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How-To Tuesday: 5 Tips for Earthquake Safety
By Greg Tucker
Earthquakes, unlike other natural disasters, strike suddenly and don't provide advanced warning time to prepare for their arrival. Knowing what to do if a quake happens can greatly reduce your risk of injury or death. 
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), more than 165 million people in 37 states live in zones with earthquake risks. Tremors of varying intensity have been recorded across most of the United States and in many areas around the world, so being ready to react when one occurs can come in handy at home or even on vacation.
As National Preparedness Month continues, here are five tips for staying safe when the ground starts to shake, rattle, and roll.
Be Prepared: Get familiar with evacuation plans for any building in which you spend time regularly. Learn how to shut off gas valves in your home, and keep an emergency supply kit in an easy-to-access location. The American Red Cross has a detailed earthquake safety checklist available for download.
Secure Your Stuff: According to a UCLA study, 55% of the injuries during the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California were caused by falling furniture or objects -- only 1% were caused by building damage. If something is big enough to hurt if it falls on you, it needs to be secured. Visit the Secure Your Stuff page at daretoprepare.org for specific directions for how to secure many common household objects.
Drop, Cover, and Hold On!: This three-step instruction is the directive for how to react if you're inside a building when the earth starts rumbling. Drop to your hands and knees, cover your head and neck (and your entire body, if possible) under a sturdy desk or table, and hold on to something sturdy (like the table leg) until the shaking stops.
Drill, Baby, Drill: Disaster drills like the Great Shake Out give you a chance to rehearse an earthquake drill with others in your community. Thus far, more than 9.8 million people have decided to participate in an emergency drill at 10:18 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 18. These drills take place across the nation and you can find one in your region by clicking the link above.
When the Shaking Ends: Check yourself for injuries and be prepared for aftershocks, landslides, or even a tsunami. Be alert for items that may have shifted in cabinets or closets. Evacuate damaged buildings and be alert for downed or broken gas and power lines.
We've only scratched the surface on earthquake preparation, but you can find more resources at the links below.
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Posted on
9/18/2012 |
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How-To Tuesday: Preparing for Hurricanes
Hurricane Katrina taught us a difficult lesson about the damage, death, and destruction a massive storm can cause. If there’s one thing we should take from that experience it is that these weather systems are not something to underestimate; you have to be prepared for the worst – especially if you live in storm-prone areas.
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Posted on
9/11/2012 |
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Get Ready: It’s National Preparedness Month
There’s a saying that goes, “be ready, so you don’t have to get ready.” Every family and workplace needs to have a plan of action to keep everyone safe when the unexpected happens. Sounds like the perfect excuse to discuss National Preparedness Month.
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Posted on
9/4/2012 |
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National Service Teams Activated for Hurricane Isaac Response
AmeriCorps and Senior Corps teams are responding in four Gulf Coast states as Hurricane Isaac moves toward the region.
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Posted on
8/29/2012 |
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Holding the Line: AmeriCorps NCCC Responds to Waldo Canyon Fire
Stephen Packard, 24, could have taken his degree in Economics from the University of Connecticut and found a comfortable desk job. Instead, he opted for a more adventurous path when he joined AmeriCorps NCCC. Never did he imagine he'd one day be working on the front lines of Colorado's biggest wildfire in history, sleeping just feet from the flames.
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Posted on
7/4/2012 |
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National Service Battles Colorado Wildfires
Recent wildfires have threatened communities across Colorado and the Southwest and national service has been working day and night to help put out the flames and support survivors.
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Posted on
7/2/2012 |
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The Miracle of the Human Spirit
Earlier this week I traveled to Joplin, Missouri, for a trip I will never forget. The Joplin story is one of a community that that never gave up, that demonstrated steely resolve in the face of tragedy, and that is coming back stronger and better than before. It is also the story of volunteers – 130,000 strong and counting – whose selfless service has lifted up an entire community when it needed it most.
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Posted on
5/25/2012 |
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Wordless Wednesday: Joplin, One Year Later
Earlier this week, National Service traveled to Missouri to help the community of Joplin mark the one-year anniversary of the tornado that struck the town last year. The response to the destruction has been remarkable - with volunteers traveling from near and far to help rebuild Joplin. On Tuesday, May 22, 2012, thousands of Joplin residents, volunteers, and supporters came together to honor those lost and celebrate the last year's progress.
