NOTE: The type, severity, reactions, and impact of an incident are not always the same. The information provided below is some suggested actions to take. This may or may not be everything you should or should not do as your actions may vary depending on the incident.
- Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, and a battery-powered radio.
- Learn first aid.
- Make up a plan of where to meet your fellow staff members after an earthquake.
- Don't leave heavy objects on shelves (they'll fall during a quake).
Beginning or During
At the first feeling of tremor, faculty, staff and students should:
- Stay calm! If you're indoors, stay inside. If you're outside, stay outside.
- If you're indoors, stand against a wall near the center of the building,or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table).
- Stay away from windows and outside doors.
- Do not stand in an interior doorway--it can collapse and you will be crushed.
- If you're outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Stay away from buildings (stuff might fall off the building or the building could fall on you). Lie down or crouch low. Be aware of dangers that may demand movement.
- Don't use matches, candles, or any flame. Broken gas lines and fire don't mix.
- If you're in a car, stop the car and stay away from power lines, bridges, overpasses and buildings. Stay inside the car until the earthquake stops.
- Don't use elevators (they'll probably get stuck anyway).
- Turn bodies away from windows.
- Evacuate facility once tremor has subsided.
- Evacuate the building as soon as possible using fire evacuation procedures.
- Injured persons should not be moved unless the condition of the building is life threatening.
- Anticipate the after shock. It will come.
- The building mayor or designee should take a hand-held radio or cell phone.