Goshen Falcons SOAR
April 14, 2020
Please join Utah in the Shake Out Earthquake Drill Thursday, April 16 @ 10:00 am
DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON!
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. The Great Utah ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes.
PROTECT YOURSELF. SPREAD THE WORD
Your past experience in earthquakes may give you a false sense of safety; you didn’t do anything, or you ran outside yet you survived with no injuries. Or perhaps you got under your desk and others thought you overreacted.
You may have experienced the kind of strong earthquake shaking that is possible in much larger earthquakes; sudden and intense back and forth motions or several feet per second will cause the floor or the ground to jerk sideways out from under you, and every unsecured object around you could topple, fall, or become airborne, potentially causing serious injury.
This is why you must learn to immediately protect yourself after the first jolt… don’t wait to see if the earthquake shaking will be strong.
In MOST situations, you will reduce your chance of injury if you:
- Drop where your are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down. It also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
- Cover your head and neck with one arm and hand. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter in nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Stay on your knees, bend over to protect vital organs
- Hold on until the shaking stops. If you are under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts. If there is no shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.
Utah Seismic Safety Commission
Preparing Your Family For An Earthquake
When preparing for an earthquake, plan on having enough supplies to get you and your family through at least the first 72 hours. After a major earthquake, there's a good chance that traditional emergency response teams will be too busy to take care of you and your family. You need to prepare your home and neighborhood.
The Plan
Stock up on at least a three-day supply of food, water, clothes, medical supplies and other necessary equipment for everyone in your family. Make sure everyone knows where to find them.
Decide where and when to reunite your family should you be apart when an earthquake happens.
Choose a person outside the immediate area to contact if family members are separated. Long distance phone service will probably be restored sooner than local service. Do not use the phone immediately after the earthquake.
Know the policies of the school or daycare center your children attend. Make plans to have someone pick them up if you are unable to get them.
If you have a family member that does not speak English, prepare an emergency card written in English indicating that persons identification, address and any special needs such as medication or allergies. Tell that person to keep the card with him/her at all times.
Conduct Earthquake: Duck, Cover & Hold drills every six months with your family.
Know the safest place in each room because it will be difficult to move from one room to another during an earthquake.
Locate the shutoff valves for water, gas and electricity. Learn how to shut off the valves before a quake. If you have any questions, call your utility company.
Make copies of vital records and keep them in a safe deposit box in another city or state. Make sure originals are stored safely.
Before a quake occurs, call your local Red Cross chapter and Office of Emergency Services to find out about their plans for emergency shelters and temporary medical centers in case of such a disaster.
Establish all the possible ways to exit your house. Keep those areas clear.
Know the locations of the nearest fire and police stations.
Take photos and/or videos of your valuables. Make copies and keep them in another city or state.
Include your babysitter and other household help in your plans.
Keep an extra pair of eyeglasses and house and car keys on hand.
Keep extra cash and change. If electricity is out, you will not be able to use an ATM.
General Tips
Stay away from heavy furniture, appliances, large glass panes, shelves holding objects, and other large decorative masonry, brick or plaster such as fireplaces.
Keep your hallway clear. It is usually one of the safest places to be during an earthquake.
Stay away from kitchens and garages, which tend to be the most dangerous places because of the many items kept there.