[Prepare Before]
[Stay Safe During]
[Stay Safe After]
[Additional Resources]
Residents of the Delta Sierra region are not immune to the damaging impacts of strong earthquakes and, therefore, should take preventative measures to prevent injuries to themselves and loved ones, as well as minimize damage to their homes, businesses, and communities. Of particular concern is how vulnerable the Delta levees are to earthquake shaking. A strong earthquake centered in or adjacent to the Delta region could cause widespread levee failure, which, in turn, would likely disrupt or terminate water supplies to agricultural and metropolitan areas throughout the central valley and southern California region.
- Practice Drop, Cover, and Hold On with family and coworkers.
- Make an
emergency supply kit that allows you to stay at home for several days, or a go-kit if you need to leave.
- Protect your home. Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves. Consider making improvements to your building to fix structural issues that could cause your building to collapse during an earthquake.
- Drop (or Lock). Wherever you are, drop down to your hands and knees and hold onto something study. If you're using a wheelchair or walker with a seat, make sure your wheels are locked and remain seated until the shaking stops. Most injuries are caused by falls. An earthquake will cause you to become unstable, lose your balance, or even throw you hard to the floor. Dropping before heavy shaking begins will protect you from injury due to falls.
- Cover. Cover your head and neck with your arms. If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter. If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows). Crawl only if you can reach better cover without going through an area with more debris. Stay on your knees or bent over to protect vital organs. If you can't get to the ground, use items near you to cover your head and neck.
- Hold On. If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves.
- After an earthquake be alert to other hazards such as damage to the building, leaking gas or water lines, or downed power lines.
- Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake. Be ready to Drop, Cover, and Hold On if you feel an aftershock.
- After the shaking stops, if you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.
- If you are trapped, send a text or bang on a pipe or wall. Cover your mouth with your shirt for protection. Instead of shouting, use a whistle.
- If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, go inland or to higher ground immediately after the shaking stops.
- Use text messages to communicate, which may be more reliable than phone calls. When you are able, change your voice mailbox greeting of your status so family and friends who call can receive an update without having to drain your cell battery with successive calls.
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