on Monday, sending tremors as far away as Lebanon and Israel. One of the strongest earthquakes to hit the region in a century shook residents from their beds at around 4 a.m. Read our special report to learn more.More than 4,300 people have died and rescuers are racing to pull survivors from beneath the rubble after a devastating earthquake ripped through Turkey and Syria, leaving destruction and debris on each side of the border. You are much safer to stay inside and get under a table.ĭO NOT believe the so-called "triangle of life"! In recent years, an e-mail has circulated which recommends potentially life threatening actions, and the source has been discredited by leading experts. Running outside is especially dangerous, as glass, bricks, or other building components may be falling. Get under a table instead!ĭO NOT run outside! Trying to run in an earthquake is dangerous, as the ground is moving and you can easily fall or be injured by debris or glass. In modern houses and buildings, doorways are no safer, and they do not protect you from flying or falling objects. From this came our belief that a doorway is the safest place to be during an earthquake. To be ready to protect yourself immediately when the ground begins to shake, practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On as children do in school at least once each year.ĭO NOT get in a doorway! An early earthquake photo is a collapsed adobe home with the door frame as the only standing part. Drop, Cover, and Hold On offers the best overall level of protection in most situations.Īs with anything, practice makes perfect. over the last several decades indicate that you are much more likely to be injured by falling or flying objects (TVs, lamps, glass, bookcases, etc.) than to die in a collapsed building. In addition, studies of injuries and deaths caused by earthquakes in the U.S. You should Drop, Cover, and Hold On immediately! You will never know if the initial jolt will turn out to be the start of the big one. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl you therefore will most likely be knocked to the ground where you happen to be. The main point is to not try to move but to immediately protect yourself as best as possible where you are. Step 5 of the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety describes what to do in various situations, no matter where you are when you feel earthquake shaking. What if you are driving, in a theater, in bed, at the beach, etc.? Wherever you are, protect yourself! It is important to think about what you will do to protect yourself wherever you are. The report also describes why running outside, standing in a doorway, or the "triangle of life" are dangerous or out-dated recommendations.ĭownload the official Drop, Cover, and Hold On graphic and many other useful images Our special report explains why official rescue teams, emergency preparedness experts, and others recommend "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" as the best way, in most situations, to protect yourself during earthquake shaking. Everyone, everywhere, should learn and practice what to do during an earthquake, whether at home, work, school, or traveling. Taking the proper actions described in this page, above and below, can save lives and reduce the risk of injury. In most situations, if you feel shaking or get an earthquake alert, immediately:Īll of this information and more can be found in our Key Earthquake Safety Accessibility Tips PDF, also available in Other Languages. don't wait to see if the earthquake shaking will be strong! This is why you must learn to immediately protect yourself after the first jolt. However, you likely have never experienced the kind of strong earthquake shaking that is possible in much larger earthquakes: sudden and intense back and forth motions of several feet per second will cause the floor or the ground to jerk sideways out from under you, and every unsecured object around you could topple, fall, or become airborne, potentially causing serious injury. Or perhaps you got under your desk and others thought you overreacted. Your past experience in earthquakes may give you a false sense of safety you didn't do anything, or you ran outside, yet you survived with no injuries. This page explains what to do- and what not to do. The ShakeOut is our opportunity to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. Federal, state, and local emergency management experts and other official preparedness organizations all agree that "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes (learn why here).
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