Amid the displays about hardwood floors, kitchen overhauls, solar panels and heat pumps, this year’s Home Show had three booths devoted to earthquakes and disaster survival.
Here’s a summary of the points that stuck with me after visiting the booths, reading the pamphlets, and listening to a lecture, along with some reflecting on how I’m doing with my disaster preparedness.
• The latest thinking about what you should do if there’s an earthquake and you’re inside a building — what’s taught and drilled in schools — is to drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, and hold on to the furniture until the shaking stops. Don’t run out of the building. Many injuries in earthquakes are from people rushing about on unsteady ground as things fall around and on them.
===> At the office, I’ll be OK with this technique as soon as I clear away a bunch of boxes filled with ancient paperwork that I’ve inexplicably kept.
• Have on hand emergency kits with things like food, water, and first aid supplies. Place a kit at home, at work, and in your car. You can buy pre-made kits, or assemble them yourself. Emergency agencies offer lists of things that you should have on hand. In my reading, I learned that you should replace your stored water every few months. This includes bottled water. As water sits, it can become contaminated.
===> We have emergency kits at our house, but I need to add a few things to them. The stored water has to be replaced; it has been sitting in camping containers for at least a year.
• Listen to a battery-operated radio so that you can find out what’s going on and receive instructions. In a major earthquake, the power will likely go out, and stay out for days. Authorities will try to convey information by radio.
===> I’m a little concerned about this. In the smartphone age, who has a battery-operated radio handy any more? I need to buy one.
• Carry some small-denomination bills. After an earthquake, bank machines may not work, credit card systems may be down.
===> I will start doing this. But let me emphasize — they will be small bills, and not many of them. It will not be worthwhile to mug me. (Also, that photo of me: it is a disguise; I don’t look like that in real life.)
• Store a pair of shoes under your bed; put a flashlight in one of the shoes. If you're in bed, you'll have shoes immediately available to protect your feet from debris. You’ll have a flashlight to see that debris.
===> Haven't done this yet, but will after I finish writing this.
• A major earthquake is likely to cause a tsunami. If there is sustained low-level shaking, or major shaking where it's difficult to stand, a tsunami is likely. Get away from the coast as soon as possible, and go to higher ground. Walking is best, or bicycling. If you try to drive, you may be stymied by damaged roads and traffic jams. In Greater Victoria, you’ll likely have about 75 minutes to get out of the way.
===> I don’t have a car handy very often, so walking will be the natural thing to do.
• Secure things so that they don't fall down in an earthquake.
===> Tall bookcases in our house are screwed to studs with brackets. I've bought a tether for our flat-panel TV set but still have to install it. I need to buy straps to secure our hot water heater.
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Here are some web links to help with preparing for an emergency:
Federal government's Get Prepared site
PDFs of an earthquake series published in the Times Colonist
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(The Home Show continues today, Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. Admission is $5. www.vhba.ca)
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