Personal Safety-Earthquake Survival Tips
October 21, 2008 was the 140th anniversary of the 1868 Hayward Fault earthquake. This fault has a repeat cycle of 140 years, give or take 25 years, which means a large earthquake is imminent. Please see the PBS documentary about the Hayward Fault at (LINK) youtube.
When this fault ruptures, government emergency services will be overwhelmed due to the enormous property damage and injuries. The fire department, police department, California Earthquake Authority, earthquake insurance and the Association of Bay Area Governments will not be able to help you. You and your neighborhood should not expect any help for many weeks and your earth quake survival depends on you earthquake preparedness. This is why it is recommended that you join or form a neighborhood earthquake disaster and survival group. This should include a personal earthquake preparedness kit for you and your family as well as a much larger earthquake preparedness kit for your neighborhood. This larger disaster kit could contain such things as an emergency generator. Contact your local office of emergency services to find out about its neighborhood earthquake survival groups. http://quake.abag.ca.gov/links/cert/.
The reason seismic safety is such a great concern is that 350,000 people will be made homeless when the Hayward Fault ruptures and structural damage to homes and other buildings will exceed 165 billion dollars. Hurricane Katrina caused 81 billion dollars in damage and 300,000 were displaced from their homes. A large earthquake on the Hayward Fault will be the largest natural disaster in the United States.
The following earthquake damage, death, and injury statistics are rarely mentioned in the media or by local government agencies, but you need to be aware of them. Only the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and the California Earthquake Authority who are mandated to disseminate information on earthquake safety do this. Still, few people know how important earthquake preparedness is, given the damage and injury statistics below. This information comes from FEMA.
Information above supplied by FEMA
This does not take into account the many more deaths and injuries that will effect people who live in HILLSIDE HOMES LINK.
This part of our website is dedicated to helping you avoid becoming one of these statistics.
As a Federal Earthquake Damage Inspector with FEMA, Howard Cook documented physical injuries to people as well as structural damage to homes. One of the first things you should do is keep large objects away from your bed.
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Next, do what you can to prevent large objects from falling over.
Install brackets for safety.
You will be terrified when the "The Big One" hits. It will feel like King Kong has your house in both hands and is shaking it as hard as he can. You will wonder about your earthquake survival. Try not to panic. All your instincts will scream to run out of the house as fast as you can. Don't do it! Walls and ceilings do not collapse and the safest place to be is in your house.
Ninety-nine percent of the earthquake-caused personal injuries Howard Cook documented as a FEMA inspector occurred when people were thrown against walls, appliances, furniture, and off stairs while trying to run out of the house. The correct thing to do is fall to the ground, find a table to crawl under, and hold onto its legs. If there is not a table nearby, crawl away from any objects that may fall on you, cover your head, and wait for the shaking to stop If you must leave the house or go to another room to check on children or other family members, CRAWL. Do not try to stand up! The earthquake will throw you down. The exception for these rules is if you live in a hillside home. In this case get out of the house as fast as you can. Read this article more info.
Many people believe they should find a doorway and stand or crouch in it. Do not do this. The door can swing back and forth, sometimes violently, and may bash you in the head repeatedly. Once the shaking stops, leave the house and go to an open area where nothing can fall on you. Earthquakes normally occur in a series. The quake you just felt may be a foreshock of something bigger.
You can enter your home for a short time to retrieve your earthquake disaster kit and other necessary items. Protect your undamaged property by placing it on the floor. Put your things back in shelves and cabinets only when government officials tell you no aftershocks are expected.
Post-quake kitchen
All Bay Area radio stations are part of the Earthquake Emergency Broadcast System and will broadcast instructions for what to do and where to go. You will be able to use the radio in your car.
Keep some camping equipment on hand and an earthquake disaster kit in a place in an easily accessible place. The Red Cross or your local emergency services office can tell you what you what your earthquake disaster kit should contain.
Make sure all family members have an out of town phone number to call so that your family members can keep track of each other. Local numbers may not be functional.
Check for other potential hazards that will play a roll in your earthquake protection.
- Gas leaks. Shut off the main gas valve only if a leak is suspected or identified by the odor of natural gas.
- Your telephone. If it is still working, make sure each phone is on its receiver. Telephones off the hook tie up the telephone network unnecessarily.
- Your water supply. Make sure your water heater is strapped to the wall so that it does not fall down. This may be your only water supply.
Pictures below illustrate water tank unstrapped and strapped.
 
The tsunmai that hit Japan in 2011 did not
allow much time to prepare
Anticipate tsunamis. If you live along the coast, be alert for news of tsunami warnings issued by the federal government's Tsunami Warning Center. If an earthquake is centered nearby, there will not be time to issue a warning and your survival will depend on acting fast. If you experience a strong earthquake that lasts a very long time, move to higher ground or go to the upper floors of a building as soon as you are able and stay there until the authorities issue an all-clear."
For more from The California Office of Emergency Services visit: http://www.oes.ca.gov/
It is very likely a large Bay Area earthquake will occur in your lifetime. Such an event will be a disaster for the Bay Area, but can be a mere personal inconvenience if you prepare. In addition to the measures outlined above, the most important thing you can do is retrofit your home. NOW is the time to evaluate your home and install strengthening measures — before the next earthquake. The purpose of this website is to help you prepare.
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