Staying Safe During an Earthquake
- Avoid Unstable Objects
- Don’t Fight the P-Waves
- Be Close to the Ground
- Protect Head and Neck
- Outdoor Clear Spaces
While fault zones are more prone to seismic activity, all areas of the U.S. and its territories are subject to some moving and shaking, so everyone should understand the basics of safety during an earthquake. Depending on the surroundings, there are different techniques and points to remember. To provide general tips to ensure survival in the event of seismic activity, the list below incorporates each of these contexts or surroundings.
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Protect the Brain and Cervical Vertebrae
This is a familiar admonition for individuals caught by any violent natural event because the head and neck are two of the most vulnerable areas of the human body. Survival is possible, even with an extreme injury to other parts of the anatomy, but small objects can prove fatal if they fall on unprotected cervical spinal areas or the cranium. Whether indoors or outside, people in an earthquake should crouch and protect these fragile areas of their bodies with hands and arms or, if possible, sturdier materials and furnishings.
Crouch Down
Upright humans are susceptible to falls during earthquakes. No matter where an individual is when tremors begin, they should get as close to the ground as possible. This is because two feet on the floor is pretty unstable. The more points of contact one has with a surface, even if it’s in motion, the less likely it is that injury will occur. If one is outdoors, crouch, kneel, or sit on the ground in a clear space and be certain to shield the head and neck. Inside a building, get close to the floor and move as quickly as is safely possible away from windows and exterior walls.
Don’t Resist Seismic Motion
While it can feel instinctive to push against the direction of motion during an earthquake, the federal government’s emergency preparedness site, Ready.gov advises against this. Both primary and secondary shock waves move through solid material as if it were liquid, which is part of what can make an earthquake so terrifying as well as dangerous. If individuals are indoors, they are counseled to take cover beneath a sturdy desk or another object, hold onto it, and move with the shockwaves until they have passed. Moving with seismic waves accomplishes a couple of important things. First, individuals are not wasting energy in the act of resistance. Second, resistance means tension of nerve and muscle fibers, which can intensify the damage done in the event of an injury.
If Outdoors, Find a Clearing
Whether individuals are in an automobile or engaged in travel on foot, finding space away from dangerous toppling objects—power lines, buildings, trees, or rocks—is essential. If operating a vehicle, the driver should slow down and navigate to clear space, remaining within until the tremors have ceased. For pedestrians or campers, it’s vital that they crouch down and move to a clearing. Then, they should protect their head and neck with either their arms or a sturdy item until the earthquake has ended. People who are inside when an earthquake begins should avoid exterior walls and windows.
Avoid Unstable Objects
This may seem a bit elementary, especially if individuals are outside. However, during an emergency, such as the sudden onset of intense seismic activity, many people panic. That’s especially true for those who grew up without regular experience with earthquakes. In these events, typically sturdy elements of the environment become completely unreliable. Trees, boulders weighing many hundreds of pounds, bookshelves, walls—many things grow suddenly unstable when P- and S-waves ripple through the earth’s crust. Indoors, individuals should move close to an interior, load-bearing wall and away from unbolted bookshelves, wall decorations, windows, and light fixtures.
Earthquakes occur in all 50 states of the US. While media and popular understanding have focused on the west coast, with its proximity to the Ring of Fire and several major crustal fault zones, even seemingly staid places like Missouri or South Carolina can experience substantial activity. Staying safe during an earthquake, wherever it occurs, is a matter of staying aware and remembering a few simple steps to protect life and limb in the event.