What to Do After an Earthquake
1. Designate someone with a cell phone to make calls. This helps ensure that the emergency network is not overloaded with excessive calls.
2. Remain calm, but expect aftershocks. These are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days weeks or even months after the quake.
3. Listen for announcements.
4. Open and inventory your disaster supplies and issue to people, as needed.
5. Listen to a battery-operated radio and make sure flashlights are passed out, in case power is lost.
6. Use the telephone only in extreme emergencies.
7. Conduct a thorough search of the area of the building where the Church and Childrens Ministry meet, checking classrooms, stairwells, bathrooms, closets, storage areas, lobbies, sanctuary, etc. if safe to do so.
8. Open cabinets and closets cautiously and beware of objects that can fall off shelves.
9. Stay away from damaged areas, unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire or relief organizations, and it is safe to do so.
10. Instruct people to stay away from downed or broken power and electrical lines, or other hazards.
11. Beware of possible tsunamis if you live in a costal area and stay away from the beach area.
12. Check for injuries to yourself and others. Give first aid where appropriate, to the extent of your level of training. Help injured or trapped people. Help people who may need assistance, such as infants, children, the elderly and people with special needs or other disabilities, so long as it is safe to do so. Do not move seriously injured persons without direction from emergency medical staff, and then only if the person is in immediate danger of further injury or greater harm. If a person is not breathing administer CPR. Seek medical attention for serious injuries. Use latex gloves if blood or bodily fluids are present.
13. Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, other flammable liquids immediately, using latex gloves, and leave the area if you smell gas or toxic fumes from other chemicals.
14. Inspect utilities.
a. Check for gas leaks and if you smell gas or hear a blowing or hissing sound, open the window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can, if not contact the gas company.
b. Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main circuit breaker. Do not step in water to get to the circuit breaker, without first contacting an electrician for advice.
c. Check for sewage and water line damage. If you suspect sewage line are damaged, avoid using toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water form water heaters and melted ice.
15. Ensure that all people go to the designated safe location outside the building. It should be at least 150 feet from the building, if possible. Conduct a head count to account for all people in the building.
16. Inform people not to re-enter the building unless or until instructed to do so by an authorized individual.
17. Use BBQs or camp stoves for emergency cooking outside. Do not eat or drink anything from open containers near shattered glass or other debris. If the power is off, food in the refrigerator will spoil quickly (food in the freezer may last up to two days).
18. The emergency communication plan for contacting and/or reuniting children, friends and family members after the earthquake is as follows:
- Designated BACC ministry and/or administrative staff will be in charge of the earthquake response;
b. People will be told which safe areas they may go to, if they haven’t already done so. Ministry or administrative staff or volunteers will be in charge of and assigned to oversee a group in a safe area;
c. The safe areas people may go are: 1) the parking lot along the north side of the building (Embarcadero Center) away from trees and other hazards; 2) across E. Bayshore Road on the west side of the building; 3) the parking lot at the rear of the building on the east side; 4) the nature trail behind the building; and 5) any other designated safe area.
d. The primary designated area for children, if it is safe, is the rear parking lot, on the east side of the building, away from the play structures.
e. In each safe area, both adults and children must stay together until they are released to or reunited with family members or friends. A head count should be taken, as well identifying who is present and who is missing. It is imperative that neither adults nor children wander off alone.
f. The primary means of communicating between the groups in the safe areas is via cell phone, if service is still available. If not, then information must be passed on using runners.
Note: The above plan will also be utilized by the other counties in the buildings where the
Church and Childrens Ministry meet. However, the safe areas, locations and other related
instructions may be provided by the owner of the facility and/or their staff. If so, follow
their directions.
Things NOT to Do After an Earthquake
1. Do not turn on gas again if it was turned off. Arrange for the gas company to do so.
2. Do not use matches, lighters, camp stoves or BBQ’s, electrical equipment, appliances, until you are sure there are no gas leaks. They could create a spark, that ignites leaking gas, which causes and explosion or fire.
3. Do not use your phone except for a medical or fire emergencies. You could tie up the line needed for emergency response.
4. Do not expect firefighters, paramedics or police to help you. They may be overwhelmed and unavailable.
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