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Posted on
5/23/2012 |
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Joplin: A Look Back
One year ago today, Joplin MO was ravaged by a devastating E5 tornado. In the 12 months that followed, the community responded with an unmatched sense of hope and a determination to rebound. National Service is proud to have been a part of these recovery efforts and continues to provide services there today.
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Posted on
5/22/2012 |
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Joplin By the Numbers
Donations from around the country piled up and volunteers turned out in droves in the days and weeks that followed last year's devastating May 22 tornado in Joplin, MO. City officials estimate that Joplin received donated resources and volunteer hours totaling $17.7 million, the largest amount in Missouri's history and the largest amount ever recorded in FEMA's Region VII.
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Posted on
5/21/2012 |
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Lessons Learned: Q&A with AmeriCorps Member and Joplin Veteran, Anna Marini
To mark the one-year anniversary of the May 22 Joplin tornado, we'll be featuring a variety of content on the serve.gov blog, including Q&As with those who served in the community, like this one.
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Posted on
5/20/2012 |
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Lessons Learned: Q&A with AmeriCorps Alum and Joplin Veteran, Quinn Gardner
To mark the one-year anniversary of the May 22 Joplin tornado, we'll be featuring a variety of content on the serve.gov blog, including Q&As with those who served in the community, like this one.
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Posted on
5/19/2012 |
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Lessons Learned: Q&A with AmeriCorps Alum and Joplin Veteran, Megan Helton
To mark the one-year anniversary of the May 22 Joplin tornado, we'll be featuring a variety of content on the serve.gov blog, including Q&As with those who served in the community, like this one.
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Posted on
5/18/2012 |
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Lessons Learned: A Q&A with AmeriCorps Member and Joplin Veteran, Abby Simons
To mark the one-year anniversary of the May 22 Joplin tornado, we'll be featuring a variety of content on the serve.gov blog, including Q&As with those who served in the community, like this one.
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Posted on
5/17/2012 |
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An Innovative Partnership to Strengthen Disaster Response
On a daily basis, the employees of the Federal Emergency Management Agency look into the eyes of disaster survivors and convey a calm strength and compassion to assist them on the road to recovery from disasters. Similarly conveying strength and resolve to make our nation stronger are the thousands of Americans who are part of AmeriCorps and the Corporation for National and Community Service.
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Posted on
3/15/2012 |
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A Historic New Partnership to Strengthen Disaster Services
A new chapter in the history of national service began today with the announcement of a partnership with FEMA to strengthen the nation's ability to respond to and recover from disasters and expand career opportunities for young people. The five-year agreement provides for an additional 1,600 AmeriCorps NCCC members annually to supplement our current NCCC force.
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Posted on
3/13/2012 |
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In the Wake of Disaster, Community Resolve and Resilience
Earlier this week, Chief of Program Operations, Idara Nickelson, accompanied Kelly DeGraff, Senior Advisor for Disaster Services on a tour of disaster areas throughout Missouri -- Joplin, Branson, and Kimberling City. Her first time at a disaster site, she snapped the above photo and had this to say:
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Posted on
3/7/2012 |
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A Look Back at Joplin: United We Succeed
Eight months ago, one of the deadliest tornados in U.S. history touched down in Joplin, Missouri, and took the lives of more than 160 residents and destroyed thousands of homes. The federal response began immediately. Within hours, Federal Emergency Management Agency teams were on the ground to work hand in hand with state and local officials to assist in response and recovery.
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Posted on
2/1/2012 |
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Missouri House Honors AmeriCorps “Indispensable” Role in Joplin Recovery
Just hours after a deadly EF-5 tornado struck Joplin, MO, in May 2011, AmeriCorps members began arriving to help with the recovery efforts. Now Missouri state officials are recognizing the national service volunteers who came to the city's aid after the devastating storm.
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Posted on
1/31/2012 |
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A Legacy of Determination and Hope
To those who have lived through devastation as complete as a tornado, every minute following the horror of wind and chaos is a perpetual memorial to the many who did not survive to see the skies run clear again.
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Posted on
1/23/2012 |
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