Scribd
Upload
821 views

ShakeOut Recommended Earthquake Safety Actions

"Drop, cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. You cannot tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intense. These are guidelines for most situations; Read below to learn how to protect yourself.

Uploaded by

Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
821 views

ShakeOut Recommended Earthquake Safety Actions

"Drop, cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. You cannot tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intense. These are guidelines for most situations; Read below to learn how to protect yourself.

Uploaded by

Montgomery County (MD) Fire and Rescue
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Recommended Earthquake Safety Actions

Federal, State, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that Drop, Cover, and Hold On is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes. Great ShakeOut earthquake drills (www.shakeout.org) are opportunities to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. You cannot tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intenseso always Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately! DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!), Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and HOLD ON to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops.

If there is no table or desk near you, drop to the ground and then if possible move to an inside corner of the room. Be in a crawling position to protect your vital organs and be ready to move if necessary, and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms. Do not move to another location or outside. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl. You are more likely to be injured if you try to move around during strong shaking. Also, you will never know if the initial jolt will turn out to be start of the big oneand thats why you should always Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately! These are guidelines for most situations. Read below to learn how to protect yourself in other situations and locations, or visit www.dropcoverholdon.org.

If you are unable to Drop, Cover, and Hold On: If you have difficulty getting safely to the floor on your own, get as low as possible, protect our head and neck, and move away from windows or other items that can fall on you. In a wheelchair: Lock your wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Always protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available.
Page 1 of 2 Recommended Earthquake Safety Actions 9/15/12 Earthquake Country Alliance

Recommended Earthquake Safety Actions


In bed: If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow. You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken glass on the floor has caused injury to those who have rolled to the floor or tried to get to doorways. In a high-rise: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators. Do not be surprised if sprinkler systems or fire alarms activate. In a store: When Shaking starts, Drop Cover and Hold On. A shopping cart or getting inside clothing racks can provide some protection. If you must move to get away from heavy items on high shelves, drop to the ground first and crawl only the shortest distance necessary. Whenever you enter any retail store, take a moment to look around: What is above and around you that could move or fall during an earthquake? Then use your best judgment to stay safe. Outdoors: Move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles, and other hazards. Driving: Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. If a power line falls on MYTH Head for the the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire. Doorway: An enduring earthquake In a stadium or theater: Stay at your seat or drop to the image of California is a floor between rows and protect your head and neck with collapsed adobe home with your arms. Dont try to leave until the shaking is over. the doorframe as the only Then walk out slowly watching for anything that could fall in standing part. From this the aftershocks. came our belief that a doorway is the safest place Near the shore: Drop, Cover, and Hold On until the to be during an earthquake. shaking stops. If severe shaking lasts twenty seconds or True if you live in an old, more, immediately evacuate to high ground as a Tsunami unreinforced adobe house. might have been generated by the earthquake. Move In modern houses, inland two miles or to land that is at least 100 feet above doorways are no stronger sea level immediately. Dont wait for officials to issue a than any other part of the warning. Walk quickly, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, house. You are safer under debris and other hazards. a table. Below a dam: Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you live downstream from a dam, you should know floodzone information and have prepared an evacuation plan. More information: www.shakeout.org/dropcoverholdon www.dropcoverholdon.org www.earthquakecountry.org/dropcoverholdon

Page 2 of 2

Recommended Earthquake Safety Actions 9/15/12 Earthquake Country Alliance

You might also like