 "Photo: Illustration by Roland Tran")
In the wake of the earthquakes that devastated Haiti and Chile, people of Southern California are wondering how prepared they will be if the “big one” strikes.
The Los Angeles Times recently released an article about how prepared Southern Californians are for a large earthquake.
It reported that California saw a rise in quake awareness and retrofitting after the state recorded a series of major temblors over seven years: Whittier in 1987; Loma Prieta in 1989 and Northridge in 1994. There hasn’t been a devastating temblor in the state since the Northridge quake and experts are concerned that quake preparedness might have declined in recent years.
The article also stated that California has tried to raise awareness of quake dangers by holding an annual drill called the Great California ShakeOut. In the drill’s first year in 2008, thousands of participants played out what would happen in the event that a magnitude 7.8 quake struck along the San Andreas Fault.
While many students know the basics of what to do during an earthquake, the procedures for how the campus would deal with a major temblor are largely unknown.
“I’m not actually aware of the plan,” said Vanessa Harsh, president of the Emergency Awareness and Preparedness Club and first-year sociology student.
Harsh said if there are procedures in place, they should be better advertised to create more awareness among students.
Being prepared and knowledgeable seems to be the key if an earthquake were to occur.
Harsh said students should remember three things during an earthquake:
Take cover; get under something sturdy.
Stay away from windows.
Once the shaking stops, get outside to somewhere safe.
Preston Mecham, a third-year information systems student, was well versed in how to stay safe.
“At school, if I am in a building I would try to find something sturdy like a chair to get under or a big bench,” said Mecham.
Organizations such as the American Red Cross have information that can be accessed via the Internet that can help students prepare in case an emergency takes place.
A key part of the American Red Cross Be Prepared plan is to have a plan. Red Cross officals say to meet with family or household members and discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to occur while people are at work. They also recommend identifying responsibilities for each member of the household and plan to work together as a team.
Students such as Will Slattery, a third-year business administration student, like to stay prepared in the event of a major earthquake.
“I have a survival kit in my car and I have one at my house,” said Slattery. “It has water, a metallic tarp-like device that reflects sun in case I need to contact someone for help and it keeps you dry in case of rain. There are also granola bars and a walkie-talkie that can reach as far as San Bernardino if it needs to.”
Some students are already a step ahead and have discussed with family members what to do if an earthquake were to occur.
“At home I have a plan with my family,” said Sonam Chand, a third-year hotel and restaurant management student. “We have a plan that we should all meet at home so that instead of looking for each other we should go home so that we are all in the same place.”
In the event of an earthquake, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says to expect aftershocks.
These are secondary shockwaves that are usually less violent but can occur in the first hours, days, weeks or even months after the initial quake.
FEMA also recommends listening to a battery-operated radio or television, only using the telephone for emergency calls, staying away from damaged areas and most importantly, if at home to inspect utilities such as gas lines, electrical lines and sewage and water lines.
To locate earthquake preparation tips recommended by The American Red Cross, visit http://www.redcross.org/ and search earthquake preparedness.
Reach Denise DeChaine at: news@thepolypost.com
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