Earthquake Supplies Kit and Emergency Preparedness (cont.)
In this Article
- How can I be prepared for an earthquake?
- What are earthquake practice drills?
- What are earthquake evacuation plans?
- What type of priorities and personal documentation paperwork should I prepare?
- What should I do during an earthquake?
- Indoor safety
- Outdoor safety
- What are emergency supplies for earthquake preparedness?
- First aid kit
- Survival kit for your home
- Survival kit for your automobile
- Survival kit for your workplace
- Food and water
- Emergency water storage and purification
- What are safe water sources in the home?
- What are unsafe water sources?
- What water is safe for drinking and cooking?
- What about emergency food?
- How should I store store emergency food?
- How should I use use emergency food?
- Find a local Doctor in your town
Earthquake evacuation plans
If an earthquake occurs, you may need to evacuate a damaged area afterward. By planning and practicing for evacuation, you will be better prepared to respond appropriately and efficiently to signs of danger or to directions by civil authorities.
- Take a few minutes with your family to discuss a home evacuation plan.
Sketch a floor plan of your home; walk through each room and discuss evacuation
- Plan a second way to exit from each room or area, if possible. If you need
special equipment, such as a rope ladder, mark where it is located.
- Mark where your emergency food, water, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers are located.
- Mark where the utility switches or valves are located so that they can be
turned off, if possible.
- Indicate the location of your family's emergency outdoor meeting place.
How to establish priorities and personal documentation paperwork
Take time before an earthquake strikes to write an emergency priority list, including:
- important items to be hand-carried by you
- other items, in order of importance to you and your family
- items to be removed by car or truck if one is available
- things to do if time permits, such as locking doors and windows, turning off the utilities, etc.
Write Down Important Information
Make a list of important information and put it in a secure location. Include on your list:
- important telephone numbers, such as police, fire, paramedics, and medical
- the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your insurance agents,
including policy types and numbers
- the telephone numbers of the electric, gas, and water companies
- the names and telephone numbers of neighbors
- the name and telephone number of your landlord or property manager
- important medical information, such as
allergies, regular medications, etc.
- the vehicle identification number, year, model, and license number of your
automobile, boat, RV, etc.
- your bank's or credit union's telephone number, account types, and numbers
- radio and television broadcast stations to tune to for emergency broadcast information
Gather and Store Important Documents in a Fire-Proof Safe
- Birth certificates
- Ownership certificates (automobiles, boats, etc.)
- Social Security cards
- Insurance policies
- Household inventory, including:
- list of contents
- photographs of contents of every room
- photographs of items of high value, such as jewelry, paintings, collectors' items
- list of contents
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