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• Reputation: 148 Q&A: 6 0 0 28 0 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0 Paul Bodin

  3 0 I hope another answerer has better knowledge of this than I do. My experience with people who haven't survived earthquakes has been mostly in cities and towns in developing economies. Heavy rock and/or mud structures without significant resiliance when shaken that pretty effectively collapse and crunch the denizens outright. Not pleasant, but it really kind of suggests that water and a whistle wouldn't be of much value in that circumstance. Of course, in Seattle I don't think there has been anyone trapped in an earthquake-collapsed structure, so the statistics wouldn't be useful here, either. I don't mean to belittle the importance of individuals preparing for earthquakes, but I don't think the best preparations involve worrying from moment to moment about our proximity to whistles and water. Rather it is to ensure that society enforces earthquake-resistant design codes and construction practices. Engineers are perfectly capable of designing structures that will withstand any shaking our faults are liable to throw at them. It is also critical to mitigate easy-to-remedy problems (water heaters not secured, heavy objects on high shelves not secured, structures adequately tied to foundations, etc.), and to have an "earthquake kit " (and yes, it does have a whistle and water in it!) available in a secure place in your house or apartment. Paul Bodin answered in Earthquake! over 2 years ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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• Reputation: 4 Q&A: 0 0 0 4 0 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Expert: 1 topic Earthquake! Follow Following 0 Bruce Schoonmaker

  1 0 It is not necessary to have water and a whistle in every room, but it is a good idea to have a stash of emergency supplies which contain water and a whistle. In Seattle and most of the United States, buildings are mostly constructed of wood. Our homes are elaborate wooden boxes, for the most part. Our grander apartment and condo buildings are elaborate steel boxes. As a result, even if the house or apartment building fails, it will retain its box-like shape. That means we will probably not be crushed by the building itself. If we drop, cover, and hold while everything is shaking, we will likely be able to get up and go get our water and whistle after the earthquake shaking stops. What will crush us is the big screen TV, if it is not restrained. Or our tall bookcases, if they are not anchored to the wall. Or that big mirror, or those large framed pictures above the sofa, or perhaps that prize Chihuly glass sculpture proudly displayed on the mantle of the fireplace....maybe we should place it on the hearth. You get the idea. The rule of thumb is, if our possessions can rattle around and hurt us, or if they are valuable and may be hurt in the severe shaking of an earthquake, we should take the effort to secure them. You can look at some illustrations of the basics of securing things in your home at http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/prep_home.shtml. Or check out the home hazard hunt at https://eqhomesafety.websitesource.net/earthquakehazardhunt.html. Oh, and about that whistle. Be sure to store your emergency supply pack near the exit. It needs to be handy to pick up if you are getting out in a hurry. Bruce Schoonmaker answered in Earthquake! over 2 years ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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• Reputation: 5 Q&A: 0 0 0 5 0 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0

  0 0 I recommend having an emergency kit in your home, office/classroom, and vehicle. While these kits may include some different and unique supplies (e.g. flares and warm clothing for the car), each should contain water, non-perishable food, needed medications, basic first aid supplies, a whistle and small flashlight. Should an earthquake or other disaster strike, these handy kits can sustain you for a period of time until additional help is available. Visit www.3days3ways.org for checklists and other tips. Robin Friedman answered in Earthquake! over 2 years ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question New comments are not being accepted at this time.

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