The earthquake just now unnerved me. Its severity was unexpected and I was not prepared for it. Staying in a high-rise made it even more frightening as immediate evacuation is almost impossible. What should one do during an earthquake? Here is a brief compilation of the procedures to follow in the event of an earthquake from the many websites listed by Google.
- Remain calm – do not panic.
- Open the door to secure an exit route.
- Turn off all sources of fire.
- Do not evacuate until the earthquake is over.
- Seek shelter under a sturdy desk away from glass and windows. Cover head
and face to protect from falling debris and broken glass. - Keep away from tall cabinets that could topple over and fittings that may
fall. - Get out immediately after the earthquake stops, taking with you keys,
wallets and emergency supplies only. - Put on your shoes before going out.
- Close the door behind you when evacuating, watching out for people who may
need your help in getting out. - Do not use the elevator.
- When outside, move away from buildings, trees, power lines and lamp posts.
- Do not make unnecessary telephone calls. Making phone calls to the
emergency services to get information may hamper their rescue efforts.
gasp! i always thought earthquakes never hit malaysia. looks like geologists (i think) ought to revise their books. this is scary stuff man!
I hope that you will not need to do this, but in the event that you should need to evacuate, I hope that you have contacted your neighbours and cousin to help you get out of your building. God bless.
Dave,
Yeah, it was real scary when the floor was moving. Those few seconds felt like a long time.
Marita,
Thank you for your concern. God bless you too.
GiveWorld: Please get the word out to people looking at ways of making a difference by helping those effected. On-line donations may be made at http://www.giveworld.org/tsunami.htm.