I have lived in California my whole
life; which means that I have had several earthquake experiences. I have lived
in Los Angeles, which is very likely for an earthquake to occur. Throughout
grade school, our teachers would always give us information on how to prepare
for an earthquake. But no one really mentioned what to do or expect after an
earthquake occurred. The Red Cross explains the steps we need to take after an
earthquake to ensure we are safe.
Below are some guideline taken
directly from the Red Cross Website. It’s important to be informed about the
various steps we need to take in case of emergency. Educating our selves and others will decrease the impacts caused by natural disasters.
·
Check the outside of your home
before you enter. Look for loose power lines, broken or damaged gas lines,
foundation cracks, missing support beams or other damage. Damage on the outside
can indicate a serious problem inside. Ask a building inspector or contractor
to check the structure before you enter.
·
If the door is jammed, don’t force
it open – it may be providing support to the rest of your home. Find another
way to get inside.
·
Sniff for gas. If you detect natural
or propane gas, or hear a hissing noise, leave the property immediately and get
far away from it. Call the fire department after you reach safety.
·
If you have a propane tank system,
turn off all valves and contact a propane supplier to check the system out
before you use it again.
·
Beware of animals, such as rodents,
snakes, spiders and insects, that may have entered your home. As you inspect
your home, tap loudly and often on the floor with a stick to give notice that
you are there.
·
Damaged objects, such as furniture
or stairs, may be unstable. Be very cautious when moving near them. Avoid
holding, pushing or leaning against damaged building parts.
·
Is your ceiling sagging? That means
it got wet – which makes it heavy and dangerous. It will have to be replaced,
so you can try to knock it down. Be careful: wear eye protection and a hard
hat, use a long stick, and stand away from the damaged area. Poke holes in the
ceiling starting from the outside of the bulge to let any water drain out
slowly. Striking the center of the damaged area may cause the whole ceiling to
collapse.
·
Is the floor sagging? It could
collapse under your weight, so don’t walk there! Small sections that are
sagging can be bridged by thick plywood panels or thick, strong boards that
extend at least 8–12 inches on each side of the sagging area.
·
If the weather is dry, open windows
and doors to ventilate and/or dry your home.
·
If power is out, use a flashlight.
Do not use any open flame, including candles, to inspect for damage or serve as
alternate lighting.
·
Make temporary repairs such as
covering holes, bracing walls, and removing debris. Save all receipts.
·
Take photographs of the damage. You
may need these to substantiate insurance claims later.
One of the things i found very
interesting was that poorer communities are hit the worse when a natural
disaster hits. This is due to lack of resources and poor infrastructure.
http://www.redcross.org/find-help/disaster-recovery/safety-immediate-aftermath
I have always been interested in
volunteering in event of an emergency. As a future physician, I plan to
volunteer in events of natural disasters. There are several organizations in
the Sacramento Area that trains volunteers for help those in need when a
natural disaster occurs. The Citizen Corps in Sacramento provides opportunities for citizens to get emergency
response training; participate in community exercises; and volunteer to support
local first responders. Citizen corps educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that
may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such
as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical
operations giving members the skills to assist others in their neighborhood or
workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately
available to help.
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