Earthquake

Below you will find the following information:

• What to do before, during and after an earthquake;
  • Precautions;
  • During the earthquake;
  • After the earthquake;
  • Remember;
• Model of emergency kit.

What to do before, during and after an earthquake

It is impossible to predict an earthquake. It is possible to prepare for this. Good preparation significantly increases the chances of survival. Rarely is everything completely reduced to rubble and the main danger is falling objects.

Precautionary measures

Constructing, furnishing and maintaining buildings:

• When building, follow the rules that apply to earthquake-prone areas and make sure that the house is properly anchored in the foundations. Get professional help. Secure the fireplace with galvanized metal.
• Have elements that are not fixed and that do not contribute to your comfort break down: false ceilings, balcony, gutters, chimneys.
• Work with flexible pipes and connections to prevent breakages and leaks.
• Maintain your home well. Seal cracks in walls and ceilings and ensure proper maintenance of the gas and electricity installations.
• Anchor appliances (air conditioning, hot water installation, dryer, dishwasher, etc.) and heavy furniture in the wall and/or in the ground.
• Hang mirrors, paintings, frames or the like in such a way that they do not come loose in the event of an earthquake. Do not hang anything above the bed, seating or other seating areas.
• Attach lighting in a sturdy way (pendant lamps, wall lamps, etc.).
• Place the television, computers, or other objects on a non-slip mat or secure them with Velcro, but do not place them on a smooth surface.
• Lock cabinet doors to prevent them from opening and the contents from falling out.
• Provide the windows with safety film.
• Clearly indicate how the supply of water, gas and electricity should be turned off or on again. Attach the necessary tools to shut off the gas to the gas supply tube. Make sure that the water, gas and electricity supply are always accessible.
• Place beds and chairs far from windows and fireplaces. Close windows and curtains to prevent shards of glass from spreading throughout the room.

Everyday habits:

• Do not store easily breakable, heavy or large objects in height. Place these items as close to the ground as possible and store them in shock-resistant cabinets.
• Do not store flammable products and chemical products near a heat source or in rooms where they may drain. Store them in a shockproof cabinet (lock the cabinet doors if necessary) on the bottom shelf.
• Make sure that your car's gas tank is always as good as full. In the event of an earthquake, gas stations are likely to be out of service for several days.

Personal preparation:

• Register you and your family members with the Belgian consulate or embassy in the country where you are staying. Let them know when you are going abroad or are away for a longer period of time.
• Find out from local authorities about the potential risks in the area where you live and safety regulations.
• Make sure that your children are always in possession of an identity sheet with useful information and telephone numbers (address, blood type, contact persons, emergency call numbers, telephone number of the embassy)
• Go through your house and track down potential hazards in every room.
• Find out what you can hide in each room and have exercises to get there quickly.
• Talk to your family about a possible earthquake, about what everyone should do in that case and agree on a meeting point.

Draw up a crisis plan. Also appoint a common contact person for all family members in case contact between them is no longer possible. This person preferably lives a little further away. After an earthquake, long-distance calls are usually still possible, while the local network fails. 

• Put together an emergency kit to take with you in case of evacuation, including water and non-perishable food.
• Participate in earthquake drills. In this way, you will learn what to do in the event of an earthquake.
• Learn the basics of first aid.
• Discuss with your broker what your insurance covers in the event of an earthquake.

Make sure that all family members (including younger children) are well aware:

• what to do in case of an earthquake.
• what the family plan is in the event of a natural disaster.
• where the emergency kit is located.
• where gas, water and electricity can be cut off.
• what the emergency call numbers are.
• which radio station gives official information in case of a natural disaster.

During the earthquake

In all circumstances:

• STAY CALM and call on others to calm down as well. Don't rush. Bend down, protect your head and stay where you are! The heaviest shocks last one to two minutes. 
• Think about the consequences of what you are going to do.
• Follow the instructions of the local authorities to get everyone to safety as quickly as possible.
• Only call in case of emergency. The telephone network will soon be overloaded. Emergency calls must be able to be made.
• Turn on the radio if you can reach it, and listen to the first messages.

