Colonel Razzaque Adil is a multiple award-winning military veteran with more than 21 years of experience in Operations, Risk Management, Resilience & Disaster Response operations with the Indian Army, National Security Guards and the United Nations Peace Keeping Force. Presently he works for a corporate MNC.

The recent earthquakes in Turkey reminded us that earthquakes are one of the most dangerous natural hazards. This article aims to educate the reader about the precautions that are needed to be taken before, during, and after an earthquake to increase one’s chances of survival.

Earthquakes are Not Rare

Earthquakes are not rare. Their occurrences are more frequent than what is popularly perceived. Most readers will likely be aware of the earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria in February 2023. However, these were not the only earthquakes that occurred across the globe during that month. As per the World Earthquake Report for February 2023, besides the two 7+ magnitude earthquakes in Turkey, there were fourteen 6+ magnitude and 120, 5+ magnitude earthquakes recorded across the globe that month. While seven people died during these lesser-known earthquakes, another 48 were injured. In the previous year, 2074 people died due to various earthquakes across the globe, which is quite a large number for a year that is not particularly remembered for its devastating earthquakes! So, if earthquakes as a natural hazard are unavoidable, what about the catastrophic consequences? Can we bring down the number of casualties caused by these earthquakes? I believe we can. There are many dos and don’ts that we can follow before, during, and after an earthquake which helps to save lives and prevent injuries.

The Debate Over Earthquake Safety Drills

Before we get into the dos and don’ts, it would be pertinent to point out that there are aspects of safety during an earthquake on which experts differ. For example, the traditional ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold on’ method remains challenged by a few rescue experts, such as Doug Copp, the Rescue Chief for the American Rescue Team International. Doug Copp has crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings in 60 countries for rescue missions, and
he is the one who started the debate on how best to survive if anyone is caught inside a building during an earthquake. While traditional disaster rescue professionals prophesize the, ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold on’ method. Doug Copp, propagates the ‘Triangle of Life’ Concept. The 1st building Doug ever crawled inside was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. He found that every child there had taken cover under desks as taught to them & all of them were crushed to the bone. As per Doug, in a building collapse, the falling debris first impacts objects or furniture, leaving a Triangle of Life or a life-saving space next to these objects. Hence, they might have survived if the children in Mexico had kept lying in the aisles beside their desks instead of under them.

Critics, including the United States Geological Survey, have dismissed the ‘Triangle of Life’ as misguided. They argue that it’s very difficult to know where these Triangles will be formed since even large & heavy objects often move around during earthquakes. Further, most earthquake injuries and deaths occur due to falling objects, not structures. An Iranian peer-reviewed article analysed and compared both methods. It found that ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold on’ was useful advice in smaller earthquakes without total building collapse. It found that the “Triangle of Life” is a better strategy during larger earthquakes in buildings with a skeleton that collapses. They found it counterproductive if followed in buildings that did not collapse. Because 12000 times more people are affected by smaller earthquakes, the Iranian study concluded that “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” is still a better option.

How To Survive an Earthquake

Despite differences of opinion over Earthquake safety norms, what should a common citizen do before, during, and after an earthquake to keep himself / herself safe?
What to Do Before an Earthquake

• Your house may be vulnerable to serious structural damage if its design has not incorporated quake-proofing norms/land use codes applicable to your area. A seismic retrofit may be required, which involves strengthening the house’s foundation to make it more resistant to shaking.
• Plan to be Safe. Have a safety plan in mind & learn first aid. Make up a plan of where to meet your family after an earthquake.
• Organize Disaster Supplies. Ensure you have a fire extinguisher, first aid kit, a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries at home.

Learn the earthquake plan of your school/ office /workplace. Participate in mock drills whenever they are organized.

• Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items. Anchor heavy furniture, cupboards, and appliances to the walls or floor. Place large and heavy objects and breakable items (bottled foods, glass, etc.) on lower shelves.
• Don’t keep heavy objects on shelves in such a way that they might fall on you during a quake. Do not hang heavy items, such as pictures and mirrors, near beds, couches, and anywhere people sleep or sit.
• Organize and keep your important personal, financial, and medical records documents and keep them safe.
• Considering buying insurance where required.

Download the Emergency App of the International Red Cross on your phone as well as on the phones of your family members.

What to Do During an Earthquake

• Stay calm! If you’re indoors, stay inside. If you’re outside, stay outside.
• If you’re indoors, stand against a wall near the centre of the building or crawl under heavy furniture (a desk or table). Doorways are no stronger than any other part of a structure so don’t rely on them for protection.
• Stay away from windows and outside doors. Follow the ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’ drills.
• If you’re in bed, cover your head and neck with pillows.
• If you are in a wheelchair or use a walker, lock your wheels, and remain seated until the shaking stops. Protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book, or whatever is available. If you are unable to drop, brace yourself and protect your head and neck.
• If you’re outdoors, stay in the open away from power lines or anything that might fall. Stay away from buildings.
• Don’t use matches, candles, or any flame. Gas leaking from broken gas lines might get ignited.
• If you’re in a car, pull over to a large open area that’s not under trees or power lines. Apply the parking brakes. Stay in the vehicle until the earthquake stops.
• Don’t use elevators (they may shut down). Take the stairs.

What to Do After an Earthquake

• Expect aftershocks & remain prepared against them.
• Check yourself and others for injuries. Provide first aid for anyone who needs it.
• Inspect the outside of your home for damage before re-entering. If safe to do so, check the inside of your home. If needed, have your home inspected by a professional for damage and safety issues.
• Check water, gas, and electric lines for damage. If any are damaged, shut off the valves. Check for the smell of gas. If you smell it, open all the windows and doors, leave immediately, and report it to the authorities.
• If you’re at school or work, follow the emergency plan or the instructions of the person in charge.
• Turn on the radio to hear emergency announcements that might be made by authorities/ rescuers. Let friends and family know you are safe when you can.
• Don’t use the phone unless it’s an emergency – conserve its battery life.
• Stay away from damaged buildings. Be careful around broken glass and debris. Wear boots or sturdy shoes to keep from cutting your feet.
• If you are in a coastal region, stay away from beaches. Tsunamis and Seiches may be triggered due to the quakes.
• After a quake, it’s normal to have a lot of bad feelings, stress, or anxiety. Eat healthy food and get enough sleep to help you deal with stress.

Community-based solutions

Readers who read my earlier write-ups would know I’m a proponent of community-based disaster management solutions. Even in earthquakes, this is strictly applicable. Organisations such as NDRF and SDRF are popularly perceived as the ‘First Responders’ after an earthquake. However, due to the vast distances in India, the actual first responders may be members of the affected community. To take advantage of the ‘Golden Hour,’ responses must be initiated by the local population in the immediate vicinity of the quake.

Know Disasters for No Disasters.

The success of community response relies on the local population being familiar with response drills. Engaging the community in the preparations for earthquake response will allow everyone to understand the vulnerabilities and risks and the benefits of planning ahead for earthquakes. Community sensitization through schools is deemed the optimal sensitization route because the imprint of school training lasts for a lifelong, and gets disseminated via immediate and wider family circles.

I firmly believe that all our citizens, especially children, must be taught disaster survival hacks, and that’s one of the main reasons I love writing this survival series for Know Disasters magazine. We need to talk about earthquakes with our family members and the Dos & Don’ts surrounding them so that everyone knows what to do in case of an earthquake. Discussing ahead of time helps reduce fear, particularly for younger children. We must discuss these aspects not only when such tragedies hit us but proactively – even before they occur. Everyone might not survive a disaster, but most can!