Imagine it is 11am, an ordinary day at work or at home, when suddenly you feel intense shaking all around you. The ground literally feels like it has been pulled out from under your feet. A massive earthquake strikes the Bay Area and normal life as you know it is shattered. Phone communication disappears, Internet service is down, water mains explode, streets flood, gas lines rupture, explosions break out, power lines collapse, and buildings crumble. Are you ready for the “Big One”?
A paramount value in Judaism is Pikuach Nefesh – saving a life, which can include your own! Will you know what to do before, during, and after a major earthquake to save your life? Do you have supplies prepared to go it alone for 3 days? Does your family have a plan? Will your synagogue and Jewish organizations know how to contact you following a catastrophe?
Judaism is a dynamic and proactive religion. We can overcome our state of denial and empower ourselves to respond effectively in the case of an emergency. Torah commands us to choose life, and the best way to insure you and your family’s safety during and after an earthquake is to be proactive and be prepared. We urge you, your family, friends and neighbors to come to use the information listed below (and the resources) to gain life-supporting skills so you will enhance your ability to sustain yourself and others when a major catastrophe occurs.
--Rabbi Avi Schulman, Chair, Jewish Federation Earthquake Preparedness Conference,
August 2011
ARE YOU READY?
The material listed below is from a variety of organizations. We wish to thank the American Red Cross, Earthquake Country Alliance, CARD (Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters) and the other listed organizations for their resources, support and materials. A listing of websites with additional information is listed at the end of this webpage.
There are several simple steps to guide you and your family to earthquake resiliency by taking actions before, during and after the shaking occurs.
I. Create a disaster plan.
Because disasters are highly unpredictable, one can’t anticipate every situation. However, a plan can greatly reduce the risks you might face.
A plan will enable you to identity the services you count on every day and which may become unavailable after a disaster, such as:
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
- Communications
- Transportation
- Medical Services
Planning ahead saves lives, reduces anxiety and enables you to play an active role in your local response and recovery efforts.
A. Develop a Communication Plan
Since local phone lines tend to be overloaded after a disaster, having an out-of-area contact helps yo more easily reconnect with your loved ones. This person will serve as a connection pont for information. You will communicate through your contact who can pass information along to others. To do this, identity an individual who lives far enough away that he/she would be unaffected by the some disaster. Let your out-of-area contact know that he/she has been chosen to play this role. Record all contact information on a wallet card. (Cell phones require batteries and they can easily run out and become non-operational. If the numbers of your loved ones are only listed on a cell phone, you may not be able to retrieve that information.) Distribute this information to all loved ones and keep an additional copy in your disaster kit. For more information and communication tips, go to www.redcrossbayarea.org
B. Meeting After a Disaster
Pre-determine a meeting place where you and your loved ones can meet should your home become unsafe. This could be outside your home or outside another easily identifiable place, e.g., a school.
C. Plan for Your Pets
Pets are now allowed in disaster shelters. Prepare a list of boarding facilities, veterinarians, friends, etc. who could shelter your pets in an emergency. Remember to have enough food for your pet for several days (if not longer). Hint: A frisbee (flying disc) can be used as a portable feeding dish as well as a toy.
D. Personalize Your Plan
- Make sure to arrange for a network of neighbors/friends/caregivers to check on you or your loved one(s) in the event of an emergency. You could have a pet or teen-ager at home or elderly parent at home and not be able to reach your house after an earthquake. Identify who can check in and help out.
- If you or someone you love has special needs, e.g., dependence on life-saving medical equipment, ensure that those in your network are able to operate it.
- Keep a flashlight and whistle by your bed.
- Identity important numbers that you need, e.g, your insurance agent, and your medical information, especially if you have serious allergies, chronic illnesses, etc. If you take a particular medicine on a daily basis, keep additional medicine in your home in case the pharmacies are not operational after an earthquake.
- Identity who you could stay with, including nearby shelters, if your house becomes unsafe due to an earthquake (or any other disaster). Does a neighbor have room? Also consider that you might not be able to reach relatives if they live far away as highways may not be operational.
E. Practice Your Plan.
At least once a year, practice going to your designated meeting places, calling your out-of-area contact and using your evacuation routes.
F. Remember to Include Your Children in Your Plan
We should also strive to make our children “disaster resilient.”
