Earthquakes

Preparedness On Campus: Faculty and Staff

The Hayward fault passes through the estern side of our campus, and earth scientists have estimated a high probability for an earthquake on that fault in the next 20 years. UC Berkeley is strengthening many of its buildings to reduce casualties and damages in a future quake, but you can do much yourself to secure your office or lab and to preserve your valuable research, specimen collections, books and papers.

Before the Earthquake

• Brace or rearrange your office furniture to minimize falling hazards.
• Bolt book cases and filing cabinets to the wall.
• Do not put heavy items or full boxes on tall furniture.
• Securely anchor your computer, VDT, and printer to the desk or workstation.
• Back up your computer(s) frequently. Keep the disks at a separate location.
• In laboratories secure as much of your equipment as possible. Keep an up-to-date chemical inventory in your laboratory and with EH&S.
• Familiarize yourself with your building's emergency procedures, and ask your Building Coordinator for help in making preparations.
• Keep an emergency kit in the trunk of your car.
• Share this information with your students.

In Offices

• Brace and bolt furniture over 4 feet tall to prevent toppling.
• If bracing is not feasible, move tall furniture away from exits.
• Do not use tall bookcases or cabinets as room dividers.
• Do not stack bookcases or file cabinets.
• Keep books on shelves with restraint bars or cords.
• Back up your office computer daily or weekly. If you work at home, back up that computer daily or weekly.
• Keep irreplaceable books or items off-campus. Store copies of course notes off-campus.

In Labs

• Install restraint bars on chemical shelving.
• Install positive latching devices on cabinet doors.
• Close sliding doors when not in use.
• Restrain gas cylinders to the wall or lab bench with chains 1/3 and 2/3 the way up the gas cylinder.
• Anchor electronic equipment with specialized fasteners.
• Secure stills with straps and install refrigerator clasp locks.
• Anchor animal containers. If they are on shelves, bolt the shelves to the wall.
• Segregate acids, bases and solvents from one another.
• Provide secondary containment for chemicals.
• Do not keep any potentially hazardous materials on mobile carts.
• Back up computer data; store elsewhere.

 

During and After an Earthquake

• In classrooms and labs, you are responsible for your own students.
• When a quake starts, take cover under a desk or table, and hold on.
• If you are with students, shout "Earthquake! Take Cover!" Students should drop between the rows of classroom seats or under tables.
• If you are in a hallway, drop to the floor and cover your head and neck.
• Stay covered until the shaking has clearly stopped.
• Restore calm among your students. Keep them together.
• Evacuate everyone to your building's Emergency Assembly Area (EAA), identified on the emergency signage in the building.
• Never use elevators.
• Wait at the EAA for help and instructions. Report any trapped people or hazardous situations.
• Do not use campus phones unless you have an emergency. Listen.
• Get information before you take further action. Tune your battery-operated AM/FM radio to KALX 90.7 FM, call 1-800-705-9998, or (if you can access the internet) log on to http://emergency.berkeley.edu. Your Building Coordinator will also know how to get immediate help for you and your class.
• Faculty and Administrators might wish to view the video "Academic Aftershocks", in which administrators and faculty are interviewed after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Challenges and opportunities afforded by this disaster are discussed frankly.
  

Preparedness At Home:

Create a Family Disaster Plan

This guide is primarily geared to earthquakes, but the planning you and your family do now will help when and if any disaster strikes. Remember: during a disaster, you will probably not be able to perform whatever tasks are required until you know that your family is safe. Take a moment now to make a plan. The UC Benefits Office has produced a Self Help Checklist that covers many planning issues of concern to homeowners.

Preparation

Family Meetings

At least once a year, have a meeting with your family to discuss/update your plan and determine what training, equipment and supplies are needed. Occasional drills will assure quick reaction and avoid injury and panic in an emergency. Share your plans with neighbors, friends, relatives and co-workers.

