Gather Emergency Supplies

Stock up now on emergency supplies that can be used after an earthquake. These supplies should include a first aid kit, survival kits for the home, automobile, and workplace, and emergency water and food. Store enough supplies to last at least 3 days.

Evacuation Plans

If an earthquake occurs, you may need to evacuate a damaged area afterward. By planning and practicing for evacuation, you will be better prepared to respond appropriately and efficiently to signs of danger or to directions by civil authorities.

Take a few minutes with your family to discuss a home evacuation plan. Sketch a floor plan of your home; walk through each room and discuss evacuation details.

Plan a second way to exit from each room or area, if possible. If you need special equipment, such as a rope ladder, mark where it is located.
Mark where your emergency food, water, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers are located.
Mark where the utility switches or valves are located so that they can be turned off, if possible.

Indicate the location of your family's emergency outdoor meeting place.

Establish Priorities

Take time before an earthquake strikes to write an emergency priority list, including:

• 1. Important items to be hand-carried by you
• 2. Other items, in order of importance to you and your family items to be removed by car or truck if one is available things to do if time permits, such as locking doors and windows, turning off the utilities, etc.

Make a list of important information and put it in a secure location. Include on your list:

• 1. important telephone numbers, such as police, fire, paramedics, and medical centers
• 2. the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your insurance agents, including policy types and numbers
• 3. the telephone numbers of the electric, gas, and water companies
• 4. the names and telephone numbers of neighbors
• 5. the name and telephone number of your landlord or property manager
• 6. important medical information, such as allergies, regular medications, etc.
• 7. the vehicle identification number, year, model, and license number of your automobile, boat, RV, etc.
• 8. your bank's or credit union's telephone number, account types, and numbers
• 9. radio and television broadcast stations to tune to for emergency broadcast information

• 1. Birth certificates
• 2. Ownership certificates (automobiles, boats, etc.)
• 3. Social Security cards
• 4. Insurance policies
• 5. Wills

• 1. list of contents
• 2. photographs of contents of every room
• 3. photographs of items of high value, such as jewelry, paintings, collectors' item

Preparing for a VOLCANIC ERUPTION requires a strategy that is a little bit different. Here are more tips from the CDC…

If you are told to evacuate

Follow authorities' instructions if they tell you to leave the area. Though it may seem safe to stay at home and wait out an eruption, doing so could be very dangerous. Volcanoes spew hot, dangerous gases, ash, lava, and rock that are powerfully destructive.

Preparing to evacuate

Tune in the radio or television for volcano updates.

Listen for disaster sirens and warning signals.

Review your emergency plan and gather your emergency supplies. Be sure to pack at least a 1-week supply of prescription medications.

Prepare an emergency kit for your vehicle with food, flares, booster cables, maps, tools, a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, sleeping bags, a flashlight, batteries, etc.

Fill your vehicle's gas tank. If no vehicle is available, make arrangements with friends or family for transportation, or follow authorities' instructions on where to obtain transportation.

Place vehicles under cover, if at all possible.

Put livestock in an enclosed area. Plan ahead to take pets with you, but be aware that many emergency shelters cannot accept animals.

Fill your clean water containers.

Fill sinks and bathtubs with water as an extra supply for washing.

Adjust the thermostat on refrigerators and freezers to the coolest possible temperature. If the power goes out, food will stay cooler longer.

As you evacuate

Take only essential items with you, including at least a 1-week supply of prescription medications.

If you have time, turn off the gas, electricity, and water.

Disconnect appliances to reduce the likelihood of electrical shock when power is restored.

Make sure your automobile's emergency kit is ready.

Follow designated evacuation routes-others may be blocked-and expect heavy traffic and delays.

If you are told to take shelter where you are:

Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate. Local authorities may evacuate specific areas at greatest risk in your community.

Close and lock all windows and outside doors.

Turn off all heating and air conditioning systems and fans.

Close the fireplace damper.

Organize your emergency supplies and make sure household members know where the supplies are.

Make sure the radio is working.

Go to an interior room without windows that is above ground level.

Bring your pets with you, and be sure to bring additional food and water supplies for them.

It is ideal to have a hard-wired (non-portable) telephone in the room you select. Call your emergency contact-a friend or family member who does not live near the volcano - and have the phone available if you need to report a life-threatening condition. Remember that telephone equipment may be overwhelmed or damaged during an emergency.

In the end, you have got to do what you feel is best for you and your family.

Personally, I would be extremely hesitant to live in very high risk areas along the west coast or near the Yellowstone supervolcano. This is especially true considering how dramatically global seismic activity is increasing.

But others point to the fact that these "danger areas" have not seen any major events in decades, so they wonder what all of the fuss is about.