All of a sudden,
you feel a jolt from beneath your feet.
You think your legs might be shaking,
but before you know it,
everything is shaking around you.
Roads are cracking,
windows are smashing,
and buildings are falling apart.
And if you don't act fast,
you'll be in some serious trouble.
Earthquakes are devastating natural disasters
that can destroy entire communities.
They occur due to the tectonic plates
on the Earth's crust.
The plates are constantly rubbing against each other.
And, when these bumps are violent enough,
a seismic wave will happen,
causing an earthquake.
These can range from
a slight tremor to
a shake so big
it will take out entire buildings.
So if you do find yourself in this situation,
what can you do to survive?
We're not here just to ask questions though.
We've come up with our six
most helpful tips
on how to survive an earthquake.
As soon as you start feeling a rumble,
check to see what's around you.
If you're near any tall shelves,
televisions, or glass windows,
you'll need to move away immediately.
These are the first things to fall
and break during an earthquake.
And if one of them injures or lands on you,
it could cause you to get stuck.
And if you know an earthquake might be coming,
do your best to secure anything that might fall
before it happens.
This is the official phrase
from emergency management organizations,
and they're the three most important words
you'll need to know during an earthquake.
First, you'll want to drop low to the ground,
and seek some cover.
This could be under a sturdy dining room table
or your desk,
and will be your best bet
for surviving any falling debris.
Next, hold on and wait until the rumbling stops.
Even after the earthquake stops,
it's best to stay put under cover
for 1 to 2 minutes.
As you wait,
more debris might fall,
and aftershocks might occur
after the initial quake.
These are smaller earthquakes
that can occur after the big one.
Although you've managed to survive this long,
others might not have been so lucky.
Check on your loved ones or
anyone else near you,
to see if they need medical attention.
If you're a medical professional
or are trained in first aid,
see what you can do to help.
And if you're not,
see if you can get in contact
with a healthcare provider.
And if someone is injured to the point
where they can't move,
try to carefully move them away
from any debris that might fall.
Next, after you've done what you can
for the people around you,
identify any other potential hazards in your area.
Smell to detect any gas leaks,
and look around for any major structural damage
that might cause a problem in the near future.
If you can safely do so,
turn off your electricity and your gas.
This will give you a better chance of
preventing any explosions or fires.
If you live in a place that
frequently gets earthquakes,
like California or
anywhere along the Ring of Fire,
you should have two meeting places arranged.
One should be outside your home,
in the event of a smaller earthquake,
and one outside your neighborhood
in case a big earthquake happens.
This will allow you to regroup with loved ones
and plan where to go next.
Earthquakes can definitely be scary,
and incredibly dangerous.
But if you follow these tips,
you'll have a better chance of surviving.
Hopefully, you won't have any other natural disasters
like a tsunami or a hurricane coming at you.
But if you do,
we'll be here to help you
How To Survive.