Lessons from the "Earthquake Lady"

I was fortunate to go to an earthquake prep class by the Utah "Earthquake Lady".  (although I was very disappointed in the low attendance!).  I came home with a list of notes & things to do.  Here's what I jotted down:


I went to an earthquake class  given by the 'earthquake lady'.  Here's some things I had noted down:
she was BIG on having whistles...she even gave everyone a handful of free whistles.  keep in your car, by your bed, on your keychain.  She said you can whistle for help a lot longer than yell, & it carries further.

Plan ahead & find the "safe spots" in each room, so you know where to run to when one starts.  Inside solid walls are best.  Get by a center wall & squat & cover your head.  But if you have pictures on the wall that aren't secured, or large unsecured entertainment centers, things like that, you need to do something to fix those.  Having those fall on your head isn't safe.  Outside window walls are not safe.  Put your back towards any glass.  Or get in a door frame & brace yourself.  Other safer places are bathrooms, closets, hallways, but always being aware of what's on the walls that will fall.  Stairs are weak.  Center of basement.

If outside, stay away from stuff.  If in a store, head under your shopping cart.  Warehouse stores with things stacked high are more dangerous.

If there's an earthquake while you're driving, you car will feel like you're driving it with a flat tire.  Try to pull over, turn car off & stay in car.  Avoid trees & wires.  Keep some walking shoes in car, if you have to abandon car you don't want to be hiking in dress shoes or flip flops.  Also keep umbrella, flashlight, whistle, neck cooler & shovel in car.  Keep water in car, but wrap in mylar blanket if necessary to prevent expansion when it freezer.

She recommended copies of your emergency documents in 72 hour kits, on a flash drive for lightness.  She keeps a food bucket by her door with a can opener than she can throw in her car if evacuating.  Keep 72 hour it by bed in case you have to go out through a window (damage to stairs).  Shoes by your bed, in case of broken glass or other things on the floor.

She really likes the rubber grip shelf liners you can get at the $ store for helping keep things on shelves.  Big shelves & items secured to the wall.  Bungies on open shelves to keep things from falling off (such as food storage shelves).  Child safety latches on cupboards to keep them from falling open.  She puts thin cardboard between all her canning jars (such as cereal boxes), & then puts them on bottom shelves.  She said having the cardboard will help prevent them breaking as easily.

Water heater earthquake straps.  Most of the time the reason you have to turn off the gas is because the water heater tips over & breaks the line.  (these cost under $20 at Lowe's).

Furniture safety straps or L brakckets for shelves.  Use on refrigerators & freezers too, floor braces at corners of washer dryer.  Fire extinguishers.  Safety hangers with clamp for heavy hanging photos.