Most valuable post-earthquake lessons?
August 4, 2019 1:41 PM Subscribe
What were the most valuable things you learned after going through your first earthquake?
I'm trying to better prepare. For me, one very important lesson was to keep spare pairs of glasses in and around my vehicle, so I can still see even if I can't figure out where my main pair is.
I'm trying to better prepare. For me, one very important lesson was to keep spare pairs of glasses in and around my vehicle, so I can still see even if I can't figure out where my main pair is.
Keep a flashlight and a pair of shoes under your bed.
Actually, keep a backpack with all the usual 72-hours things. Your city probably publishes a list that is specialized to your climate, likely disasters, etc.
But assuming you're not going to go full-prepper, think about what you need to get what you need. Like, you need water, but if you can walk around your apartment and see you're very likely to find some water. If you're stuck in bed because your window has cracked and dropped broken glass on the floor, you're in much worse shape.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
Actually, keep a backpack with all the usual 72-hours things. Your city probably publishes a list that is specialized to your climate, likely disasters, etc.
But assuming you're not going to go full-prepper, think about what you need to get what you need. Like, you need water, but if you can walk around your apartment and see you're very likely to find some water. If you're stuck in bed because your window has cracked and dropped broken glass on the floor, you're in much worse shape.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 2:03 PM on August 4, 2019 [3 favorites]
After my first quake (6.4 I think - it was the one in Whittier CA) I was STUNNED to discover how fast the groccery store shelves were ripped bare by people rushing out to grab the emergency supplies they had forgotten to stock up on. We had a groccery store just around the corner, but 20 mins after the quake hit the store was sold out of just about everything. Canned goods and charcoal and things went quickly, but the fastest to disappear was the water. The takeaway was, don't put off stocking your earthquake supplies. Keep them refreshed and ready because if the ground starts shaking, it's too late.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2019 [6 favorites]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:06 PM on August 4, 2019 [6 favorites]
Oh, maybe I should add that my first hurricane taught me never to leave my gas tank close to empty, as lines for gas after a disaster can be miserably long, scary, hot, and sometimes futile. I tend to fill up when I get to half a tank nowadays.
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:12 PM on August 4, 2019 [11 favorites]
posted by WalkerWestridge at 2:12 PM on August 4, 2019 [11 favorites]
During a workday in an urban area, the roads cannot accommodate all of the cars of the workers at exactly the same time, and a biggish earthquake makes everyone try to make the roads do exactly that. Once earthquake gridlock occurs, it is made worse by people who didn't have enough fuel to idle for 6 or more hours while the gridlock is relieved from the edges.
Expect to shelter in place for 5 or 6 hours before you can travel home. Consider walking to a restaurant that serves alcohol as soon as possible, to get a good table. Keep enough fuel in your car to handle super-gridlock on your way home. Listen to your car radio to figure out road conditions.
posted by the Real Dan at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
Expect to shelter in place for 5 or 6 hours before you can travel home. Consider walking to a restaurant that serves alcohol as soon as possible, to get a good table. Keep enough fuel in your car to handle super-gridlock on your way home. Listen to your car radio to figure out road conditions.
posted by the Real Dan at 3:23 PM on August 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
In the two major quakes i have experienced, 7.1 and 6.9, respectively, we had a 3, a 4 pre quake before the big one hit, so a series of smaller quakes may be a harbinger.
How to identify how close you are to the epicenter:
If you feel like a little pet in a box and God just dropped the box, i.e. immediate sharp jolt, the epicenter is very close.
If the wave arrives slowly and stuff shakes slowly, the epicenter is significantly farther away.
Have a stash of water, cash, keep your gas tank reasonably filled.
Know the safest area of retreat in your house.
Be sure you take all heavy stuff down from high places and remove glass in pathways BEFORE the quake---so many people I know have fancy plates on display shelves and tons of books on tall cases, and that stuff becomes problematic in a quake.
I had a ton of emergency food and water before the first big quake, but I also had five roommates that had nothing, and they ate everything I had, so.
posted by effluvia at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2019 [6 favorites]
How to identify how close you are to the epicenter:
If you feel like a little pet in a box and God just dropped the box, i.e. immediate sharp jolt, the epicenter is very close.
If the wave arrives slowly and stuff shakes slowly, the epicenter is significantly farther away.
Have a stash of water, cash, keep your gas tank reasonably filled.
Know the safest area of retreat in your house.
Be sure you take all heavy stuff down from high places and remove glass in pathways BEFORE the quake---so many people I know have fancy plates on display shelves and tons of books on tall cases, and that stuff becomes problematic in a quake.
I had a ton of emergency food and water before the first big quake, but I also had five roommates that had nothing, and they ate everything I had, so.
posted by effluvia at 3:29 PM on August 4, 2019 [6 favorites]
If your kitchen cabinets don’t latch well or you have the fun 90s-style American cabinets with no latches whatsoever (why was this ever a thing?), figure out some way to close the cabinet doors securely. You don’t want to get hit by a flying object or have to clean up a floor covered in broken dishes.
