Get Healthy Carson City: Earthquake ready

Nevada is the third most active earthquake state in the nation, behind Alaska and California. In Nevada alone, we average 623 earthquakes annually, and Carson City has had 3,248 earthquakes since 1931. The largest recorded earthquake in Nevada occurred on Dec. 16, 1954, and measured 7.1 on the Richter Scale in Nye County.

When the Earth begins to shake, you may only have seconds to protect yourself. Earthquakes strike suddenly without warning. Planning, preparing, and practicing what you and your loved ones will do if an earthquake strikes helps keep you safe.

Before an earthquake:

What can I do to be prepared for an earthquake?

There are four basic steps you can take to be more prepared for an earthquake:

1. Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.

2. Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.

3. Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations for at least three days and consider seven days for your family and pets.

4. Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and having adequate insurance.

During an earthquake:

• If you are indoors – stay there. Get under a desk or table and hang on to it (drop, cover, and hold on), or move into a hallway or against an inside wall. Stay clear of windows, fireplaces, and heavy furniture or appliances. Get out of the kitchen, which is a dangerous place (things can fall on you). Do not run downstairs or rush outside while the building is shaking or while there is danger of falling and hurting yourself or being hit by falling glass or debris.

• If you are outside – get into the open, away from buildings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.

• If you are driving – stop, but carefully. Move your car as far out of traffic as possible. Do not stop on or under a bridge or overpass or under trees, light posts, power lines, or signs. Stay inside your car until the shaking stops. When you resume driving, watch for breaks in the pavement, fallen rocks, and bumps in the road as the bridge approaches.

We live in a mountainous area – watch out for falling rocks, landslides, trees, and other debris that could be loosened by quakes.

After the earthquake:

• Stay away from unsafe areas. This includes small spaces with a lot of loose objects that can fall at any moment. When outside, stay away from power lines that have fallen to the ground because they can still be producing electricity and shock you if you come too close.

What should I not do during an earthquake?

• Do not turn on the gas again if you turned it off; let the gas company do it.

• Do not use matches, lighters, camp stoves or barbecues, electrical equipment, or appliances until you are sure there are no gas leaks. They may create a spark that could ignite leaking gas and cause an explosion and fire.

• Do not use your telephone except for a medical or fire emergency. You could tie up the lines needed for emergency response. If the phone doesn't work, send someone for help.

• Do not expect firefighters, police, or paramedics to help you. They may not be available.

October is earthquake awareness month, and Nevada participates in the Great Shakeout Exercise annually. This year, it is 10:19 a.m. on Oct. 19. You or your organization can register at https://www.shakeout.org/register/.

To learn more about earthquake preparedness, visit www.ready.gov/earthquakes or www.seismo.unr.edu/. For additional local information, visit our website https://www.carson.org/government/departments-a-f/fire-department and click on Emergency Management. You can also become a volunteer and learn to protect yourself and your community through the Community Emergency Response Team by emailing Cert@carson.org or call us at 775-887-2210 and tell them you are interested in CERT.

For information about Carson City Health and Human Services resources, check out our website at https://www.gethealthycarsoncity.org/divisions/public-health-preparedness/. “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cchhs, follow us on Twitter @CCHealthEd, call us at 775-887-2190, or visit us at 900 E. Long St., in Carson City.