Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska -- Alaska experiences the most amount of earthquakes than the rest of the United States, but in the month of May 2017, has been hit with more than 3,500 thus far.
According to the University of Alaska, Alaska Earthquake Center, in the first 10 days of the month, Alaska had more than 50 earthquakes with magnitude 4, seven larger than magnitude 5 and three larger than magnitude 6.
There are some things people can do to protect themselves and the objects in their house in the event of an earthquake. Earthquake-proofing involves securing valuable, fragile or heavy objects.
Fastening or bracketing large heavy objects to walls could prevent them from falling and dealing more damage. It is also important to install flexible pipe fittings to minimize gas and water leaks. Flammable objects and valuables should be stored in safe locations like closed cabinets and in the bottom shelves.
In the event of an earthquake it is recommended to drop to the ground, cover your head and neck, and hold on to a sturdy object until the shaking stops. It should only take a few steps to get to a safe location like under a desk or inside a closet, because nobody knows when an earthquake will occur, always be mindful of the safest spot in every room.
If outside, move further into the open, away from any buildings, streetlights or telephone wires. If someone is driving while an earthquake happens, safely stop distant to any hazards like trees or overpasses, and when driving afterwards, watch out for any debris on the road.
“After an earthquake, if you have immediate dangers to your quality of life and health, seek medical attention,” said Senior Airman Anthony Bennett, 773d Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management flight specialist. “But if you’re hungry or have less than serious concerns don’t clog up the phones.”
The emergency lines should be used for emergencies only and especially after a major natural disaster. In those events, an emergency kit should have just what the situation needs, from a bandage to a bottle of water, if packed properly or at all.
“It’s good for everyone to have an emergency kit for their house and car,” said Airman 1st Class Andria Payne, 773d CES readiness and emergency management flight specialist. “In your car, you might have items like jumper cables, if something happens to your battery, or some blankets -- not things that you would keep in your house or already have readily available.”
The Red Cross suggests having an emergency kit with the minimum: water (one gallon per person per day, three days for evacuation), food (non-perishable, easy to prepare, three days for evacuation), flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, first-aid kit, multipurpose tool, emergency blanket and local map.
At home, an emergency kit should have all of those necessary items to last two weeks.
This is important because the majority of injuries during an earthquake is not the quake itself, but the collapse of infrastructure and falling of objects.
If trapped under debris, the best course of action would be to wait for rescuers to locate you because moving around might worsen your condition. It is recommended to make some noise like tapping on a pipe, but not shouting because access debris and dust could be inhaled, instead, cover your mouth with cloth or fabric.
Other important things to be aware of are the after-effects of the impact. If things have fallen or were broken during the earthquake it may not be stable or safe to walk on. Depending on the house, sometimes there might be a gas leak so it would be unsafe to light a match or a lighter.
“Last year, there was a house that had a gas leak behind a wall,” Bennett said. “So don’t turn on any lights if you even think you have a gas leak behind dry wall because once you hit that switch you could get an electrical shortage and cause a fire. And that is exactly what happened; that house burned down and it cause the next house over to catch on fire.”
Some emergencies and natural disasters are unavoidable so the best anyone can do is minimize the damage by being prepared and having a plan.
For more information, visit https://www.ready.gov/earthquakes.