Specific Purpose : To inform my audience about how to prepare for an earthquake.
Central Idea: Earthquakes can be prepared for by planning ahead and putting together an earthquake kit.
You're sleeping peacefully in your bed, dreaming of anything but the next day of classes. Suddenly, something wakes you up. Everything is dark, and your bed is shaking. You hear glass breaking and car alarms wailing outside. A picture drops from the wall. People are screaming. After nearly a minute of this, everything goes silent. As you probably figured out, you have just been through an earthquake. You may have heard first-hand stories like this, and some of you may have actually lived through a major earthquake.
Here on the north coast, earthquakes are a way of life. According to the U.S. Geological survey, there have been at least half a dozen damaging earthquakes in Humboldt county in the last 20 years. Just four years ago, there was a series of earthquakes that caused an estimated total of $60 million in damage. And almost anyone you could ask, be it expert or just Humboldt resident, will tell you that it's only a matter of time before another one hits. Short of leaving California entirely, you're not likely to avoid an earthquake, and many of us are freshmen, so we'll be here for at least another three years, but there are ways to prepare. "So," you ask, "what can I do to prepare?" I live here, and I asked myself that question. To answer it, I took a class on teaching earthquake readiness from Dr. Lori Dengler, a geophysicist at HSU, and in the process I learned a lot of things each of us can do to prepare for the next one.
Today, I will talk about some of the things you can do to before the next big quake to prepare, and I will outline the contents of an earthquake readiness kit, including:
Supplies to deal with the immediate effects of an earthquake
Equipment to handle its effects, and
Long term supplies to prepare for a big one.
First, have a plan The most important thing in planning for an earthquake is exactly that--planning. If you spend a little time thinking ahead, you may save yourself a lot of trouble in the future. One important thing is to plan exactly what you will do in the case of an earthquake. If you live in a dorm or apartment complex, a plan probably exists. Know what it is. In addition to planning what you can do during an earthquake, and one way to prepare for one is by making an earthquake readiness kit. What is an earthquake kit, you ask? An earthquake kit is a collection of equipment that you're likely to find useful after a major earthquake, and really after any other disaster, all in one place and easy to get to. I will outline a list of equipment recommended by the California Earthquake Education Project and the book "Earthquake Ready," to name just two. You can find most of these things just lying around your house or apartment, and having them all handy after an earthquake can be very useful. To begin with, find a container. Almost anything will do, so long as it is sturdy, easy to carry and, of course, big enough to hold everything. A plastic tub a backpack a dufflebag or even a cardboard box Now that you have something to put your earthquake kit in, you can get started. I'll start with the supplies you will need immediately after the earthquake.
Probably the most important thing to have on hand is a flashlight. After a major quake, there is not likely to be any electricity, and if the quake occurs at night, you're going to want a flashlight. Almost any kind will do. Dr. Dengler does not recommend a gas lamp or candles, because they can be difficult to light and can tip over during an aftershock. Many people also recommend keeping a flashlight near your bed. One good kind for that is the type that plugs into a wall outlet and goes on automatically when the power goes out. Another very important consideration is a fire extinguisher. If you live in a dorm or apartment complex, make sure you know where the nearest fire extinguishers are. If you don't have immediate access to a fire extinguisher, you should keep one in a handy place, like your earthquake kit. With those most pressing matters taken care of, you can get to the next step- -dealing with the effects of an earthquake.
Now that the earthquake is over, you will want to know what's going on, so next comes a radio. A radio should be battery powered, and small enough to carry around easily. After an earthquake, useful information, warnings, and updates will be broadcast on the radio, so it will be very handy. You have a flashlight and radio, but neither is much good without batteries. Spare batteries are very useful, particularly if there is a long power outage, and you should have some in your kit. Regardless of where you live, medical supplies are important. A good first-aid kit can be vital for treating injuries sustained during an earthquake. It is also a good idea to keep at least a three day supply of any prescription medicines you take. One important thing that many people overlook is walking shoes. There will almost certainly be a lot of broken glass after an earthquake, and many roads may be damaged. Having a good pair of shoes on hand will protect your feet and make it easier to get around. Now that you have these things taken care of, you can go on to some slightly longer term preparations.
If the earthquake is a big one it can be hours or days before there is any real assistance, so you might want to prepare for a long wait. Food and water. If you live in a dorm, you aren't likely to need much food or water since there are campus relief programs set up to deal with those. But, if you live off campus, especially if you are in a rural area, both are important. As far as food goes, anything compact that won't spoil is a good idea, like granola bars, Power Bars, or canned fruit Then, there's water. The water should be in a plastic jug, preferably a pre-sealed one. You should also make sure to change the food and water at least every six months. Dr. Lori Dengler also recommends keeping cash on hand. You may need change to make a phone call, and you may also need to buy additional supplies. One final consideration is blankets and a change of clothes. Because of aftershocks, you may be forced to sleep outside, so a blanket, especially a space blanket, can be very useful.
Earthquakes are a constant threat in California, but it does not take much planning to prepare for an earthquake. and an earthquake readiness kit is one way to do so. A kit should include supplies to deal with the immediate effects of an earthquake, equipment to handle its effects, and long term supplies to prepare for a big one. Making one of these kits could be useful, and yes, even a bit of fun. And remember one last thing: The most important piece of equipment you have is sitting on top of your shoulders right now.