Disaster Preparedness | Household Earthquake Safety, Supplies and Family Communication, Set 2

Use hardware suitable for both the furniture and wall, anchoring it to a strong part such as structural backing or a post. Boxes placed in front do not anchor it, and concentrating weight at the top may make it easier to overturn.

Keep tall furniture away from sleeping areas and doorways, place the bed outside its fall zone, and secure the furniture. Layout and anchoring address different risks, so both matter. Putting supplies on top creates an additional falling-object hazard.

Anchoring the cabinet does not prevent doors from opening and dishes from falling, or glass from breaking. Door latches and glass-shatter protection reduce those secondary hazards. They supplement rather than replace anchoring.

In darkness, broken pieces on the floor may be invisible and injure your feet. Sturdy slippers and a flashlight help you inspect and move through the room more safely. Do not move through strong shaking merely to retrieve them.

Plan for the family to be separated by agreeing on more than one communication method, evacuation locations and routes, a final meeting place, and support roles. A rigid plan requiring everyone to return home may be unsafe if the home or travel routes are dangerous.

Family members need to know which telephone number will be used to register and retrieve messages. Practicing the operation during a trial-use period reduces confusion when ordinary calls are congested. Check official announcements for the service conditions during an actual disaster.

Household supplies should cover more than food and water; consider a portable stove or other safe heat source and emergency toilets. At least three days and preferably about one week is the target. Add medicine, infant supplies and other items required by the household.

Rotating stock means keeping a little extra of ordinary items, using the older ones first, and replacing what you consume so a set quantity remains. This cycle makes dates and preparation methods easier to check. Buying supplies and leaving them untouched does not create a rotation.

An emergency bag is not meant to carry the entire household stockpile. It should hold the items needed during evacuation and be easy to retrieve. A backpack keeps both hands available. If danger is imminent, evacuate rather than returning for the bag.

A seismic circuit breaker detects shaking above its setting and automatically cuts electricity, helping prevent electrical fires when no one is home or there is no time to switch it off manually. It neither predicts earthquakes nor shuts off gas. Prepare emergency lighting according to the type of device installed.