Quick guide to quake safety

If you live in an area known for quakes, develop a comprehensive emergency plan and make it available to everyone who could be affected. The plan should include assigned roles and responsibilities in case of an emergency and training for all parties concerned.

Develop a business continuity plan for restoring operations after the incident.

Collect emergency supplies such as tools, electricity generators and medical items and check them regularly. Don’t forget suitable food items, such as canned or dried foods, and water bottles.

Ensure that your equipment is properly fastened and stable, paying special attention to big and heavy objects, flammables, and gas piping.

Regularly check your fire protection systems such as sprinklers, fire pumps and water tanks.

Check your furnishings, such as cabinets, closets, storage racks and shelves and if necessary, fasten them to walls or ceilings.

Head for designated safety areas and leave the building. Consider shutting systems such as production lines or water and electricity supply only if does not compromise your safety.

Ensure that your fire protection services are working, collect important documents and secure your computers or technology systems.

Sometimes, aftershocks magnify the damage. Before you check your site or property, wait for official announcements that it’s safe to do so.

Organize your own emergency crew or assist officially assigned teams. If it is safe, you could start with an immediate damage assessment, for example looking for structural damage to buildings and checking availability of utilities such as electricity, gas and water.