Earthquake Preparedness
Date:
12/30/2009Summary:
On Wednesday December 30, 2009, shortly before noon, the Yuma area experienced several earthquakes, the strongest of which was felt by many of our residents.Contact:
On Wednesday December 30, 2009, shortly before noon, the Yuma area experienced several earthquakes, the strongest of which was felt by many of our residents. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the largest was reported to be a 5.9 (on the Richter scale) and was centered southeast of Mexicali. There have been no reports of damage or injury in our area. We do appreciate that residents resisted calling 9-1-1 to "report" an earthquake, leaving emergency lines open for true emergency reports of accidents, illnesses and injuries that are a part of a normal public safety day.
This does serve as a reminder to us that we live in a seismically active area. How prepared are you and your family to deal with a major event? Earthquakes can damage a community’s infrastructure. Things we take for granted like water, power, even open stores, may not be available.
What Do You Do During a Significant Earthquake?
What is recommended is to, "Drop, Cover and Hold On." The "Drop, Cover and Hold On" method amounts to dropping under a sturdy desk or table, hold on and protect your eyes by pressing your face against your arm. If there is no table or desk nearby, sit on the floor against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you. Your greatest danger is not from a building collapse, it is from falling items, debris and broken glass. You can teach your children to "Drop, Cover and Hold On" and practice it with them.
What About an Emergency Plan?
If your family members are separated and not able to return home, do you have a place arranged to meet? It should be some place that is outside your neighborhood where everyone knows to go to or call (if phone service is available) to "check in."
72 Hour Kit
We also recommend that every family member should have a 72 hour kit. This is sometimes called a "grab and go" kit that you can take with you in an emergency that requires you to leave your home. This should contain basic non-perishable food, water, personal hygiene items, flashlight, battery operated radio, first aid kit and any prescription or over the counter medications as needed for 72 hours.
72 hours is not just a number picked by accident, it is the estimated time for an effective emergency relief effort from outside your area to be organized and respond. Until that time, you must depend on local resources that have survived the event and on your own resources.
For More Preparedness information
The time to prepare is not during an emergency, it is before the emergency. For more Preparedness information you can check out: http://www.redcross.org/ , http://www.ready.gov/ , or http://www.fema.gov/. (These links will take you to an external website that is not part of the City of Yuma official website.)
For More Information
For more information about fire safety and injury prevention, contact the Yuma Fire Department Public Information Office at 373-4855
Follow the Yuma Fire Department on Twitter
Follow the Yuma Fire Department on Twitter. The address is www.twitter.com/YumaFireDept. (This link will take you to an external website that is not part of the City of Yuma official website.)
