Steps to mitigate the earthquake damage:

Remove or Secure Heavy Overhead Items which May Fall On You or Block Your Egress

Improve your home’s earthquake resilience: Use bolts or straps to secure heavy items that may topple over, such as a bookcase, china cabinet, or water heater. Store heavy, hazardous, or flammable materials on low shelves or in secure cabinets. Put anti-shatter coatings on glass windows.

The Disaster Emergency Message Dial (171) is a voice message board for communication when a disaster such as an earthquake or volcanic eruption occurs and telephone traffic to the disaster-stricken area increases making it difficult to transmit calls. By entering your landline phone number as a pin code, you can leave a message on the system where other family members who share the same landline number can listen to your message and record theirs as well.

Participate in disaster training: Get to know the people in your community better by getting actively involved in community disaster training. Conduct calm family discussions about earthquakes. Decide upon an outdoor meeting location for your family to reunite after a quake and conduct in-home practice drills.

Keep an earthquake disaster kit on hand, including a well-stocked first aid kit, a supply of medicines required for life-threatening conditions, copies of important documents, extra money, a flashlight, a hand crank or solar-powered radio, extra batteries, blankets, drinking water and nonperishable food, and tools to shut off utilities. Store the kit in a secure, waterproof location that is easily accessible.

Conduct a thorough investigation of your home, checking for any defective wiring, leaky gas connections, and deep cracks in the ceiling or foundation that could pose a danger during a quake.

Identify Safe Places Indoors and Outdoors

Under sturdy furniture such as a heavy desk or table.

Against an inside wall.

Away from where glass could shatter around windows, mirrors, pictures, or where heavy bookcases or other heavy furniture could fall over.

In the open, away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines, overpasses, or elevated expressways.

Things to do after an earthquake:

1. Damage to these areas can pose serious safety hazards in the months after an earthquake. Do not enter a structurally compromised structure. Call a certified home inspector if you are unsure of your home’s structural stability.

2. Each time you feel an aftershock, drop, cover and hold on. Aftershocks frequently occur minutes, days, weeks and even months following an earthquake.

3. Check appliances and electric lines for damage. Unplug any damaged appliances or light fixtures, and shut off power at the main fuse box if there are sparks, frayed wires, or if you smell something burning. If you have to step in water to turn off the fuse box, then do not do so without the advice of an electrician or any supervisor.

4. If you are trapped under debris, do not light a match or move about. Cover your mouth with clothing and tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Only shout as a last resort, as it can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

5. Help neighbors who may require special assistance. Elderly people and people with disabilities may require additional assistance. People who care for them or who have large families may need additional assistance in emergency situations.

6.

Things to do during an earthquake:

If trapped under debris

If outdoors

Stay there.Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If indoors

DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON on until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.DO NOT use the elevators.