Is anyone doing anything in Amman for earthquake preparedness?
If an 8.8 hit here, I am pretty sure Amman would be a complete do-over. Maybe even with a 6.5. Even a minor rumble would reveal which contractors cheated on cement and steel reinforcement. And after the community response to the 4 + shock we experienced a few years ago, we are in dire need of some education on the topic.
What can you do?
1) Have a family emergency plan Create plans for fire, earthquake, or civil unrest, alternate plans for night or day. Choose a home exit, safe places away from power lines, who is responsible for who and have drills. If something happens during a school day, have a sibling plan and parental contact plan, or central meeting place. Fear and panic kills, having a plan and running through it can save lives.
2) Make sure that each person has sturdy shoes, a flashlight (with batteries, or hand-crank) and water bottle under their bed.
3) Secure closets, cabinets and shelving to the walls. A quake may not collapse a building, but could cause a khazaani to fall on a bed, or in front of a door making escape impossible.
4) Prepare a first-aid kit and keep several days imperishable food supply (and a can opener) for two areas of the house and the car. Keep necessary medications in several places (kitchen, bathroom, bedroom)
5) Prepare a handout (yea, in Arabic) for everyone in your neighborhood and create a community action plan. Know where elderly and foreign nannies live and make sure they know what to do.
6) Pester your kids schools into creating their own plan (and your husband’s employer)
Some links:
http://www.wikihow.com/Prepare-for-an-Earthquake
http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/traffic/index.html#DriveTips
http://www.earthquakesolutions.com/id44.html
The only thing we can do is to PRAY. Other than that, if it hits, …it hits.
i agree with Kinzi, everyone should be prepared for natural catastrophes especially places of public gathering where they have the responsibility of human lives (schools, public transport, offices, airports…etc) they wouldn’t have a clue if a fire broke out or if a minor earthquake hit them so many human lives could be spared by a little planning.
I bet schools don’t even have fire wardens to evacuate the building.
I remember when I was a little girl, a fire broke out at our school (it was an Arab country) no one was injured only due to the fact that it was it broke out after school hours and only a few teachers were in the building needless to say when we got the echos of the “rescue” and how the evacuation happened I can’t imagine how many lives would have parished
God forbid enshallah but it’s very nice of you to share this
This is a great reminder Kinzi. I am so glad you brought it to our attention!
We’re prepared for an earthquake – we have a boat. Because any earthquake will cause a big tsunami. Maybe our boat will help us survive. Probably not, though.
oh no kinzi, now you gave the government a new source of income! they’re gonna charge us for earthquake taxes, what with all those awareness capaigns and whatnot.
p.s. can you change the Chili in the title to Chile? it’s a country not a condiment u know
sorry but it’s making my skin itch
*that’s campaigns! I don’t wanna lose the right to correct spelling mistakes
Useful indeed Kinzi thank you for sharing that with us
Hamdanism, oh yes, always pray, but remember like rain, earthquakes happen to the just and unjust. God wants us to use the brains He blessed us with (imagine how long it took for this blonde to learn that lesson!)
Meli, well said. Have you thought about how to accomplish that in your neighborhood?
Chika, I just love Jordan. The thought of Jordanians dying in situations that could have been prevented made me sad. Stuff happens, but we can be prepared. Have you considered how to make it work in the Gulf too?
Nadia habeeeeeeeeeebti (see you bukra!) it’s been on my mind for some time now, so gotta start yakking. Complaining does get you places, I have discovered. Are you ready to call your school principal?
Marvin, lol, a boat and a surfboard! Cowabunga!
Rand, you may be my official spell checker if I forget. Which I do. But I don’t see that word in the post, will check another one to make sure.
Rula Rulz, thank you! Now go take it a step farther!!!
Aren’t you all glad you commented? Kinzi is in KHALTO MODE!
Oh Rand, how shockingly embarrassing! I did change it last night, but must have lost the edit when the router went down.
Hope the itch dies down! Thanks for saving whatever was left of my spelling/grammar rep. :S
I’ve felt three minor earthquakes in my life. The first was as a child in Wisconsin. The second was in western Massachusetts and the most recent in central Florida. Not exactly earthquake territory.
Tornadoes and hurricanes on the other hand are always a constant threat.
Spoken as a true Californian! These things are just known to us. Alhamdulillah. May Allah protect us all.
Though a note, that the Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, asked God to protect the Belad al Sham from natural disasters, so inshAllah we won’t have such a problem until the Day of Judgment. Interesting fact for you.
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