VOLCANO MADNESS: Re: [Geology2] reply to Mexico quake.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Re: [Geology2] reply to Mexico quake.

Ah thank you...that is what I wanted to know. Garages are scary even when there is no earthquake. Last summer one kid was going to Summerfest, (big rock n roll festival on the lake) and as he was passing under the edge of a parking garage, a piece of it fell and killed him. He was 16. But admittedly that was very unusual, thank goodness.

You mention Shake out sites...these are online? I will check those out. Thanks. Allison

From: Lin Kerns <linkerns@gmail.com>
To: geology2@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, March 22, 2012 2:04 PM
Subject: Re: [Geology2] reply to Mexico quake.

Hi Allison,

I understand your problem. Where a quake occurs plays a major difference in how one should react. Here in the midwest, we won't have a warning system for quite some time, so the standard Shake Out response is Drop, Roll under something sturdy, and Hold on.

On the left coast, though, with a 30 second warning, and having the forethought of what to do in mind, you would already know the safest way to proceed given the sirens' notice. On a 30 story level, stay put, do the Shake Out maneuver. On the ground floor? Here's where you'll need to know the architecture of your building... do you have a "tuck-under" garage? If so, get out. The garage will collapse and the basement and first floor will be history in a large enough quake. If you are in a building that has been retrofitted or has rebar within its construction, then you should stay put. Know where power lines are. Know where your gas and water cut-offs are. Know where the breaker box or fuse box is.

It's not a simple thing to plan, and that's where the Shake Out sites are great at offering suggestions on how to react during and after a large quake. My earlier response was given with the knowledge that one could safely get out of a building within certain (simple) parameters. But if you get out only to be found in a maze of electrical hazards or other considerations, then you are better off inside under cover.

There is no one way to ensure your survival, but you'll need to know in advance what to do and not wait for a real quake to teach you.

Lin

On Thu, Mar 22, 2012 at 9:05 AM, Allison Loukanis <allison.m.loukanis@att.net> wrote:

Back in Houston, we kept emergency supplies of water. There were a few times when a hurricane or tropical storm would make it necessary. But a quake... I have never drilled for a quake and never thought in those terms. And Rick....you put a lot of "ifs" there. I suppose there is a general plan for an earthquake? But I don't know what that is and there are an awful lot of folks who dont' know what that is...having never lived in earthquake country. Say I am in downtown Los Angeles. Do I head for the street? Go to the basement? That is what i do in the event of a tornado. Get under something? What? Do I head for the hills? Am I gonna make that in 30 seconds? lol...you see my problem. Allison