October 26, 2022
No matter where you live or work, earthquake preparedness is important to your safety. Earthquakes can occur anywhere, but they’re more frequent and intense near fault lines. Just recently, a mildly strong tremor centered in San Jose, California rattled some nerves. Even if you’ve never experienced an earthquake or live in a low-risk state, a little preparation can help you and your family stay calm and safe.
Prepare at Home with a Few Simple Tips
An earthquake can happen anytime, and without warning. By preparing before an earthquake happens, you can minimize the risk of injury to you and your family. Here are some easy and practical things you can do in your daily life:
• Talk about earthquakes with your family. Discuss safety strategies and meetup plans and locations.
• Create an emergency kit that includes basic and medical necessities. You can pick up supplies on your next shopping trip. Pop in a few extra packs of batteries, a first aid kit, bottled water or an extra flashlight in your shopping cart. Keep supplies in a sturdy backpack at home and in your car.
• Practice safety strategies. A simple but effective safety strategy during an earthquake is to drop to your hands and knees so you don’t fall. Cover as much of your body as possible under a sturdy piece of furniture and protect your head and neck.
• Be aware of an earthquake plan at your work and your child’s daycare or school. Be sure to keep all your emergency contact information up to date.
Be Prepared at Work
• Enroll if you have not already in CIG’S mass notification system – Alert CIG powered by Everbridge.
• Update your personal contact and home address in Alert CIG. This will ensure that CIG stakeholders can reach you about critical emergencies near your office or home.
• Review the evacuation routes for the offices you frequent. If you need more information on Alert CIG or office evacuation routes, contact Steve Winburn.
• Help your colleagues by volunteering for an office safety committee.
Practice Makes Perfect
Taking proactive steps for safety before, during, and after an earthquake will help reduce anxiety and physical injury. With an earthquake preparedness plan in place, you should be ready if a tremor happens. For more information about earthquakes and available resources:
• USGS
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