About Robin Friedman

Director, King County Emergency Management

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• Follow Following 1 Home Repair (Earthquake Mitigation) - Live Now on KUOW 94.9 Robin Friedman asked in Earthquake! over 2 years ago 1 Answer by Bruce Schoonmaker…

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  do you think the time and effort spent worrying about natural disasters is justified?

  0 0 Planning and preparation are great ways to remove worry and stress and they don't require much time. Once a month, do one thing to be better prepared. Make it a family activity. "Prepare in a Year" offers a handy guide: http://www.emd.wa.gov/preparedness/documents/PE_PIY_Booklet.pdf Keep in mind: We prepare for a lot of things in life... the birth of a child, job interviews, weddings, vacations... preparing for disasters is also a worthy investment of time. Robin Friedman answered in Earthquake! over 2 years ago Answer, comment & read 8 more answers »

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  Is it true I should have water and a whistle in every room?

  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 Answer, comment & read 3 more answers »

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  During an earthquake should we stay in a doorway or find a "void" space?

  2 0 Unfortunately, e-mails have been circulating on the Internet incorrectly touting the "Triangle of Life" technique which allegedly use voids as a way to survive earthquakes. Simply put, the technique is not applicable for earthquake experiences in the United States. The "Triangle of Life" is not appropriate for use in the United States because the research used to illustrate the method were based on earthquake response and recovery in Turkey, a country very different from the United States when it comes to building standards, construction and engineering techniques, and building codes. Earthquakes in the United States do not typically result in total building collapse or "pancake." As a result, when earthquakes strike in the U.S., the safest thing for children and adults to do is "Drop, Cover and Hold" underneath a desk, table, or other sturdy strong surface. The "Triangle of Life" also advocates for getting out of bed if caught asleep during an earthquake. Again, this is incorrect for the United States where the bed could provide more safety during an earthquake because rolling onto the floor beside it, where you could be injured by debris. The more you move during an earthquake, the more potential there is for injury. The best method for earthquake safety in the U.S. is "Drop, Cover and Hold". If you have received an email about the "triangle of life" please respond to its sender by directing them to www.earthquakecountry.info/dropcoverholdon/ and ask them to forward this link to others they may have contacted. Robin Friedman answered in Earthquake! over 2 years ago Answer and comment »

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  Are we really supposed to stand in door jambs during an earthquake?

  3 0 "Drop, Cover and Hold" is still the best method for earthquake safety, and is endorsed by the American Red Cross, FEMA and the U.S. Geological Survey. Your past experience in earthquakes may give you a false sense of safety. In some cases you may not have done anything, or you ran outside, and survived with no injuries. Or perhaps you got under your desk and others thought you overreacted. However, you likely have not experienced the kind of strong earthquake shaking that is possible very large earthquakes: sudden and intense back and forth motions of several feet per second will cause the floor or the ground to jerk sideways out from under you, and every unsecured object around you could topple, fall, or become airborne, potentially causing serious injury. This is why you must learn to immediately protect yourself after the first jolt... don't wait to see if the earthquake shaking will be strong! In MOST situations, you will reduce your chance of injury if you: DROP down onto your hands and knees (before the earthquakes knocks you down). This position protects you from falling but allows you to still move if necessary. COVER your head and neck (and your entire body if possible) under a sturdy table or desk. If there is no shelter nearby, only then should you get down near an interior wall (or next to low-lying furniture that won't fall on you), and cover your head and neck with your arms and hands. HOLD ON to your shelter (or to your head and neck) until the shaking stops. Be prepared to move with your shelter if the shaking shifts it around. While images of collapsed structures in earthquakes around the world are frightening and get the most attention from the media, most buildings in the U.S. do not collapse at all, and few completely collapse. Strict building codes have worked to greatly reduce the potential of structure collapse. However, there is the possibility of structural failure in certain building types, especially unreinforced masonry (brick buildings), and in certain structures constructed before the latest building codes. Rescue professionals are trained to understand how these structures collapse in order to identify potential locations of survivors within "survivable void spaces." The main goal of "Drop, Cover, and Hold On" is to protect you from falling and flying debris and other nonstructural hazards, and to increase the chance of your ending up in a survivable void space if the building actually collapses. While a doorway may be an alternate "safe spot" option if you live in old, unreinforced or older woodframe houses, you may not be able to brace yourself in the door during strong shaking. In modern houses, doorways are no stronger than any other part of the house, and the doorway does not protect you from the most likely source of injury- falling or flying objects. You are safer under a sturdy table. Check out this link for additional tips for surviving an earthquake in a number of different locations and situations: http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/step5.html Robin Friedman answered in Earthquake! over 2 years ago Answer, comment & read 2 more answers »

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  Would getting Earthquake Insurance Be Worth It?

  0 0 You'll want to consider a few factors, the most important being: your location, your budget and how you handle risk. While several insurers have dropped earthquake coverage over the past few years, you can still get it. Washington’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner has a rundown of things to consider: www.insurance.wa.gov/consumers/home/earthquake_insurance.shtml . You can also check out consumer tips from KOMO News, including links to brokers www.komonews.com/news/consumer/4376681.html. Robin Friedman answered in Earthquake! over 2 years ago Answer, comment & read 5 more answers »

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