Don’t wait until the ground shakes, get prepared for one now.
Unless you live in a high threat area, most people do not consider earthquakes to be a valid threat. But this is a misconception. According to U.S.G.S., a government based research and statistic site, 50 earthquakes occur in the world a day.
Global earthquake map
This averages out to 20,000 per year. As a responsible person it is your duty to have proper measures taken to ensure your safety and survival should an earthquake occur in your area. Here are a few ways in which you can prep.
Map of U.S. earthquake zones
Focus on the before, not on the after.
While it is important to get ready for the after effects of an earthquake, the first step is to have a plan before a disaster occurs. This means that you will know your risk level, that you will have items secured so that they cannot fall and cause damage or injury (especially if you are in a high risk zone) and that you have a plan in place on what to do in an emergency situation. According to FEMA, a bag of supplies should be prepared which includes:
- Water
Even just putting water in used water bottles will work, however this collapsible water container is easy to store and holds a lot of water.
- Food
Always have dry and canned goods set aside for emergencies.
- Flashlight
Keep a small preferably water tight flash light with fresh batteries on hand.
- First Aid Kit
With possible injuries and no medical help available, a comprehensive first aid kit is indispensable.
- Sanitation-Hygiene Supplies
With water being mainly used for drinking, there will be an increased need for proper sanitation and hygiene. Consider making or buying a kit with everything you will need.
- Extra Clothing
Something simple as having an old unused article of clothing like a hoodie to stay warm can make a big difference in a survival situation.
Where you could survive for a period of time with what you have on your back, you probably do not want to. Just keep in mind when you pack your clothes to have functional attire. This means that booty shorts, A frames, and nighties should be avoided. Instead pack blue jeans, t-shirts, and lots of socks (as any army person will tell you, your feet are your primary to be protected)
- Whistle
A must have during a disaster for communicating or calling for help.
- Cash
Since credit cards and atms won’t be available, always have extra cash in small denominations on hand.
Often overlooked but much desired in an emergency, you should have a form of currency. As stated earlier, vendors will still be available after an earthquake so long as their stores stand. Additionally, it is a great deal easier to catch a ride to another location if you have the fare money to pay for the trip.
Temporary Shelter
Keep a good portable tent on hand.
If you consider a city the size of San Diego having an earthquake that levels a great portion of the city, you can quickly imagine that the provided shelters will fill rather quickly. Additionally, any emergency response shelters within the proximity of the city will fill. Therefore, as a precaution, your emergency bag should include some form of shelter. With as cheap as tents are to purchase, I would pack a single sleeper tent rather than try to deal with a tarp for shelter.
- Swiss Army Knife
Make sure and have a good Multi-function knife packed.
A pocket knife will come in very handy, especially if it is a multifunctional knife. Cutting string, using tweezers, and such tasks will be a part of the day to day. Avoid the large hunter’s knife. Large hunting knives should be kept in your bug out bag, not your earthquake emergency bag. What is the difference? Your bug out bag is made for the long term survival where the earthquake bag is for survival until you can get to a safer environment.
Of the above listed items, you will want to focus on Water, Food, and First Aid as the primary contents of your bag. Now, some would call this a bug out bag, but in reality it is just a survival pack.
MRE’s or Meals Ready To Eat are premade food packs that have a very long shelf life and makes storing food much easier.
Always have a good first aid kit on hand.
Finally, first aid is critical to have on hand since it’s pointless to prepare for a disaster to simply end up dying from an ordinarily treatable injury.
Think about it this way. If there is an earthquake, the odds are rather high that the water lines will rupture, as an earthquake is based on underground plate movement. This will cause a shortage of water. Even if the water is not damaged for that area, there will still be a scarcity as homes will be damaged and those residence will need water.
Broken water mains will leave you without any fresh water for several weeks at a time.
Food falls along the same lines. Where we would like to be idealistic in thinking that in an emergency people will become philanthropists and provide food, the reality is that food will be scarce and you cannot rely on others to keep you or your family fed.
You may not have food, but if you have a wallet then there is a profit to be made from vendors. Ensure that you don’t fall prey to vendors seeking an opportunity by price gouging in a disaster situation.
If You’re Living In An Earthquake Zone, Be Ready.
There is a misplaced thought that in the event of any catastrophic natural disaster, that there will be pandemonium in the streets and that every person will have to fight MMA and Navy Seal style just to survive. Where there may come a point where this is true, the odds would be that a universal disaster will not occur.
You can expect chaotic and destructive scenes like this with a high magnitude earthquake.
This means that (1) your survival will be dependent upon getting to an unaffected area (2) that there will still be a level of law and order and (3) that your bug out bag may not require half of the items you have crammed in it.
Until you’ve been in an earthquake, it’s hard to imagine the destructive potential.
Should you prepare?
As there are 20,000 earthquakes a year and every part of the country is effected by some level of a earthquake activity, it would be reasonable to at least have a plan and a pack in place. Those that live in high risk areas must take these precautions!
Disaster Relief Center
Preparing for an earthquake really comes down to weighing the risks of an occurrence against the time and the money to make a simple bug out bag. I think that the answer is obvious to anyone who considers how relieved you would feel with the comfort of knowing you’re adequately prepared for an earthquake survival situation.