earthquake safety basic steps to take before, during and after an earthquake

earthquake safety basic steps to take before, during and after an earthquake

Contents What you should know about earthquakes 1 Earthquakes and natural gas 2 Knowing what to do 2 How to prepare for an earthquake 3 Family emergency plan 4 Your survival kits 5 What to do during an earthquake 7 What to do after the earthquake 8 When should you turn off your gas at the meter? 9 If you smell gas 10 If you do not smell gas 10 What is your earthquake quotient (EQ)? 11 Earthquake shut-off valves 13

what you should know about earthquakes If you live in Missouri or Illinois, you stand a good chance of experiencing a moderate to severe earthquake in your lifetime. The New Madrid Fault Zone, part of a seven-state network of fault systems, is considered the most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains. It has a 25-40% probability of producing a magnitude 6.0 to 7.5 earthquake at any time during the next 50 years. earthquake safety 1

Earthquakes and natural gas While no one can predict how much damage an earthquake may cause, the good news is that natural gas pipeline systems have proven remarkably resistant to earthquakerelated damage. Recently installed natural gas pipelines are made of high-strength steel or polyethylene plastic, which are flexible enough to withstand significant earth movement without being damaged. Natural gas has some added safety features of its own. n It is lighter than air, so that it rapidly dissipates into the atmosphere. n It is odorized for easy detection. In other words, you can smell it. n It has a narrow combustion range. n It is nontoxic. Knowing what to do There is no warning before an earthquake, but that doesn t mean you have no control over your own safety. There are ways to prepare for an earthquake, ways to protect yourself when one occurs, and actions to take when it is over. 2 laclede gas

How to prepare for an earthquake Anything that moves, falls, or breaks when your house starts to shake is an earthquake hazard. Reduce or eliminate these hazards in advance by conducting a home hazard hunt. Label gas valves, water valves and electricity main switches. Teach responsible family members how and when to turn them off. Do not turn off your gas unless an emergency exists. Secure your hot water heater by strapping it to the wall or ceiling, bolting it to the floor, or using metal straps to attach it to wood studs or steel support posts. (You can have this done by Laclede if you wish. Call 621-6960) Anchor tall bookcases or cabinets to the wall so they won t tip over. Remove heavy items from high shelves to prevent them from falling and hitting someone. Install latches on cabinets to keep them from springing open and spilling their contents. Remove any flammable liquids, such as gasoline, paint, and cleaning products. Store away from your water heater and furnace. Connect appliances, including ranges, dryers, and space heaters to the gas supply with flexible connectors (if local codes allow). earthquake safety 3

Check with your neighbors, building manager, or homeowners association to determine if there is a neighborhood response plan and point person. Have a family meeting to develop a family emergency plan. Be sure everyone understands and memorizes it. The plan should spell out: 1. Where every family member will go if they are at home at the first sign of an earthquake. 2. A gathering point outside the home in the event the house is damaged. 3. Where you will go if you are not at home when it strikes. 4. Where family members should meet if the family is scattered. 5. A single contact person that all family members should call to report in when they are safe. 6. A list of support people to call if help is needed, including doctors and the point person designated by your neighborhood response plan. Have a family meeting to develop a family emergency plan. 4 laclede gas

Assemble basic emergency supplies and store them in an easily accessible place. You should have one kit for your home and another for your car. Your home survival kit should contain: 1. First aid kit 2. At least one flashlight with spare batteries 3. One or more fire extinguishers (dry chemical, type ABC) 4. Portable radio with spare batteries 5. Tool kit with basic tools 6. Bottled water (1 gallon per person per day) plus purification tablets 7. Non-perishable foods (cans, boxed meals, dried food) 8. Manually operated can opener 9. Blankets and sleeping bags 10. Watch or clock (battery operated or spring wound) 11. Duct tape 12. Dust masks 13. Cooking supplies (outside grill, paper plates and towels, plastic utensils) 14. Sanitation supplies (plastic trash bags, chlorine bleach, newspapers) 15. Important papers (medical records, insurance policies, wills) 16. Special-needs items (medications, eye glasses, contact lenses and solution, hearing-aid batteries, infant supplies, personal-hygiene articles) earthquake safety 5

Your car survival kit should contain: 1. Nonperishable food 2. Flares 3. Blankets 4. Flashlight with extra batteries 5. Pre-moistened towelettes 6. Toilet paper 7. Sturdy shoes and gloves 8. First aid kit 9. Fire extinguisher 10. Sealable plastic bags 11. Critical medications 12. Portable tool kit 13. Cell phone charger You should have survival items to keep on hand at home and in your car. 6 laclede gas

When a major earthquake strikes, you may experience one of two signs: (1) a gentle shaking that quickly grows violent enough to knock you off your feet; or (2) a powerful jolt, as if the building had been hit by a train, followed by shaking that makes it almost impossible to walk around. The moment you become aware of the ground shaking, take action. What to do during an earthquake Most importantly, remain calm. The odds of surviving a quake are in your favor. If you are indoors, stay there. The best places to be are under a table or bed, against a wall, or in a corner or doorway. The worst places to be are near windows, mirrors, chimneys, bookcases or cabinets that may fall over, or under ceiling light fixtures. If you are outside, move into an open area. Stay away from buildings, power lines, trees, and walls. Lie down or crouch on the ground, but remain aware of dangers that may force you to move. If you are in a car, stop driving, and sit tight. Despite the shaking, a car is a relatively safe place to be. If possible, stop away from steep slopes/road cuts, power lines, bridges, overpasses, and buildings. earthquake safety 7

