Preparedness

CREATE A DISASTER-PREPAREDNESS PLAN.

Will everyone in your household do the right thing during the violent shaking of a major earthquake? Before the next earthquake, get together with your family or housemates to plan now what each person will do before, during and after.

Once the earthquake is over, we will have to live with the risk of fire, the potential lack of utilities and basic services, and the certainty of aftershocks. By planning now, you will be ready. This plan will also be useful for other emergencies.

Does your community:

* have plans to notify you if a tsunami warning is issued?

* have a designated evacuation zone and posted tsunami hazard signs?

* practice evaluation drills?

* conduct tsunami education and awareness campaigns?

Your community can do all of the above and more if it has been recognized by the National Weather Service as TsunamiReady. The TsunamiReady program sets guidelines for adequate tsunami readiness, including the ability to receive and send out tsunami warnings, designation of tsunami hazard zones and evacuation routes, and outreach programs that address both natural and official warnings. Find out if your community is recognized as TsunamiReady attsunamiready.noaa.gov. If it isn't, find out what you can do to encourage your community to gain this recognition.

Plan NOW to be safe during an earthquake:

* Practice "drop, cover, and hold on." (See Step 5)

* Identify safe spots in every room, such as under sturdy desks and tables.

* Learn how to protect yourself no matter where you are when an earthquake strikes.

Plan NOW to respond after an earthquake:

* Keep shoes and a working flashlight next to each bed.

* Get a fire extinguisher for your home. Your local fire department can train you and your family to use it properly.

* Teach everyone in your household to use emergency whistles and/or to knock three times repeatedly if trapped. Rescuers are trained to listen for such sounds.

* Identify the...