The Great ShakeOut, a national day to practice earthquake drills is this Thursday, Oct. 17. According to the national Earthquake Information center, there are about 55 earthquakes a day around the world – equating to 20,000 a year. Many are too weak to even feel or cause damage, but stronger quakes can cause casualties, injuries, and property damage.
Geological faults, volcanic activity, landslides, and other seismic events cause earthquakes. While there are no fault lines immediately within the Kansas City Region, we could feel quakes from the New Madrid Seismic Zone. The last “damaging” earthquake, 6.0 or higher on the Richter scale, happened in 1895. According to seismologists, a “damaging” earthquake might occur every 80 years, so the region should be prepared in case of an earthquake.
The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens. As with all disasters, you should make an emergency plan. Create a family emergency communication plan and plan where to meet if you are separated. Also make an emergency supply kit with water, food, a flashlight, and a whistle. Further protect your home by securing heavy items like bookcases, refrigerators, water heaters, television and other objects that hang on walls.
You should also practice how to protect yourself during an earthquake with family and coworkers. When you feel a shaking or get an earthquake alert, immediately drop where you are onto your hands and knees (if you are able), cover your head and neck with your arm and hand, and hold on until the shaking stops. If there is a sturdy table or desk nearby, crawl underneath and hold on to it as well. If there is no shelter nearby, crawl next to an interior wall.
After an earthquake occurs, there can still be hazards. Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake, and be prepared to drop, cover, and hold again. Additionally, shaking could have caused damage to the building, caused leaking gas and water lines, or down power lines. If you are in a damaged building, quickly go outside and move away from it. If you are trapped, send a text, call, or bang on a pipe or wall. You may need to cover your mouth with your shirt for protection, and use a whistle instead of shouting if you have one.
Once you are safe after an earthquake, pay attention to local news for emergency information. Use social media to let people know you are okay and use text messages to communicate, they may be more reliable than phone calls. Be careful cleaning up afterward by wearing protective clothing, work gloves, study shoes, and a mask if cleaning mold or other debris.
For more information, check out the Great ShakeOut and Ready.gov websites.