Tape a whistle under all the tables you could use to take shelter, just in case you get trapped and have to let people know you’re there. You’ll get hoarse and uncomfortable pretty fast if you have to shout for a few hours.
posted by corey flood at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2019 [15 favorites]
Tape a whistle under all the tables you could use to take shelter, just in case you get trapped and have to let people know you’re there. You’ll get hoarse and uncomfortable pretty fast if you have to shout for a few hours.
posted by corey flood at 3:35 PM on August 4, 2019 [15 favorites]
Not my first earthquake, and not my last, but after the Loma Prieta I learned that people have an amazing capacity to be kind, helpful and considerate, it they just choose to.
posted by humboldt32 at 4:27 PM on August 4, 2019 [8 favorites]
posted by humboldt32 at 4:27 PM on August 4, 2019 [8 favorites]
I’ve lived in earthquake prone areas my entire life. I keep a change of clothes and a pair of running shoes in my office and car. Business casual attire and slip on loafers aren’t going to cut it if the roads are impassable and I need to hoof it to my kids’ school or my elderly parents’ home.
posted by teamnap at 7:06 PM on August 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by teamnap at 7:06 PM on August 4, 2019 [5 favorites]
I grew up in hurricane country and have always prided myself on being prepared for emergencies, but there was something obvious I missed until my first significant earthquake: the not-super-secured artwork hanging over my bed that nearly fell off the walls and could have beaned us. I moved one heavy piece, and secured the rest with earthquake putty.
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:08 PM on August 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by rhiannonstone at 9:08 PM on August 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
charged external battery/powerbank for your phone/device to let people know you're ok / ask for help / keep in touch with the outside world / while away the time while you wait for power to get restored
Keep in mind that if the cellphone infrastructure is still working, it will probably be severely overloaded. Texting is a better bet than voice calls.
If you live near the sea, have a plan to reach high ground in case of a tsunami, preferably one that doesn't involve driving, because as the Real Dan said, what works on a normal day might not work when everyone tries to do it at once.
If you're making a stash of emergency food - don't forget your pets.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 10:16 PM on August 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
Keep in mind that if the cellphone infrastructure is still working, it will probably be severely overloaded. Texting is a better bet than voice calls.
If you live near the sea, have a plan to reach high ground in case of a tsunami, preferably one that doesn't involve driving, because as the Real Dan said, what works on a normal day might not work when everyone tries to do it at once.
If you're making a stash of emergency food - don't forget your pets.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 10:16 PM on August 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
The Wirecutter has an article about basics for earthquake preparedness (which I just used this past week to improve my water storage situation).
posted by kdar at 10:27 PM on August 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by kdar at 10:27 PM on August 4, 2019 [1 favorite]
have a plan to reach high ground in case of a tsunami
Oh yeah, and if you are near the sea, and an earthquake is strong, don't wait to be told.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 10:49 PM on August 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
Oh yeah, and if you are near the sea, and an earthquake is strong, don't wait to be told.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 10:49 PM on August 4, 2019 [4 favorites]
Depending on the season and whether your house is all electric or not, it can get extremely cold or unbearably hot. I was in Japan in 2011 and the worst part was wearing half my wardrobe indoors just to stay warm.
Another thing I noticed was that you likely won't be able to travel very far for days to weeks - even if you have gas, the roads might be too damaged, etc.
I've been through several other quakes too and in all of them the biggest danger wasn't the building collapsing, but stuff falling over. Make sure you secure your bookshelves to the wall studs, especially.
If it's a big quake, there'll be aftershocks, possibly a lot of them and for a long time (days or more) afterwards that can keep re-damaging things - even if you have supplies at home, it's possible that you'll get used to going out every day and buying whatever food and water you can find.
Fires and gas explosions are a huge danger after earthquakes as well; an extinguisher is a smart idea, as well as knowing where all your utility shutoffs are.
posted by azuresunday at 11:21 PM on August 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
Another thing I noticed was that you likely won't be able to travel very far for days to weeks - even if you have gas, the roads might be too damaged, etc.
I've been through several other quakes too and in all of them the biggest danger wasn't the building collapsing, but stuff falling over. Make sure you secure your bookshelves to the wall studs, especially.
If it's a big quake, there'll be aftershocks, possibly a lot of them and for a long time (days or more) afterwards that can keep re-damaging things - even if you have supplies at home, it's possible that you'll get used to going out every day and buying whatever food and water you can find.
Fires and gas explosions are a huge danger after earthquakes as well; an extinguisher is a smart idea, as well as knowing where all your utility shutoffs are.
posted by azuresunday at 11:21 PM on August 4, 2019 [2 favorites]
I have 3 kits: home (most stocked), work, car. Stocked with most everything listed above.
Additionally:
* high res images of important documents (passport, visa, or medical details) stashed online
* high res images of contents and valuables
* keep medication current, full first aid kit
* cash & coins
* glasses, contact solutions
* litres of water
* good socks, matches, lighters
* my partner and I have walkie-talkies in the car
* all our bookshelves and display cases are attached to walls
Always run for the high ground.
posted by lemon_icing at 5:13 AM on August 5, 2019 [5 favorites]
Additionally:
* high res images of important documents (passport, visa, or medical details) stashed online
* high res images of contents and valuables
* keep medication current, full first aid kit
* cash & coins
* glasses, contact solutions
* litres of water
* good socks, matches, lighters
* my partner and I have walkie-talkies in the car
* all our bookshelves and display cases are attached to walls
Always run for the high ground.
posted by lemon_icing at 5:13 AM on August 5, 2019 [5 favorites]
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We also both went out and made sure that we would be confident shutting off our gas and water if needed; we realized in the course of it that we wanted to keep an extra appropriately sized wrench attached to the gas shut-off so we wouldn’t have to root around for one in an emergency.
posted by charmedimsure at 1:55 PM on August 4, 2019 [11 favorites]