You are in a building:

• Leave the building, if that is easy. If not, wait patiently, it is impossible to completely evacuate a building during an earthquake.
• Stay on your floor. The stairs may be damaged and there will probably be large crowds at the exits.
• Do not take the elevator under any circumstances. The power may go out and you risk being trapped in the elevator.
• Do not stand on a balcony.
• Stand close to an interior wall, a support pillar, or take cover under sturdy furniture (tables, desks, chairs, beds, etc.) or under a door frame.
• Don't lean against a wall.
• Keep away from exterior walls, cabinets and shelves from which things can fall, windows, objects in glass.
• Keep away from sources of heat (radiators, oven, stove, etc.).
• Protect your head with your arms and hold on to the furniture under which you are sheltering to have some form of shelter (Drop – Cover – Hold On). If you can't shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture, stand in a doorway, it's relatively safe. 
• If you are a wheelchair patient, block the wheels of the chair and protect neck and head.
• Protect your face and head from falling debris with a handkerchief, a blanket, a box, a pillow, a newspaper, a piece of cloth, or any other useful object.
• Open the entrance door and leave the interior doors ajar to prevent them from being trapped by the earthquake.
• If you are in an elevator at the time of the first shocks, press all the buttons and exit the elevator as quickly as possible.
• Do not make a fire.
• Do not use the telephone.
• Presumably, the fire alarm system goes off, although there is no fire in the building.

You are in bed:

• Stay in your bed and protect your head with a pillow.
• If any object may fall on you, find the nearest safe place.
• If you get out of bed, watch out for shards of glass on the floor.

You are outside:

• Get as far away as possible from buildings, walls, lampposts, trees, power lines.
• Squat down and protect your head. Objects such as television antennas, chimneys, flower pots, or other objects can fall and injure persons standing near a building.
• Do not enter any building without the permission of the appropriate authorities. Aftershocks can cause even more damage to buildings that have already been hit.
• Continue on your way and keep walking in the same direction.
• If you are in a tunnel, leave it calmly and as quickly as possible.
• In the mountains, watch out for falling boulders.

You are in the car:

• Don't brake too abruptly. Slow down slowly and pull over where possible. Do not stand in the middle of the road so as not to obstruct the passage of the emergency services
• Leave the seat belt on until the shaking stops. Stay in the car until the earthquake passes. Trees, power lines, poles, road signs and other objects can fall during the earthquake. Standing still reduces the risk of accidents. In the car you are sheltered from falling objects. 
• Do not attempt to leave the car if electrical cables have fallen on or next to the car (keep a safe distance of at least 10 meters). Wait for help.
• When the earthquake is over, be careful. It is best to leave the car at home. Avoid bridges, tunnels, underground roads, or slip roads that may have been destroyed by the earthquake. Also, avoid roads where landslides, subsidence, or liquefaction can occur.
• Remember that traffic lights and signage are probably down.
• Remove yourself from the beach and the banks of watercourses. Earthquakes can cause a tsunami.
• If you need help, mark "HELP" on one of your car's windows.

After the earthquake

First reactions:

• Be prepared for the possible consequences of the earthquake (aftershocks, tsunamis, landslides, floods, etc.) that could cause even more damage to buildings that were already hit by the first shocks.
• Stay calm.
• Make sure that you can move around without danger and without causing damage.
• Check that there is no starting fire. After earthquakes, fires are common.
• Check whether the people around you are doing well and offer help where necessary. Check that no one is stuck in the elevator. Also check that your neighbours do not need help. Provide them with help or call the emergency services if you are not sure that you can provide help in complete safety. 
• Do not attempt to move seriously injured people without the advice of an expert unless that person's life is in danger. This could seriously damage their health.
• In the event of a gas leak, open windows and doors and notify the authorities. Leave that place immediately.
• If you need help, mark "HELP" on one of your windows.
• Listen to local and national radio stations.
• Respond to the questions of the emergency services and do not interfere with their work. The emergency workers have priority.
• Don't spread rumors. Only trust the information provided by the authorities.
• The school takes care of your children. Don't go pick them up.

Prevention of collateral damage:

• Wear protective shoes and clothing (pants, long-sleeved T-shirt, and gloves).
• Turn off water, electricity and gas.
• Don't make fire, don't smoke.
• Check that your home does not pose an (immediate) danger. If you judge that your home is not safe, leave it and do not go back inside.
• Collect and dispose of the waste: wear adequate protection (for eyes, hands, feet, etc.) Immediately remove medicines and flammable or toxic substances.
• Carefully open the cabinets.
• Ventilate the house.
• Don't waste water or food. Supplies may have been interrupted.
• Do not use water or eat food that may have been in contact with shards of glass or debris.
• If the water supply is not shut off, fill the tub and other reservoirs and vessels with water, in case the water is turned off later. Do not drink this water, first check with the competent authorities whether the water is drinkable. You can also melt ice cubes to use as drinking water.
• If the water supply is cut off, remember that there is still a water supply in the hot water installation and in the toilet sink (not in the toilet bowl itself!).
• Do not flush the toilet if the sewer system is damaged. Feces that cannot be drained are a major source of disease.
• If you have pets, go find them. Mind you, after an earthquake they can lose their orientation and show a different behavior. It is best to lock them up in a closed room. If you need to vacate the place and you can't take the pets with you, place them in a pre-selected animal shelter.
• Check if your chimney has suffered any damage. A damaged chimney can cause fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Takes pictures of the damage.
• Protect your home from burglary.

