Are You Prepared for the Next Earthquake?

This is designed to help you and your family plan for and survive a major earthquake. By taking action to be prepared, you can lessen the impact of an earthquake on your family. Set aside some emergency supplies, and teach your family what to do at home during and after a disaster. You could be without help for up to 72 hours, so learn to cope for at least that long.

Movement of the ground is seldom the actual cause of death or injury. Most casualties result from partial building collapse and falling objects and debris, like toppling chimneys, falling bricks, ceiling plaster, and light fixtures. Many of these conditions are easily preventable.

Because earthquakes occur without warning, it’s important to take steps now to prepare, so that you know what you can do and how to respond — constructive, protective action is possible.

本文旨在帮助你和家人学会未雨绸缪，以便在大地震时逃生。事先进行准备，可以减少地震带来的冲击。做一些适当的应急储备，并告诉你的家人在灾难中和灾难之后该做些什么。当灾难发生时，你很可能在72小时之内得不到任何救助。因此，至少要学会如何撑过72个小时。

地震中地面的移动一般不会直接造成伤亡。大多数伤亡是由建筑物的坍塌以及物体和建筑物残骸坠落造成。比如，倒塌的烟囱、落下的砖头、天花板上的泥块以及灯具等。而多数情况都是易于避免的。

地震发生前是没有征兆的，因此，从现在就开始进行准备相当重要。这样一来，你才会知道灾难发生时该做什么，该如何应对，如何进行有意义的自我保护。