Training

• How to protect yourselves from falling objects, smoke, fire, caustic fumes, etc.
• First Aid; Persons trained/Date; Location of Fist aid Kit
• How and Where to Shut off utilities
1. Location of gas valve
2. Location of wrench
3. Location of main water valve
4. Location of main circuit breaker
5. Location of other utilities
• Draw a Plan of your Home: on a separate piece of paper, draw a floor plan of your home showing the location of exit windows (and doors, and utility shutoffs; First Aid Kit and emergency supplies; food, clothing, tools, etc). Be sure everyone in your household is familiar with the plan. Show it to babysitters and house guests when you’re going to be away. They could us it to direct someone to a utility shutoff in an emergency.
• Alternative places to meet near your home
• Alternative reunion locations when the family is not at home, e.g. home, Red Cross shelter, neighbors, relatives, park, school, etc.
• Name and telephone number of person outside area for family members to call to report location and condition.
• What is your child’s school or day care Disaster policy? Church? Club? Other? Are medical consent forms complete?
• Where are emergency supplies and equipment located (see also "Disaster Supplies for Home")?

Inspect your Home

• Secure water heater, refrigerator, tall and heavy furniture to wall studs.
• Move heavy items to lower shelves, below head height.
• Install clips, latches and other locking devices on cabinet doors.
• Provide strong support and flexible connections on gas appliances.
• Remove or isolate flammable materials.

During an Earthquake

• If you are indoors, get under a table, desk or bed; or brace yourself in a strong doorway. Watch for falling, flying and sliding objects. Stay away from windows, which may shatter.
• If you are outdoors move to an open area away from buildings, trees, power poles, brick walls, and other objects that could fall.
• If you are in an automobile, slow the car, move to the side of the road, stop and stay in it until the shaking stops. Avoid stopping near trees and power lines, on or under overpasses.
• If you are in a high rise building, get under a desk until the shaking stops. Do not use the elevator to evacuate—use the stairs.
• If you are in a store try to get under a table, or any sturdy object, or in a doorway. Avoid stoppingunder anything that could fall. Do not run for the exit. Choose your exit carefully.

If you must Evacuate

• Prominently post a message indicating where you can be found.
• Take with you: Medicines and first aid kit
• Flashlight, radio and batteries
• Important papers and cash
• Food, sleeping bags, blankets and extra clothes
• Make arrangements for pets

After an Earthquake

• Wear heavy shoes to avoid injury from stepping on glass and other debris.
• Check for injuries, give first aid.
• Check for fires and fire hazards.
1. Sniff for gas leaks, starting at the hot water heater. If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off gas at main valve, open windows, and carefully leave the house. Do not turn lights on or off or light matches, or do anything that makes a spark. Note: do not shut off gas unless an emergency exists. If time permits, call the gas company or a qualified plumber. Do not turn it back on until the gas company or plumber has checked it out. You could cause an explosion.
2. Shut off water at main valve.
3. If damage to electrical system is suspected (frayed wires, sparks, or smell of hot insulation) turn off system at main circuit breaker or fuse box.
• Check neighbors for injury.
• Turn on radio and listen for advisories. Locate light source, if necessary.
• Stay well clear of downed power lines or objects near downed wires.
• Clean up potentially harmful material.
• Check to see that sewage lines are intact before continued flushing of toilets.
• Check house, roof, and chimney for damage.
• Check emergency supplies.
• Do not use phone except for genuine emergencies.
• Do not go sightseeing.
• Be prepared for after shocks.
• Open closets and cupboards carefully.
• Cooperate with public safety officials. Be prepared to evacuate when necessary.

 

How To Prepare

• Learn evacuation routes in your home or office.
• Organize an evacuation drill in your home or office.
• Take First Aid and CPR training courses. (CPR and First Aid classes are offered through your local branch of the American Red Cross or though the UC Athletics Department (642-0505), for a fee).
• Find out who in your home or office knows First Aid, CPR, search and rescue, or how to operate a ham radio.
• Do not place heavy objects on top shelves, on tope of cabinets, or above where you sit or sleep.
• Remove hanging items or securely anchor them to the wall.
• Bolt/anchor tall cabinets and bookcases to the wall, especially if they are next to an exit.
• Secure computers and typewriters to desktops, restrain books on shelves.
• Check battery-operated smoke detectors often, and replace batteries annually.
• Purchase a fire extinguisher (5 or 10 lb., A-B-C type), and learn how to use it.
• Do not overload electrical outlets.
• Keep hallways clear and free of debris.