What To Do If There Is An Earthquake

Please refer to the Evacuation Scheme in the event of an emergency

Our Warden is Teesha. Our Backup Warden is Rochelle.

Our nearest intersection is Alexander Road / George Daniels Drive.

If you feel an earthquake:

• DROP down on your hands and knees. This protects you from falling over but lets you move if you need to.

• COVER your head and your neck (or your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk (if it is within a few steps of you). If there is no shelter nearby, cover your head and neck with your arms and hands.

• HOLD on to your shelter (or your position to protect your head and neck) until the shaking stops. If the shaking shifts your shelter around, move with it.

If you cannot safely get under a table, move near an inside wall of the building away from windows and tall items that can fall on you.

During an earthquake, the biggest hazard is earthquake shaking, as it can lead to collapsing walls and roofs, and falling glass and objects. Many injuries are caused by people moving during or immediately after the shaking.

In a major earthquake, masonry and glass falls off buildings and into the streets. If you are inside, Drop, Cover and Hold – do not run outside or you risk getting hit by falling bricks or concrete and glass. You should only leave if the building is showing obvious signs of distress.

Do not try to stand in a doorway – in modern homes, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the structure and usually have doors that can swing and injure you.

Even after earthquake shaking stops, move with care as debris can cause further injuries.

If you are outside, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold. Stay there until the shaking stops.

After the shaking stops:

• Do a head count and work out if anyone’s unaccounted for. Check stairs and bathrooms. If you can, gather in one place.

• Check yourself for injuries and get first aid if necessary. Help others if you can. (Our first aider is Teesha)

• Look quickly for damage around you, particularly in buildings where furniture and fittings may have become hazardous.

If it was a large earthquake you may also need to:

• Look for small fires and, if safe to do so, extinguish them.

• If you can, put on protective, weather-appropriate clothing that covers your arms and legs and sturdy footwear in case you have to move through debris.

• Gather information about your workplace building (e.g. are the stairs to the ground level useable) and what is happening around your area and elsewhere in town. If practical, keep a register of who’s present, log when people leave and note what they plan to do next (e.g. fetch children from day-care, walk home etc.). Arrange to travel in groups.

• When you eventually leave, take your wallet, keys, and phone. You are more vulnerable if you leave those things behind. If you have a grab bag, take it with you.

Our evacuation point is on the road at the opposite end of the units, by units #1 and #17.