Earthquake Facts and Safety Tips

Despite the shock of  and the ensuing aftershock that traveled up the east coast, the region is no stranger to seismic activity.

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 yesterday’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.

While there are few cost-effective measures that property owners can take to address the structural issues presented by earthquakes, there are steps residents can take to ensure their safety should such a scenario arise again.

The American Red Cross makes these recommendations:

Prepare in Advance

• Make yourself 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.
• Bolt and brace water heaters, gas appliances, bookcases, china cabinets and other tall furniture to wall studs; brace overhead light fixtures.
• Learn how to shut off the gas valves in your home and keep a wrench handy for that purpose.

How to Stay Safe During the Quake

• Drop, cover and hold on. Move as little as possible.
• If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on. Protect your head with a pillow.
• Stay away from windows to avoid being injured by shattered glass.
• Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. If you must leave the building after the shaking stops, use stairs rather than an elevator in case there are aftershocks, power outages or other damage.
• Be aware that fire alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire.
• If you are outside when the shaking starts find a clear spot and drop to the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops (away from buildings, power lines, trees, streetlights).
• If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible. Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Then, drive carefully, avoiding bridges and ramps that may have been damaged.

Safety After the Quake

• After an earthquake, the disaster may continue. Expect and prepare for potential aftershocks, landslides or even a tsunami. Tsunamis are often generated by earthquakes.
• Each time you feel an aftershock, drop, cover and hold on. Aftershocks frequently occur minutes, days, weeks and even months following an earthquake.
• Look quickly for damage in and around your home and get everyone out if your home is unsafe.
• Listen to a portable, battery-operated or hand-crank radio for updated emergency information and instructions.
• Be careful when driving after an earthquake and anticipate traffic light outages.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and stay out of damaged areas.

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