Answers to your Earthquake Preparedness Questions
The time to prepare is NOW – once the Earthquake STRIKES it's too late. Your family is counting on you!
By Jackie Kloosterboer – Speaker, Trainer,
Author – My Earthquake Preparedness Guide
Let me tell you today, with two Earthquakes, one in California and one near Haida Gwaii in British Columbia, it sure has people talking about earthquakes. What does this mean? Will there be another earthquake? And then the reality really sets in. I am not prepared, my family and pets are not prepared to survive an Earthquake……………. What do we do, what supplies do we need, what about my pets, how will I get home if I am at work, the questions continue as the panic sets in?
How do I get prepared for an Earthquake?
Slow down, take a deep breath and focus on what you, your family and pets will need to better survive an Earthquake. Preparing for an earthquake is not difficult – it just requires some thought.
We all live in situations unique to us. Our families are different, some are small, some are big some, some have pets, some live in apartments, some live in houses, some commute to work, while others work from home, some have kids in daycare, some have kids in school. It really doesn’t matter what your situation is – you need to plan for what works for you, your family and pets.
Connecting with your Family
Establish how your family with connect if you are not together when the earthquake strikes. Your number 1 concern will always be your family, where are they, how are they, have they been injured?
Once you know your family is OK you will feel a lot better. But, how do you connect. We know that cell phones will likely not work after an earthquake, towers may be down, phones could be overloaded, our battery could be dead, there can be a number of reasons you won't have access to your phone.
Sit down with your family and come up with ideas that can help you connect after an earthquake, a Family Meeting Place – a location
where you and your family will meet if you can’t meet at home, if you
work close together it could be near your work area. Facebook or other social media may be an option. Brainstorm a number of ways you can do this and make sure your family is familiar with the process. Make sure you have a number of options to connect and the chances of connecting with each other significantly increases.
Earthquake Supplies
Establish how your family with connect if you are not together when the earthquake strikes. Your number 1 concern will always be your family, where are they, how are they, have they been injured?Once you know your family is OK you will feel a lot better. But, how do you connect. We know that cell phones will likely not work after an earthquake, towers may be down, phones could be overloaded, our battery could be dead, there can be a number of reasons you won't have access to your phone.
Sit down with your family and come up with ideas that can help you connect after an earthquake, a Family Meeting Place – a location
where you and your family will meet if you can’t meet at home, if you
work close together it could be near your work area. Facebook or other social media may be an option. Brainstorm a number of ways you can do this and make sure your family is familiar with the process. Make sure you have a number of options to connect and the chances of connecting with each other significantly increases.Earthquake Supplies
Get some Earthquake Supplies so you and your family have what you need to better survive in the aftermath. We
all hear we should be prepared for 72 hours but in many cases that is not
enough – a week is better. You determine
what you and your family can do, but do take action.
There are a number of Earthquake Supply lists available, I have one on my website www.survive-it.ca You can take these lists of supplies, search your home, cross of the supplies you have and go and purchase what you need. There are also a number of locations where you can purchase ready made kits - these will work well.
The 2 kits you will definitely need are a Grab and Go Kit – for when you have to evacuate your home in a hurry and your home kit full of supplies for you, your family and pets to Stay and Survive at home. There are a number of other kits you need to consider based on your situation – check my blog I have covered these off in previous posts.
Don’t forget your medications – you don’t want to be without meds after an earthquake. Make sure to talk to your family Dr or pharmacist
before storing any meds, as you don't want to improperly store meds.
Drop, Cover & Hold On - This could save your life
Most injuries in an earthquake happen from people doing the wrong thing. Make sure you practice Drop, Cover and Hold On. This needs to become second nature to all of us.
In addition, make your home safe – once the ground starts moving this is when items will be flying across the room, furniture will be tumbling over causing serious injury to your family and pets. You would never forgive yourself if a bookcase tumbled over and injured your kids or pets simply because it was never secured. Again, there are a lists of steps to take to prepare your home.
Most injuries in an earthquake happen from people doing the wrong thing. Make sure you practice Drop, Cover and Hold On. This needs to become second nature to all of us.In addition, make your home safe – once the ground starts moving this is when items will be flying across the room, furniture will be tumbling over causing serious injury to your family and pets. You would never forgive yourself if a bookcase tumbled over and injured your kids or pets simply because it was never secured. Again, there are a lists of steps to take to prepare your home.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to getting you, your family and pets prepared for earthquakes or any disaster you may be faced with. But we need to start somewhere, and this is as good as place as any to start.
My Earthquake Preparedness Guide can definitely help you, your family and pets get prepared. It's available on Amazon. The book is simple and easy to follow and will help you along the path to preparedness or visit my website.
Would love to hear your comments about how the 2 earthquakes impacted you and your family or what questions you have about getting prepared for earthquakes.
For many of us two earthquakes in one day makes this is a great wake-up call!
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As Always BE PREPARED - NOT SCARED!
Jackie Kloosterboer - BIO
Jackie Kloosterboer has been leading the way in earthquake preparedness for 2 decades presenting more than 100 Earthquake Preparedness workshops each year to a variety of groups and businesses. She is often interviewed by media outlets across Canada as she promotes the importance of earthquake and disaster preparedness.Contact Jackie to speak at your next group or business event to help you, your family, your staff and pets get prepared for earthquakes or whatever disaster comes your way. Jackie will lead you through the necessary steps helping you identify what is important to you and your family or business.
To reach Jackie with any questions or to book her for your next event contact her at myeqplan@gmail.com or call (604) 355-2414.
Jackie is available for:
- Earthquake Preparedness Workshops
- Preparedness Plans
- In-Home Walk-Throughs
- Preparedness Kits
- Media Interviews
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