Desert quake reminds San Diegans to be prepared

SAN DIEGO − A series of earthquakes centered near Borrego Springs struck early June 10, with a magnitude 5.2 quake coming just after 1 a.m. The quakes were felt across San Diego County, but there were no initial reports of any severe damage or injuries.

Earthquakes can strike at any moment, without warning, and Friday’s incident is a reminder to be ready. Being prepared can make all the difference for the safety and survival of individuals and their families in a major disaster.

Everyone can learn what to do before, during and after an earthquake, by visiting ReadySanDiego.org and downloading a free template for a family disaster plan and create a home emergency kit. Being informed is also key in a disaster and the county’s free SD Emergency mobile app is a great resource. While the app also has interactive features to help residents prepare, its greatest use may be during a disaster when it shows up-to-date open shelters, health warnings and other information. The free app is available from the Apple Store and Google Play.

What people can do

If a strong earthquake were to occur, the water and gas lines could be compromised and phones and electricity could be out. Roads could be unsafe to use due to damage or debris. At the same time, if there were damaged buildings, emergency officials would be busy with priority calls. That’s when residents will need to rely on their emergency preparedness plan and supplies.

They can prepare by gathering items for a home, work and car emergency kit to last three days at a minimum. The items should be stored in a ready-to-grab waterproof bag or container, such as a plastic tub. Pre-packaged emergency kits are available at some big box stores or at the American Red Cross, but residents can also put their own kits together by buying items or gathering items from home. Include the following:

• Water – at least one gallon per person per day
• Non-perishable food
• First aid kit
• Whistle
• Radio
• Flashlight
• Batteries

Prepare. They can personalize their kits for their family by considering the dietary needs of infants, pets and other family members. If anyone in the family requires medication, an extra week’s supply should be kept in their kits. A copy of important documents such as insurance policies, identification, and bank records should be included in case a quick evacuation is required. They ca be scanned and stored online or on a thumb drive as can family photographs.

Plan. A disaster could happen while parents are at work and children at school. If one is away from their family, they cannot count on phone lines because they can quickly get overloaded. So it’s important to have a family disaster plan that includes several meeting places and an out-of-state emergency contact who family members can call or text message.

Text messaging is often a more successful way to communicate during a disaster.

Create a complete family disaster plan with important phone numbers and information that might be needed in an emergency. The plan templates are available in English, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese. Any existing plans should be reviewed to make sure they still up-to-date, and practiced.

Stay informed. During an emergency, official information is important to have. The County of San Diego emergency website is www.sdcountyemergency.com and will be updated with news including road closures and shelters. For a mobile version, download the County’s free mobile app, SD Emergency online in the Google Play or Apple store.

Residents can also sign up to get free emergency alerts by cell phone during a disaster. Phones ca be registered for AlertSanDiego at ReadySanDiego.org/AlertSanDiego.

If the power is out, residents can use a battery-powered radio to get updates from KOGO 600 AM or XTRA Sports 1360 AM. Residents can call 211 to get information about emergency updates or services.

The County of San Diego also will also send out information on Twitter via the San Diego County and Ready San Diego accounts.

The family disaster plan includes these tips and more for earthquakes:

Before

• Check home for potential hazards – things that can topple over and cause injury.
• Secure televisions, bookshelves and other heavy furniture to the wall.
• Use special hooks to secure photos and art to walls.
• Plan and rehearse where you and your family can seek cover in each room of the home.

During

• Drop, cover and hold on. Get down low to avoid falling, find a sturdy desk or table to seek cover under and hold onto it while covering your head with your other arm.
• If there are no tables, find an interior wall that is not near any heavy furniture or near glass picture frames, windows or under light fixtures, scoot down and cover your head.
• If outside, find an open area away from buildings, trees, or overhead utility wires, sit down and cover your head.

After

• Check the home for potential hazards.
• If smelling gas, turn it off at the valve