In this crazy world, we live in, you will need to know how to survive an earthquake.
It can happen anytime and any place and most will never be prepared.
The earthquakes in Turkey and Syria only opens up our eyes to the reality of what could possibly happen.
One thing that actually gets my heart racing is earthquakes and I’m sure it does for you too.
Being from a tiny little rock in the pacific, I have had my share of shakes, and let me just tell you that I am not a fan of them.
However, this has only taught me how to survive an earthquake and I would like to share them with you in this post.
How to Survive an Earthquake
One thing you need to know about earthquakes is that they happen fast.
In the blink of an eye, things are shaking and everything is falling.
You barely have time to think that this is one of those situations where staying calm isn’t going to help much.
You need to think fast and you need to act even faster.
With things happening instantly, how could you possibly prepare for and survive an earthquake?
Well, there are several things you can do that will help and it all starts now.
So, if you want to know how to survive an earthquake, here’s what you need to do.
Prepare Beforehand
No one wants to deal with an earthquake but it can happen anytime, anywhere.
Did you ever think there would be a hurricane in Louisiana?
No one ever expects these natural disasters and that’s why you need to plan ahead.
With earthquakes, you need to at least know what causes them and why so many people die from them.
There are books, websites, and government agencies that dedicate entire guides on earthquakes and other natural disasters.
Read up on them and see what and why such disasters happen and how they’re different in different parts of the world.
Understand Your Situation
This is very simple.
You need to know if you are indoors or outdoors.
Are you in a mall or are you on a football field?
Knowing this will help you decide what you’re going to do, especially if common sense starts to disappear and you panic.
Once you understand your situation, you can decide what to do next.
Do keep in mind that these decisions need to be quick.
And, I mean quick.
Once you get this part, you’re going to need to take some action.
Earthquakes While Indoors
Being indoors during an earthquake is your worst possible situation.
You’re better off being on a boat, lost at sea, than in a building during an earthquake.
Being in an earthquake while indoors is no joke.
This is where you will need to be at your very best when it comes to reacting.
Once the earth starts shaking, you need to react immediately.
Stay away from walls, shelves, or anything that will fall.
Take Cover
If you’re indoors, you need to take some kind of cover.
Some can tell you that you need to avoid doors during an earthquake but you need to make a decision.
If things are falling, do you think a doorframe would work?
Of course!
You’re not going to run across the room to get under a table and you’re not going to run into your office to get under a desk.
Take cover and hold on, especially if the ceiling starts falling apart.
Hold On
While you’re taking cover, you need to hold on.
Hold on to another person or the leg of a table.
Try to observe what’s falling around you, so you can make any adjustments if need be.
Some buildings collapse completely, so be prepared to get up and out as fast as you can.
Earthquakes While Outdoors
If an earthquake starts while you’re outside, stay there.
This is probably the safest place to be, as long as powerlines aren’t falling everywhere.
While outside, stay away from powerlines, buildings, or anything that can come tumbling down.
If you’ve seen any footage from CNN, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about.
Stay Put
If you’re outside during an earthquake, do not go rushing back into a building.
If you have your family inside, I know it’s going to be hard not to, but wait until everything stops shaking.
Even at that, if you want to survive an earthquake, you need to make sure you’re not heading back into a disaster.
Why Some Places Are Hit Harder
Ever wonder why some places have a really high casualty rate when the earthquake wasn’t as strong as others?
The biggest factor is the way buildings are built.
Most of the buildings in Turkey and Syria used outdated building methods.
If you see videos during an earthquake, you will see buildings crumble within seconds.
In others, all you see is shaking and a lot of stuff falling inside.
Those buildings that can withstand earthquakes are built with rebar inside their walls.
They are placed inside hollow blocks and filled with cement.
This then becomes one solid piece, that even an earthquake can’t shake free.
Buildings like these are built in places that are frequently hit by typhoons and earthquakes.
Mentally, Earthquakes Suck!
If there’s one thing that “shakes” anyone’s emotions (no pun intended), it is definitely an earthquake.
Whether it does any damage or not, you can expect anyone around to call it out, usually in some kind of panicky way.
“Earthquake!”
Your immediate reaction is to get up and dart for the door, which I think is perfectly fine if you’re in the right situation.
In most cases, not so much.
And That’s How You Survive an Earthquake
Earthquakes are no joke.
You need to prepare for them and get educated on what they are capable of doing.
You don’t want to find yourself running around in a panic because you don’t know what’s going on.
I know how much you need to do to survive as a parent alone, so if you have young children, make sure you have them with you at all times.
If you have any questions about earthquakes or would like to share your two cents, feel free to do so in the comments section below.
Thanks for reading!
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