After an earthquake or other
disaster, emergency response
agencies could be overburdened
and might not be able to get to
your neighborhood immediately.
You and your neighbors or
coworkers may need to take the
initial emergency response
actions and take care of others for
at least 72 hours. Past
earthquakes have thrust many
untrained people into positions of
providing first aid and rescuing
people. You need to be prepared!
If a response team has not been
organized in your neighborhood
or workplace, form one now.
Joining and forming a community
response team can greatly
improve your chances of surviving
an earthquake and can
improve the self-sufficiency of
neighborhood.
Training
Learn simple firefighting techniques.
Learn basic search-and-rescue skills.
Learn to assess yourself, your family and
coworkers for injuries.
Learn to assess your home and workplace
for hazards or damage.
Learn to assess your community for
hazards, needs and available resources.
Contact your local police and fire
departments, city/county Office of
Emergency Services, American Red Cross
chapter or community college to arrange for
speakers and training workshops. Response
teams should arrange to participate in
annual earthquake exercises sponsored by
local government and businesses.
Inventory Your Neighbors’ Skills
As a part of the community response team
planning process, teams should conduct an
inventory of the skills and resources
available at home, work and community.
You should have this information on hand.
Before an earthquake for efficient,
effective responses. Identify people who:
Have medical, electrical, child-care,
leadership, firefighting, and survival skills.
Own chain saws, citizen band radios, four
wheel drive vehicles, motorcycles and water
purifiers.
Are willing and able to be a
runner/bicycler to deliver messages if
telephone lines are down.
Every home or office has people with
special needs. Your neighborhood
response team should work with these
individuals in advance to determine what
extra assistance or supplies they may
require after an earthquake or other
emergency.
Some of the people who may
require special assistance included:
Physically Challenged
Deaf or hearing impaired
Blind
Limited mobility—wheelchair-bound
Persons who require special oxygen
supply
Persons with significant medical
conditions
Other
Children who spend time alone
Non-English speaking
Store Supplies
In addition to the water, food and other
supplies that everyone needs to stock,
members of the community response
team should store tools. Items such as the
following should be stored in a central
and easily accessible location.
Gloves and goggles
Adjustable wenches
Hard hats and vest
Flashlights with extra batteries
Axes and crowbars
Ropes
This information is from the Utah Seismic Safety Commission and is found on our website HERE.
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