Where to take shelter during an earthquake?
Answers
Answer:
Sturdy Desks and Tables
The safest place to perform the ‘duck, cover, and hold’ action is under a sturdy desk or table. Taking shelter under a desk protects you from falling debris. There is always a risk that the table will break when a large chunk of debris falls on top of it, but the table lessens the impact.
Bed or Closet
When you are in bed during an earthquake, stay there. Using your pillow to protect your head decreases chances of concussions due to falling walls. But when you have a heavy light fixture or an attic full of furniture on top of your bedroom, head straight for the closet.
A closet should be near your bed to avoid any injuries while running around a house during the earthquake. The wardrobe also needs to be free of debris. When the cabinet topples over during an earthquake, assume the required position to protect yourself.
A Room with No Windows
Stay away from glass windows during an earthquake. Go into a cupboard or room that has no windows or glass decorations to avoid injuries. The place is almost always in the middle of the house. In anticipation of an earthquake, it is advisable to store your first aid kit and food and water supply inside the interior room.
Door Frame
While still unsafe, a door frame can be used as a shelter if the earthquake is close to you. Making sure that you have a strongly supported and that it can bear the load of falling debris. However, most modern doorway designs can break during an earthquake. So to make sure that a door frame can be used as a shelter, strengthen its support.
Outside your Home
If you are near a door and you can feel that your house is on the verge of collapsing, try going outside. However, watch out for broken cable lines and falling tree branches to avoid injuries. There is less chance of getting crushed inside your home.
Explanation:
Specific situations…
It is important to think about what you will do to protect yourself, wherever you are, when the earth begins to shake. What if you are driving, in a theater, in bed, at the beach, etc.?
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Indoors: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Avoid exterior walls, windows, hanging objects, mirrors, tall furniture, large appliances, and kitchen cabinets with heavy objects or glass. However, do not try to move more than 5-7 feet before getting on the ground. Do not go outside during shaking! The area near the exterior walls of a building is the most dangerous place to be. Windows, facades, and architectural details are often the first parts of the building to break away. If you’re seated and unable to drop to the floor: bend forward, Cover your head with your arms, and Hold On to your neck with both hands.
In bed: Do not get out of bed. Lie face down to protect your vital organs, and Cover your head and neck with a pillow, keeping your arms as close to your head as possible. Hold On to your head and neck with both hands until shaking stops. You are less likely to be injured by fallen and broken objects by staying where you are.
This new FEMA poster depicts how to appropriately respond to an earthquake in a variety of settings.
In a high-rise: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators. Do not be surprised if sprinkler systems or fire alarms activate.
In a classroom: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Laboratories or other settings may require special considerations to ensure safety. Students should also be taught what to do at home or other locations.
In a store: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Getting next to a shopping cart, beneath clothing racks, or within the first level of warehouse racks may provide extra protection. For more details, download a simple PDF fact sheet about Earthquake Safety in Stores.
Outdoors: Move to a clear area if you can safely do so. Avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles, and other hazards. Then, Drop, Cover, and Hold On. This protects you from any objects that may be thrown from the side, even if nothing is directly above you.
Driving: Pull over to the side of the road, stop, and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking stops, then proceed carefully by avoiding fallen debris, cracked or shifted pavement, and emergency vehicles. If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.
In a stadium or theater: Drop to the ground in front of your seat or lean over as much as possible, then Cover your head with your arms (as best as possible), and Hold On to your neck with both hands until the shaking stops. Then walk out slowly, watching for anything that could fall during aftershocks.
Near the shore: Follow the instructions above for your particular location. Then as soon as shaking reduces such that you are able to stand, walk quickly to high ground or inland, as a tsunami may arrive soon. Don’t wait for officials to issue a warning. Walk, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, debris, and other hazards.
Below a dam: Follow the instructions above for your particular location. Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you live downstream from a dam, you should know flood-zone information and have prepared an evacuation plan for getting to high ground.