- Create a go-kit with your children—involve them in the creation of the kit.
- Practice with your children until their reactions become “routine.”
- Include your pets in the plan and explain your priorities to your children. They will want to take care of their pets.
- Eliminate scare tactics and fear-based messages around disaster preparedness activities. Fear is not sustainable: love and the desire to keep everyone safe and healthy are enduring motivators.
- Make preparedness a fun and bonding experience with your children. Rather than focusing on the scary or bad tins that could possibly happen, focus on the people and things you love and how you want to keep each other safe and protected at all times. Here are a few hints:
- Schedule “hazard hunts” and award prizes for finding any dangers
- Hold a recipe contest or “cook-off” for the best dish made with supplies from your disaster kit—this is a great way to use up disaster food before it expires!
- Make it a race to see how fast everyone can be up, dressed and ready to evacuate.
- Have children think of themselves as responders, not victims. Help them learn:
- Drop, Cover and Hold
- Shake, Look and Listen
- Safe places in each room
- Safe people and places to go in an emergency
- How to cal 9-1-1
- Age-appropriate First aid
- In order to foster healing after a natural disaster, it is helpful to:
- Limit explore to news, especially for the very young
- Have age appropriate conversations about the event
- Establish routine and structure
- Participate in constructive community activities
II. Secure Your Space
Hold a “hazard hunt” in your home or office. Check for anything that can shift, fall, break or cause a fire, then address these issues NOW. You should also:
- Move furniture away from exits.
- Place beds away from windows or large mirrors.
- Move heavy artwork, lighting or bookshelves away from beds…especially from above your headboard.
- Move heavy items from top shelves to bottom shelves and secure breakable items with earthquake putty.
- Strap down heavy and/or tall furniture and water heaters.
- Identify “safe places” in your home which may include under large tables or desks, corner walls or hallways.
- Provide appropriate emergency ladder for safe exit from two-story house and advise all family members of where it is stored.
- Store flammable items, pesticides and cleaning products away from heat sources.
- Check your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors every six months. Replace dead batteries.
- Know how to use a fire extinguisher and tell your family members where it is kept.
- Determine where turnoff switches and valves are for utilities, including gas, electricity and water.
- Place gas shut-off wrench and other tools within reach and educate your family members how to shut off your gas.
III. Prepare disaster supplies kits.
You will need to be self-sufficient as first responders will be addressing high priorities such as hospitals and schools. Determine what you need in the first days following an earthquake including the basics like food, water and sanitation.
What’s in Your Disaster Kit?
- Water: Store at least one gallon per person per day in thoroughly washed plastic, fiberglass or enamel-lined metal containers. Tightly seal containers. Label with a date and replace every six months. Store your water supply in a cool, dark location. You can also purchase packets of water that last for several years.
- Food: Pack non-perishable, high-protein items requiring no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. You can pick these items up at a grocery store (ready-to-eat soup, peanut butter, energy bars) or purchase food packets/high-protein cookies and other similar items that have a shelf life of up to five years at a store that sells emergency supplies.
- Flashlight: Include extra batteries or use one that is solar-energized.
- First Aid Kit
- Medications: Include prescription and non-prescription items. Request samples of prescriptions items from your doctor, if available, or reorder early and stock up if at all possible.
- Battery-operated or Crank Radio: Include extra batteries.
- Tools: A wrench to shut off gas if you suspect a leak, a can opener, a scr3wdriver, a hammer, pliers, a knife, duct tape, plastic sheeting and garbage bags.
- Clothing: Pack a change of clothes including something to wear for warmth, sturdy shoes, gloves and a blanket.
- Sanitary Supplies: Toilet paper, diapers, toweletters, feminie supplies, personal hygiene items and bleach (to purify water).
- Cash in Small denominations: Stash some cash since AMs, credit cards and cash registers won’t work if the power is out.
- Contact Information: Cary a list of phone numbers of friends, relatives, out-of-area contact person and physicians.
- Personal Items: Eyeglasses, important documents, copies of insurance policies, identification, toys (if you have young children), books.
- Matches and candles.
- Food for pets.
- Manual can opener.
