AFTER THE QUAKE

Personal Safety

• Expect aftershocks. Each time you feel one, DROP, COVER, AND HOLD ON!
• Check yourself for injuries. Protect yourself by wearing long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and work gloves.
• Listen to a battery-operated radio or television for the latest emergency information.
• Check others for injuries. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury.
• Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance–infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Home

• Inspect your home for damage. Get everyone out if your home is unsafe.
• Telephone: Use the telephone only for emergencies. Check to make sure the receiver has not been shaken off the hook and is tying up the line.
• Fires: Look for and extinguish small fires.
• Gas: Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and leave building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company.
• **Remember, only a professional can turn the gas back on.
• Electricity: Look for electrical system damage. Turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker if you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if smell hot insulation. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
• Sewage, Water: Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and contact a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap.

SOURCE: American Red Cross, FEMA, SF Fire Department, SF Chronicle