepared to be on your own for 72 hours or more. Make sure you store a 72-hour to 1-week supply of the following items at your home. Keep emergency supplies at your office and in your car.

• Flashlights with extra batteries. Keep flashlights beside your bed and in several other locations. DO NOT use matches or candles after an earthquake until you are certain there are no gas leaks.

• Portable radio with extra batteries. Telephones will be out of order or limited to emergency use. Radios are the best source of information.

• First aid kit. Keep your first aid kit well-stocked and in a central location. Take basic first aid and CPR courses. Keep skills current.

• Fire Extinguisher. Your fire extinguisher should be suitable for all types of fires and be easily accessible. Teach family members how to use it.

• Food. Store a one-week supply of food for each person. Canned or dehydrated food, powdered milk and canned juices can be rotated into your daily diet and replenished on a regular basis. Remember your pets when storing food.

• Water. Store enough water for each person to have one gallon per day in air-tight containers and replace every six months. Keep a disinfectant such as iodine tablets or chlorine bleach to purify water.

• Blankets, clothing, shoes and gloves. Blankets and clothing may be needed to keep warm. Have sturdy shoes and gloves to protect feet and hands from broken glass and other debris.

• Alternative cooking source. Store camp stove and fuel or barbecue, charcoal, starter and matches in case utilities are out of service.

• Special items. Have at least a weekØs supply of medication, personal hygiene supplies and foods for infants and those on special diets. Do not forget an extra pair of prescription glasses.

• Comfort items. Have each family member choose games, crayons, writing materials, books, stuffed animals, etc.

• Tools. Have crescent or pipe wrench to turn off gas and water if necessary.

• Large plastic bags. Bags can be used as tarps, waste containers, rain ponchos, etc.

• Emergency Cash. Automatic teller machines may not be operational and credit cards may not be accepted.

8 DROPS OF CHLORINE BLEACH WILL DISINFECT ONE GALLON OF CLEAR WATER, 16 DROPS IF WATER IS CLOUDY. LET STAND FOR 30 MINUTES

Develop a Family Disaster Plan

Designate an Emergency Meeting Place Both

Outside of Your Home

and Outside of Your Neighborhood.

Pick an Out-of-The-Area Contact For Your Family and Friends to Call.

Copy the above information onto a card and put it in wallets and children's backpacks

Become Part of a N.E.S.T.

The Neighborhood Emergency Service Team (N.E.S.T.) is designed to help households, neighborhoods, rural communities, members of organizations and employees of businesses prepare for the effects of a disaster. Each neighborhood or group is led by a N.E.S.T. Captain. The members of the group are formed into several committees responsible for certain tasks.

A N.E.S.T. is comprised exclusively of volunteers working at the neighborhood level who are willing to protect their families and neighborhoods in times of disaster. The program helps a group to:

• Become informed about the potential earthquake threat.

• Anticipate and meet disaster needs.

• Identify neighborhood resources.

• Identify possible existing hazards.

• Pre-assign responsibilities for constructive action after an earthquake.

• Acquire necessary supplies and equipment.

• Prepare family emergency plans.

• Arrange training in first aid, CPR, and emergency actions.

• Conduct emergency drills.

• Maintain an ongoing preparedness program, review and repeat steps.

• Take special local circumstances into consideration.

If you live in Humboldt County and are interested in organizing a N.E.S.T. or would like more information, contact the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services (707) 445-7239. If you live elsewhere, contact your local American Red Cross Chapter or your county Office of Emergency Services to see if they are interested in developing a N.E.S.T. or similar neighborhood program in your area.

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