Earthquake
Wikipedia
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes are recorded with a seismometer, also known as a seismograph.
The magnitude of an earthquake is conventionally reported on the Richter scale, with magnitude 3 or lower earthquakes being mostly imperceptible and magnitude 7 causing serious damage over large areas. Intensity of shaking is measured on the modified Mercalli scale. At the Earth’s surface, earthquakes manifest themselves by shaking and sometimes displacement of the ground.
- Home Emergency Survival Kit Checklist
- Portable radio
- Flashlight
- Candles
- Matches
- Medications
- Five-day non-perishable food supply
- Ice chest
- Containers of water (2 quarts per person per day)
- Sleeping bags or blankets
- Personal toilet articles and sanitary needs
- Disposable diapers
- Clothing
- Manual can opener
- Cooking stove
- Fuel for stoves, hibachis, or lanterns
- Pet food
- Secure your gas water heater
- Securing your gas water heater to the wall takes about 20 minutes.
- A gas water heater is tall and narrow. During an earthquake, it might rock back and
- forth, and this could cause it to tip over, breaking the gas line, resulting in an
- explosion and fire. Even if it doesn't fall over, the gas line might rupture, allowing gas to leak out, which could then ignite.
- The supplies cost less than $20.00.
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- The materials you need are simple:
- metal strapping tape to encircle the gas water heater;
- ½" electrical conduit tube that you flatten at both ends using a hammer;
- 5/16" x 3" lag bolts with washers to connect the conduit to studs in your wall;
- and a nut and bolt to tie the metal strapping together.
- After any felt earthquake, even if your gas water heater looks like it survived the
- other appliances, as well)--if you can smell leaking gas, turn off the propane at
- it source, and notify the gas company.
- Family preparedness
- Don't assume an earthquake will occur on the weekend in daylight hours when the
- whole family is conveniently located at the same place. Have everybody think about
- what it would be like if it happened on a weekday, with the family members at
- different places (some at work, some at school, others at home).
- During an earthquake...
- If you are indoors, stay there. Get under a table or a desk, or get under a doorway;
- things will be less likely to fall on you there. If you don't have a table
- to hide under, drop to the floor in a sitting position and cover your head. The
- photo above illustrates how strong desks are: in the Mexico City earthquake of
- 1985, this school building collapsed, but the student desks survived--they
- supported the weight of the upper floors of the building.
- Stay away from windows. The glass may shatter and cut you.
- If you're in the kitchen, get out of there fast--the kitchen is full of things that
- could fall on you.
- Don't run outside while the shaking is still going on--you might get hurt from
- things falling on you that are not well-secured to the outside of the building.
- If you happen to be outside during a quake, get into the open, away from buildings,
- power lines, or anything else that could fall on you.
- If you happen to be in a crowded store, don't panic and rush for the exit; move
- carefully.
- If you happen to be at or near the beach, if the earthquake is big enough that you
- have trouble standing up, get out of the area and move to higher ground
- immediately; a locally-generated tsunami may be on its way in a matter of minutes.
- After an earthquake...
- Check for fire and fire hazards. Put out fires in your home or neighborhood
- immediately.
- Check for the smell of gas near all gas appliances; if you smell gas, turn off the
- propane at its source. Don't light any candles or stoves until you're sure there
- are no gas leaks in your house.
- Wear shoes in areas of broken glass and debris.
- Check for injuries and assist persons as best you can; seek medical help for
- serious injuries.
- If there is any damage to your house wiring, shut off power at the control box.
- Clean up any spilled items that might be dangerous, such as bleach or gasoline.
- Open doors to cupboards and closets carefully, in case items have shifted and might
- fall on you.
- Stay away from downed power lines and utility poles.
hawaii edu earthquakes
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