In case of an Earthquake

Nature strikes in strange ways and often without premonition. The wrath of nature is manifested in outbursts like floods, famines, storms and earthquakes which often claim hundreds of lives at a time. Here we shall focus on one of the deadliest outbursts of nature’s fury- earthquakes. There are some places like Haiti, Southern California, Chile, etc which are more prone to earthquakes than other places.  Nonetheless, it is always advantageous to know what to do in case one finds himself in the midst of such a situation. As experts put it “Surviving a natural disaster is not a matter of being lucky. It is first and above all, a matter of knowing what to do.”

What follows is a list of recommendations one must follow in order to survive an earthquake:

• The first thing one must do is to drop to the ground and seek cover under a strong shelter like a sturdy table, a cot or something of the like. After one gets under a safe cover, it is essential that he holds on to the support as long as the tremors continue.  There may be situations when one may not find a table or desk to shelter under. In such cases it is advisable to cover one’s face with his arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• One should stay away from glass windows, doors, lighting fixtures, woodstoves, heavy furniture and appliances that are likely to fall or be shattered.
• If one is in bed he must hold on to it and ay the same time cover his face with a pillow.
• If one is driving he should stop at a place that is located far from skyscrapers, bridges, trees, poles or lampposts. Even if one is on a motorcycle he must immediately stop and run to the open away from any buildings or power lines.
• If one is near a mountainous area he should always be on the lookout for rocks and other debris that may be loosened by the tremors. It would be best to burrow in the Earth to protect oneself from trees, landslides and rocks. Travelling or camping in any mountainous area must be avoided whenever a warning is issued by the concerned authorities.
• In case one is at a beach he should immediately move to a higher ground or at least a few hundred yards inland.
• People in a crowd must not panic. It is very important to stay calm and lend each other a helping hand in these situations, especially when there are children or elder people nearby.

After the tremors have subsided, one must check for fire or fire hazards. If the telephone lines are working the police and fire authorities must be immediately informed. The radio must be listened to keep oneself prepared from earthquakes or aftershocks that are likely to follow. The streets should be cleared for emergency vehicles. The common people must work lend full cooperation and work hand-in-hand with the rescue team to restore normalcy.