Earthquake Survival Skills

Among natural disasters, earthquakes are some of the most destructive. They are phenomena that arise from the pressures between the tectonic plates that comprise the earth's crust and may range in intensity from minor tremors to vociferous shocks that topple buildings, spur tsunamis, and expel lava from the earth's mantle. Earthquakes pose an enormous threat to human beings due to the vulnerability of manmade infrastructure to their effects, and societies worldwide have had to adopt sets of earthquake survival skills in order to cope with the destruction they wreak.

Practice make perfect when evacuating an earth quake zone

Earthquake & Tsunami In Japan

For example countries, like Japan, which frequently experience earthquake tremors, have public protocol that is practiced with the same frequency as fire drills in American schools and workplaces. Japan is an urbanized country with most of its population residing in cities, so it often holds nationwide drills in order to prepare the country for the catastrophic effects of a powerful quake. Among the measures advised by earthquake experts are the rationing of essential foods, toiletries, and cooking utilities. People are advised to steer clear away from buildings during earthquakes and, in the event buildings cannot be avoided, citizens should take safe cover and position themselves under stable furniture like desks in order to protect their heads and spines. In addition, people experiencing earthquakes should cover their mouths and noses in order to avoid inhaling debris that may damage the lungs and respiratory tract. Citizens should also avoid gas-powered stoves, heaters, and automobiles as they have the potential to catch fire and explode.

Earthquake bring other natural disasters along too

Earthquakes also have the potential to trigger devastating tsunamis with the potential to destroy everything in their wake. In 2004, Southeast Asia experienced a massive tsunami that leveled a great deal of human infrastructure and resulted in a catastrophic loss of life of over 230,000 people. Another tsunami that resulted from an earthquake struck Japan in April of 2011 which led to the destruction of many towns in east Japan, took the lives of over 15,000 people, and resulted in a nuclear meltdown of the Fukushima reactor that has left the area uninhabitable. There are few earthquake survival skills that can prepare citizens for the effects of a tsunami. Tsunamis are essentially walls of water that have the power to destroy everything above ground and result in the flooding of coastal areas. The best advice to survive during a tsunami is to find the highest ground possible and remain there until the waves have passed.

Earthquake Survival Skills