Earthquake Tips for Drivers

During an earthquakeYou never know where you might be when an earthquake hits. Knowing Drop! Cover! and Hold On! is very important, but it’s also a good idea to think past this to envision and flesh out some real situations that you might find yourself in.

While many of us spend a lot of our time in our homes—whether we’re sleeping, cooking, eating, cleaning, entertaining, or relaxing—it’s safest to prepare for not just situation we most find ourselves in, but every situation that we regularly find ourselves in. You probably spend about a third of your time away from home—between work, errands, getting outdoors and social events. That’s why it’s so important to make an earthquake plan for when you’re on-the-go.

Building or buying an auto safety kit for your car is a smart start. And don’t forget to go through your kit, if you’ve bought it, and add extra items that you think you might need. For example, you’ll want to add a separate supply of water and food to your kit, and maybe more!

If you’re out shopping or at work or school, hopefully you can return to your car to access your kit. And if you’re actually in your car while an earthquake hits, here are a few tips that you can use to keep yourself safe so that you can get yourself to the point of using the earthquake kit you’ve prepared!

Here are a few tips for staying safe while driving during an earthquake:

  1. Pull over to the side of the road when safe to do so, avoiding overpasses, bridges, trees, and power lines.
  2. Turn off your vehicle and cover your neck and head with your arms, and hold.
  3. Do not exit your vehicle until 60 seconds after the shaking has stopped.
  4. When you do exit your vehicle, be aware of potential aftershocks that may be even stronger than the initial quake.
  5. If you have access to a radio, tune in to the local stations that will let you know which roads are safe to drive on, and when. Practice patience and proceed with caution.

Remember, if you’re well prepared, you have a lot less to worry about! Your car can provide shelter from some of the elements, and hopefully your kit is enough to last you for up to a couple days!

If you’d like some more information on the earthquake preparedness of your region, we encourage you to check in with your local government and community. And for those of you who, like us, live in Victoria, check out the city’s Emergency Management website here!

 

Article contributed by Sophie Wooding – Avid gardener and cyclist in Victoria, BC and Content Writer for Frontier.io

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