vital organs. • ….

vital organs.

• Hold On: If you are under a table or desk, hold on with one hand and be ready to move with it if it moves. If seated and unable to drop to the floor, bend forward, cover your head with your arms and hold on to your neck with both hands.

Prepare Before an Earthquake

The best time to prepare for any disaster is before it happens.

• Practice Drop, Cover and Hold On with family and coworkers.

• Secure heavy items in your home like bookcases, refrigerators, televisions and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy and breakable objects on low shelves.

• Create a family emergency communications plan that has an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated.

• Make a supply kit that includes enough food and water for at least three days, a flashlight, a fire extinguisher and a whistle.

Stay Safe After an Earthquake

• If an earthquake has just happened, there can be serious hazards, such as damage to the building, leaking water lines or downed power lines.

• Expect aftershocks to follow the main shock of an earthquake.

• Check yourself for injury and help others if you have training. Sign up now for disaster training classes like CERT.

• If you are in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building. Do not enter damaged buildings.

• When trapped, protect your mouth, nose and eyes from dust. Send a text, bang on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle instead of shouting to help rescuers locate you.

• Text messages may be more reliable than phone calls.

• Once you are safe, listen to news reports for information and instructions via batteryoperated radio, TV, social media or from cell phone text alerts.

• Be careful during postdisaster cleanup of buildings and around debris. Do not attempt to remove heavy debris by yourself.

• Wear protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, work gloves and sturdy, thick-soled shoes during cleanup.

• Register on the American Red Cross Safe and Well at redcross.org so people will know you are okay.

—Eloy Gomez, GRF Safety & Emergency Coordinator