Evacuation:

• If you have to leave the house, take the emergency kit that you have prepared in advance. Hang up a message with the address you're going to. Take the bare minimum with you.
• Do not take the elevator and be careful on the stairs.
• Do not drive your car unless there is no other option.
• Keep yourself far from the shore or from shores, even long after the end of the shocks there may be another tidal wave.
• Don't go for a walk in the city. This can be dangerous and make the work of the emergency services more difficult. Make your way to the meeting point.

If you get buried:

• Don't panic.
• Try to determine where you are and find out if you are injured. If you can communicate with someone outside, this is useful information for emergency services.
• Protect your airways with a wipe.
• Stay still so as not to cause too much dust.
• Try to contact someone outside. Try to do this via the mobile phone, if you have one with you. If not, don't tire yourself too much by shouting. If you call, you can also inhale a lot of dust. Call only in the greatest need. Try to attract attention by knocking signals on walls and pipes or with a whistle, if you have it at hand.
• Do not make a fire.

Remember

Before an earthquake:

• Register you and your family members at the Belgian consulate or embassy in the country where you are staying.
• Find out what hazards there are in each room.
• Find out what is a safe place in each room and have exercises to get there quickly.
• Draw up a crisis plan.
• Put together an emergency kit.
• Ask your children to always carry an identity sheet with useful information and telephone numbers.

During the earthquake:

• Stay calm.
• If you are in a building, keep away from exterior walls, cabinets and shelves from which things can fall, windows, objects in glass. Protect the head with your arms and hold on to the furniture under which you are sheltering
• If you are outdoors, get as far away as possible from buildings, walls, lighting poles, trees, power lines. Squat down and protect your head.
• If you are in the car, slow down slowly and pull over where possible, stay in the car until the shaking has stopped.

After an earthquake:

• Stay calm.
• Check whether the people around you are doing well and offer help where necessary.
• Turn off the water, electricity and gas supply.
• Listen to local and national radio stations.

Model of emergency kit

The kit is intended for emergency situations where you need to leave the home quickly. Ideally, this kit would always be ready and that you only have to take it with you.

Store it in a safe place in a strong and easy-to-carry bag (backpack, wheeled bag, etc.). All family members should know where the emergency kit is located.

• Photocopy or scan of the identity papers and other important documents (medical, personal, financial documents, birth certificate, marriage certificate, passport, insurance papers, etc.); You may also keep these documents in a safe place outside the home, in case the home is no longer accessible
• Emergency call numbers and phone numbers of contacts and others (school, office, etc.). Also write down the phone number of the embassy or consulate
• A photocopy of the emergency plan that you draw up in advance
• Spare keys to your home and your car
• Radio with batteries (and spare batteries)
• Flashlight (with spare batteries)
• First aid kit
• Insulating blanket
• Whistle (international distress signal: blow three short whistles)
• Warm clothes for the whole family
• Sufficient water (two litres/person/day) in unbreakable and easy-to-carry containers
• Water purification tablets
• Non-perishable foods (cans, energy bars, freeze-dried food, biscuits, etc.) for three days, manual can opener
• Specific needs of the family members (medicines and medical prescriptions, prostheses, glasses, etc.)
• Toilet bag
• Cash (the ATMs may not work). Bring small denominations and coins
• City map

Additional material:

This kit is in addition to the emergency kit and is rather intended in case you have to leave the home for a longer period of time and that you can take more luggage and weight with you.

• Two liters of water/person/day extra for the kitchen and toilet
• Extra clothes and shoes
• Sleeping bag or blanket for all family members
• Toilet paper
• Kitchenware
• Small portable burner (with fuel)
• Candles and lighter (store them separately to prevent spontaneous ignition)
• A fire extinguisher
• Baby Essentials
• Towels
• Garbage bags
• Basic tools (hammer, gloves, pocket knife, screwdriver, crowbar, etc.)
• Adhesive tape
• Rope
• Dust mask
• Tent
• Entertainment: books, games, coloring pages, etc.

You may also bring a first aid bag for the car, the office, and the other places you frequent.

Replace all foods, medicines, batteries, and water every six months.