April is Earthquake Preparedness Month in both California and the nation, and Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is suggesting that residents take time to shake-proof their homes and businesses.
After 23 years of studying the science and impacts of earthquakes, Megan Stanton knows two important facts every Californian should remember: there will be strong earthquakes every year, and there are ways to prepare in advance to keep residents and their families safe.
“Computer models and historical data show that we have a chance of at least a magnitude 6 earthquake every year. Those earthquakes are not always in populated areas, but they happen every year on average. The key to remember is that we can’t predict when or where those earthquakes will happen, so it’s important to prepare now,” said Stanton, a geosciences expert for PG&E.
Stanton and her colleagues monitor a variety of risks every day, from earthquakes and other ground movement to volcanic activity and tsunamis. Their work helps keep utility workers safe on the job and helps restore service to customers after disasters strike. It can also help coworkers keep themselves and their families safe.
“The biggest risk of injury we see from large earthquakes is from people not taking cover,” said Stanton. “Instead, they run for cover and risk being hurt by flying objects or from debris falling if they run outside. The safest thing to do when you receive an alert or feel shaking is to take cover immediately. Taking cover will look different depending on where you’re located (e.g., movie theater, car, park, bed, office).”
The following tips can be implemented now to help keep residents and their families safe:
- Use the Federal Emergency Management Agency home hazard hunt to identify hazards in a home such as heavy furniture that may fall during a quake.
- Secure hazards with earthquake straps or fasteners.
- Create a family disaster plan and decide how family members will communicate at the first sign of an earthquake, tsunami, or other emergency.
- Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.
Stanton said after taking these initial steps, it’s important to practice emergency response in the home. “Practice now, so that when an earthquake strikes, you will know what to do,” Stanton said.
Stanton also encourages everyone to download the MyShake App for their phone, and sign up for emergency alerts. “While we cannot predict earthquakes, there is technology that allows you to receive early warnings when an earthquake happens. Those warnings may give you time to take cover and stay safe.”
When an earthquake hits, residents are encouraged to follow these tips:
- Drop, cover and hold on, or sit on a chair or bed and cover the head and neck with both hands, a book or even a pillow.
- Those who use a walker should lock the wheels and then cover the head and neck.
- Those in a recliner or on a bed should stay in place and cover the head and neck until the shaking stops.
Additional information about preparing for an earthquake is available at PG&E’s Safety Action Center, where those interested can learn how to prepare for an earthquake, prepare an emergency plan and pack an emergency kit/go bag.
For more information about PG&E, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
Information provided by Pacific Gas and Electric Co.