Staying Safe During An Earthquake

In the wake of that left more than a dozen people in Madison with shaky nerves and upset stomachs, advice has been issued on Wednesday about what to do if you are ever somewhere when a bigger one hits.

Here's hoping you'll never need this advice. But, in case you do, here it is:

From United Way, Connecticut:

"Yesterday's east coast earthquake rattled structures and nerves from Canada to Georgia. What's the best way to stay safe during an earthquake? Read United Way 2-1-1's new eLibrary paper Earthquake General Safety Information for tips from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Safety on safety measures to take during and after an earthquake. Earthquakes may be rare in Connecticut, but it is always best to be prepared!"

The American Red Cross makes these recommendations:

• Become aware of fire evacuation and earthquake plans for all of the buildings you occupy regularly.
• Pick safe places in each room of your home, workplace and/or school. A safe place could be under a piece of furniture or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall on you.
• Practice drop, cover and hold on in each safe place. If you do not have sturdy furniture to hold on to, sit on the floor next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms.
• Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person’s bed.
• Make sure your home is securely anchored to its foundation.
• Bolt and brace water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs.
• Bolt bookcases, china cabinets and other tall furniture to wall studs.
• Hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, away from beds, couches and anywhere people sleep or sit.
• Brace overhead light fixtures.
• Install strong latches or bolts on cabinets. Large or heavy items should be closest to the floor.
• Learn how to shut off the gas valves in your home and keep a wrench handy for that purpose.

The Red Cross has a host of additional recommendations and resources available in the attached PDF and on its website.

Why we should care

According to the Northeast States Emergency Consortium (NESEC), approximately 40-50 earthquakes are detected annually in this region, which includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

As a region, the NESEC goes on to report, the northeast was home to 2,403 earthquakes between 1638 and 2007. Connecticut accounts for 137 of those.

Save Tuesday's 5.9-magnitude quake that struck Virginia, which is technically another region, the last earthquake with a magnitude greater than 2.7 to hit the northeast was on Sept. 27, 2010. That 3.1-magnitude quake’s epicenter was located outside of Contoocook, NH, according to Boston College’s Weston Observatory.

The NESEC offers additional information that further testifies to the northeast’s relatively high seismic status. It says: “Potential earthquake losses, when annualized, add up to about $5.3 billion dollars a year, and the Northeast ranks fourth in the nation for annualized losses, according to a recently released study by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).”

Part of the reason that number is so high, experts say, is due to the age of many of the region’s buildings and the materials used in construction. Earthquake hotbeds like California also employ stricter codes that specifically address the stress quakes can place on structural stability, thereby potentially reducing damage costs.