BEFORE
- Find out about the possible causes and effects of an earthquake in your area. Talk about the subject in a calm and serene way with your family and friends.
- Create an emergency plan for your family.
- Make sure everyone knows what to do if an earthquake occurs.
- Arrange a meeting place in advance in case family members become separated during the earthquake.
- Prepare your home to facilitate movement, clearing corridors and passages, arranging furniture and toys.
- Organize your emergency kit:
- Organize your emergency kit: gather a flashlight, a portable power radio (without batteries) as well as a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit;
- Store water in plastic containers and dry food for two or three days (attention: check expiration dates regularly). Include a can opener;
- Have at hand, in an accessible place, the emergency services telephone numbers, a list of contacts of family/friends and copies of important documents;
- Take your usual medication and personal hygiene products with you (including toilet paper, wet wipes and plastic bags for sanitary purposes), also include a change of clothes (don't forget a cap and waterproof);
- Also include: money, a whistle, a dust mask, and a cell phone charger with an extra battery (aka power bank);
- Extra food and water for the pet;
- Identify the safest places, distributing your family members among them: interior doors, corners of main walls, under tables and beds.
- Keep a safe distance from objects that could fall or shatter.
- Know the most dangerous places: near windows, mirrors, lamps, furniture and other objects. Elevators and exits to the street.
- Attach shelves, vases and planters to the walls of your home.
- Place heavy or large objects on the floor or on lower shelves.
- Teach all family members how to turn off the electricity and turn off the water and gas.
- Keep emergency services telephone numbers handy in an accessible place.
DURING
If you are indoors or in a building
- If you are on one of the upper floors of a building, do not rush to the stairs.
- Never use elevators.
- Take shelter in an interior doorway, in the corners of rooms or under a table or bed.
- Stay away from windows and mirrors.
- Be careful about falling lamps, furniture or other objects.
- If you are in a place with a large concentration of people, stay inside the building until the earthquake stops. Then exit calmly, paying attention to walls, chimneys, electrical wires, lamps and other objects that could fall.
- Don't rush to the exits. Stairs and doors are places that easily fill with debris and can become blocked by people trying to leave the building.
- In factories, stay away from machines that can tip over or slide.
If you're on the street
- Go to an open place calmly and serenely, away from the sea or waterways.
- Do not run or wander the streets.
- Stay away from buildings (especially the most dilapidated, tall or isolated ones) from electricity poles and other objects that could fall on them.
- Stay away from embankments, walls, chimneys and balconies that could collapse.
If you are driving
- Stop the vehicle away from buildings, walls, embankments, poles and high voltage cables and remain inside it.
AFTER
- Remain calm and expect possible retorts to occur.
- Do not rush towards the stairs or exits. Never use elevators.
- Do not smoke, nor light matches or lighters. There may be gas leaks.
- Turn off the water and gas and turn off the electricity.
- Use battery-powered flashlights.
- Turn on the radio and follow the recommendations given.
- Urgently clean up flammable products that have been spilled (alcohol or paint, for example).
- Avoid passing through places where there are loose electrical wires.
- Do not use the telephone except in cases of extreme urgency (serious injuries, gas leaks or fire).
- Do not go around the streets to observe what happened. Release them to the rescue vehicles.
