APRIL is California’s Earthquake Preparedness Month

EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS TIPS
from Cal OES and Earthquake Country

• Participate in Earthquake Warning California, sign up for: My Shake App Apple App and Google Play
• Know how to protect yourself during an earthquake
  • Drop. Cover. Hold On. Drop to the ground, cover your head with your arms, and hold onto your neck until shaking stops
• Develop an emergency preparedness plan customized for your specific needs
• Pack a Go Bag with at least 3 days supplies for you and your pets
• Prepare an emergency Stay Kit for all daily needs for you and your pets to remain at home without access to supplies
• Understand and mitigate hazards in your home and begin to fix them
• After the quake, check for injuries and damage
• When safe, continue to follow your disaster-preparedness plan
• Visit myhazards.caloes.ca.gov to learn about local risks and how to prepare your home (including securing furniture, appliances, home fuel systems, and more)

Mobile homes and homes not attached to their foundations are at particular risk during an earthquake. Buildings with foundations resting on landfill and other unstable soils are at increased risk of damage.

Using a cell phone takes up the same bandwidth as 800 text messages. After a disaster, use of cell phones can shutdown wireless phone service and prevent 911 calls from getting through. To communicate after an earthquake, send a text, don’t call. Even if your text gets a “busy signal” the phone will continue attempting to send the message.

At a minimum, you should be prepared to be isolated and on your own for at least three days and nights. There will likely be the loss of utilities after a disaster. It is possible the power will be out, water may be scarce, gas lines may break, phones and cell towers could become inoperable, roads might be impassible, etc. Your only source of news may well be the car radio, assuming your local radio station has a working generator. There might not be medical assistance for days.