- Knife (multi-functional)
- Heavy gloves
- Plastic garbage bags (can be used for sanitation)
- Toilet paper
- Whistle
- Flashlight and batteries next to bed
- Hard-soled shoes next to bed
There are several excellent companies that can provide you with earthquake supplies. For some recommendations, email riva@jfed.org.
IV. Saving Personal Information
- Back up computer files on a regular basis. Store back-up files off-site. Use a fire safe box at home for important documents and valuables.
- Prepare an inventory of the contents of your home by videoing the contents of each room and place the “video” in your safety deposit box.
V. Protect yourself and others during earthquake shaking by DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON.
The critical life safety step is Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Stay clear of any objects that may fall and stay put until the shaking stops. Protect your head with one arm. With the other arm, hold onto the furniture. Remember to a secure heavy tall objects (like a bookcase or china cabinet) to the wall prior to an earthquake.
Common safe area and considerations are:
- Under desk
- Under a sturdy table
- Away from windows
- Stay low
- Cover head and neck
- Next to large furniture like a sofa, over-stuffed chair
- If you are not around any sturdy furniture, crouch with your back against an interior wall and cover your head and neck.
- If you are in a wheelchair, lock the brake and cover your head and neck.
- If you are in bed, stay in bed, pull up the sheets to protect your body from debris and cover your head and neck with your pillow.
- If you are in your car, safely pull over, put the car in park, and cover your head and neck.
- If you are outdoors, move into the open, away from buildings, street lights, trees and utility wires. Then drop, cover and hold.
- If you are near a building, get inside quickly.
VI. After the earthquake, check for injuries and damage.
Life safety is the top priority after an earthquake or any disaster. Have a first aid kit on hand. Next, survey your home for damage or other hazards. Decide if it is safe to remain inside.
VII. When safe, continue to follow your disaster plan.
Use the plant that you have already completed to guide your actions. Let others know you are safe by contacting, if possible, the out-of-state person you and your loved ones have pre-determined will be your emergency contact. It is sometimes easier to call outside of our area than to contact someone in our region.
VIII. Practice water supply safety.
After a disaster, the water supply may become contaminated or become unavailable. It is important to store a minimum of three days and up to two weeks of potable water, allowing one gallon per person per day.
Consider alternative emergency water sources such as your hot water heater. To use this supply, first shut off the gas or electricity to the water heater and turn off the water intake valve. Then open the drain at the bottom of the tank and turn on a hot-water faucet in your house. Do not turn the power on until the tank has been refilled.
Clean Water Tips:
Boiling: Bring available water to a boil for 3-5 minutes and let cool before drinking.
Disinfection: Use only regular household bleach that contains 56.25% sodium hypochlorite to disinfect water. Add 16 drops of bleach per gallon of water. Stir and let stand for 30 minutes. If the water does not have a slight bleach scent, repeat dosage and let stand for another 15 minutes.
IX. Get First Aid and CPR Training
The American Red Cross recommends that at least one member in every household be first aid and CPR certified. Go to the American Red Cross website (see resources) for information about courses/training in your area.
X. Once an Earthquake Hits
Obtain Accurate Information During a Disaster by tuning into 740 AM, 810 AM or 88.5 FM in the Bay Area.
XI. My Preparedness Action Plan
The American Red Cross challenges you to put the knowledge listed above into action by assigning yourself a target date for taking each of the steps below. It’s easier than you may think. Making a plan is simply a dinner table conversation. You can start building your kit this week by gathering together the supplies you already have on hand. Take a few steps over the next few weeks and you will be ready when the time comes.
Make a Plan by this date: ___/___/___
Get a Kit by this date: ___/___/___
RESOURCES
www.redcross.org | 1-888-4-HELP-BAY
American Red Cross has information on preparing at home, work, school and in your community
www.DareToPrepare.org
Great information to secure your space to protect from earthquake damage.
www.earthquakecountry.info
This includes the seven steps to safety at home and has great information about earthquake faults in California.
www.Shakeout.org
Comprehensive earthquake drill planning resources.
www.terremotos.org
Earthquake information and resources in Spanish.
www.ready.gov
Information on how to plan for disasters.
www.disaster-resource.com
A guide for businesses continuity.
www.prepare.org
Department of Homeland Security 1-800-480-2520
www.CRDCanHelp.org
CARD can provide special disaster preparedness classes for a group: 510.451.3140 or info@cardcanhelp.org