Avoid the exterior walls of buildings, where breaking windows and loose shutters can become hazardous. To avoid this danger, stay inside if you are in a building and outside if you are outdoors. Doorways are no safer than elsewhere in the home. If you're inside during an earthquake, get under a sturdy piece of furniture (like a table or heavy desk) that can protect you from falling objects. If there's no appropriate furniture nearby, sit on the floor against an interior wall away from windows or anything that could fall on you. If you find yourself outdoors during an earthquake, try to get to an open space away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines or elevated highways. Teach every mature member of your family when and how to turn off gas, electricity and water. Blackouts frequently accompany earthquakes. You and your family can prepare by printing and filling out the Duracell Preparedness Checklist and posting it in your home.
What is an earthquake? An earthquake is a vibration that travels through the earth's crust, and the shaking of the ground that results. What causes earthquakes? Most earthquakes occur when the oceanic and continental plates that make up the earth's crust slip, push and scrape against each other. Regular shifting of these plates causes a buildup of pressure, which can cause plates to move suddenly. As a result, waves of energy are released that cause the ground to shake. Volcanic eruptions, rockfalls, landslides, and explosions can also cause a quake, but these earthquakes are generally less severe than those caused by plate movement. Where and when do they occur? Earthquakes occur constantly: according to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than three million earthquakes occur every year. Earthquakes most often form along fault lines, but can happen anywhere.
THE RICHTER SCALE Though most people are familiar with rating an earthquake on the Richter scale, few actually know what the rating signifies. Developed by seismologist Charles Richter in 1935, the Richter scale measures the magnitude of an earthquake at its epicenter. People generally cannot feel earthquakes with a Richter magnitude that is less than 3.5, but these quakes can be measured with seismographs. Earthquakes rated between 3.5 and 5.5 can be felt by people, but rarely cause damage. Earthquakes that rate higher than 5.5 on the scale are likely to cause minor to major damage, depending on their severity and duration. Any quake rated higher than 7.0 on the Richter scale is considered a major earthquake.