An earthquake is a sudden, rapid shaking of the earth caused by the breaking and shifting of rock beneath the earth’s surface. Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and they can occur at any time of the year, day or night. This fact sheet covers the steps you can take before, during and after an earthquake to stay safe.
Sheltering in place can disrupt our routines and challenge our ability to tend to responsibilities, such as work and caring for loved ones. Understandably, we may become nervous or uncomfortable when sheltering in place. The information in this fact sheet can help you cope emotionally with this type of emergency.
It’s important to prepare for possible disasters and other emergencies. Natural and human-caused disasters can strike suddenly, at any time and anywhere. This fact sheet covers the three actions everyone can take that can help make a difference …
When an emergency happens at your facility, one of the first decisions to make is whether to evacuate or shelter in place. If you need to shelter in place, it is important to have sufficient supplies and equipment on hand to support the needs of personnel and visitors for potentially long periods. Use this checklist to determine if you have the necessary supplies on hand and ready for use.
Facilities should undergo periodic safety inspections. The frequency is determined by the organization and local regulations and/or ordinances. Regardless of the frequency, use the following checklist to help ensure a comprehensive review. Modify it as needed to reflect the individual character of your organization or workplace.
Recommended supplies are available through the Red Cross Store.
When planning your evacuation routes to outside assembly areas and shelters, consider the following
In an emergency, proper lighting can point the way to safety. Some jurisdictions have mandated that exit signs be located at waist height and illuminated. Lowering signs reduces the likelihood that they will be obscured by smoke during a fire. Proper illumination in work spaces have been shown to help reduce eye fatigue and having good illumination when working with various tools contributes to safety. In these various settings light is generally expressed in terms of lux units which measure the amount of light over an area.
Proper emergency signage helps everyone in the building find a safe path to the nearest exit or shelter area. In some cases, zoning codes may require the signs to be illuminated and have a battery backup to ensure continuous operation during a power outage. Check with your fire department if you are unsure of local regulations.
In an emergency, being able to deliver a message quickly and clearly to your staff and visitors can prevent injuries and save lives. Use the following checklist to evaluate and improve your onsite notification system.