What to do after the earthquake Check yourself and those around you for injuries (Do not move a seriously injured person; instead, call or go for help). Listen to your portable radio for emergency instructions and news updates. Be prepared for aftershocks, which, while not as strong as the original quake, can still cause damage. Watch for and protect yourself from falling debris. Check for n Fire or potential fire hazards n Broken pipes or appliances n Waterline breaks n Structural damage Stay away from power lines or anything touching power lines. Check your home for the smell of natural gas. Be prepared for aftershocks. 8 laclede gas

When should you turn off your gas at the meter? If you smell natural gas. If you hear natural gas leaking. If there is structural damage to your home. If there is a fire. CAUTION: Do not shut off the gas if doing so jeopardizes your safety. The meter shut-off valve is located next to the meter as shown. Use a wrench to turn the valve a quarter turn in either direction to the off position shown in the illustration. If you turn the meter off, do not attempt to turn it back on yourself. Natural gas meters should be turned on only by a properly trained Laclede Gas employee, plumber, or heating contractor. Depending on the severity of the earthquake and the number of gas meters that are turned off, you may have to wait some time for your gas service to be restored, even if there is no damage to the gas pipelines in your area. earthquake safety 9

Also if you smell gas n Do not operate any electrical appliances, including light switches n Do not attempt to locate a gas leak with a match, candle, cigarette lighter, or any open flame n If the odor is strong or if there is a sound of escaping gas, leave the building immediately, and call Laclede from an outside phone. (314-621-6960 or 314-342-0800) If you can t reach Laclede, contact your local fire department (911) If you do not smell gas n Check the furnace, water heater, and other gas appliances for damage n Before using your furnace or water heater, check chimneys and flues, clearing them of any fallen bricks or other obstructions n If your water heater is undamaged, it is a good source of an emergency supply of water 10 laclede gas

What is your earthquake quotient (EQ)? Here are some of the most common words and phrases you may hear and a brief explanation of what they mean. Aftershock: one of a series of minor earthquakes that follow a larger earthquake and originate at or near the same place. CUSEC: the Central United States Earthquake Consortium, an earthquake emergency preparedness organization of the seven states that are most vulnerable to the effects of a major earthquake in the new Madrid Seismic Zone. Epicenter: the point on the earth s surface located directly above the focus of an earthquake energy release. Fault: a crack or facture in the earth s crust that is not directly visible on the earth s surface. Most faults are tens to hundreds of millions years old. Intensity: varies according to the types of soil and rock that is beneath the surface. Degree of intensity is measured on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI). Liquefaction: an earthquake-induced phenomenon common to wet, sandy, alluvial (river bed) soils. Such soils actually increase earthquake energy, in contrast to layers of stiff, clay soil, or hard, subsurface rock. Magnitude: the amount of energy release or strength of the ground waves emanating from an earthquake s epicenter, as measured by a seismometer. Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale: measures the effect or intensity of an earthquake based on the observations of people who have experienced its effects. The power release or magnitude of an earthquake is measured according to the Richter Scale. earthquake safety 11

New Madrid Fault/New Madrid Seismic Zone: a deep fault zone in the middle of the North American plate, estimated to be roughly 150 miles long, 40 miles wide, and 25 miles deep and regarded as the most active seismic zone east of the Rocky Mountains Tectonic Plates: widely accepted as valid, the tectonic plate theory holds that the earth s surface is broken into pieces like an enormous jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are molded in a sphere that has been stretched, tilted, bulged, and cracked over the life of the planet. The larger pieces of the puzzle are the tectonic plates. Richter Scale: introduced in 1935 by Charles Richter, a seismologist, it measures the magnitude of energy released by an earthquake. Seiche: a phenomenon commonly caused by inequalities in atmospheric pressure over an enclosed body of water but which can also occur as a result of an earthquake. Seismometer: an instrument that is sensitive to ground shaking and measures the strength or magnitude of earthquakes. Seismometers operate continuously and produce squiggle-lined seismograph charts of earthquake waves. Tsunami: ocean phenomena that cannot occur in the central U.S. Tsunamis are caused by powerful earthquakes at the bottom of the ocean, which break open the sea floor and release enormous energy. 12 laclede gas

Earthquake shut-off valves Seismic automatic shut-off vales or earthquake valves are devices designed to turn off the natural gas supply in the event of a tremor of significant magnitude. These valves are activated by movement forces but do not sense the presence of a gas leak or safety hazard. The design of the valve is intended to minimize false shuts offs, but if the device is moved, bumped, or vibrated, it may be activated unintentionally. When the valve is activated, the gas supply shuts off and remains off until it is manually reset by a qualified person. Thus, your gas service may be interrupted until it is possible to reset your automatic shut-off valve. For these reasons, Laclede does not install earthquake valves and suggests that anyone who is considering purchasing one carefully evaluate whether it will provide the desired level of performance, protection, and convenience. earthquake safety 13

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