Your preparations for this area's inevitable earthquakes are important - the more you plan and prepare for them, the better chance of getting through the hardships associated with earthquakes. Helping to equip us with the skills and understanding needed to cope with these disasters, the Safety Office held two earthquake awareness training classes during the 2001 Safety Awareness Days. Jack Vechil, Platinum International disaster preparedness specialist, led the training, which focused on improving the Dryden community's planning and preparation for our number one natural disaster threat. According to Vechil, small earthquakes can be readily sized by their more meager results, such as drinks sloshing around in cups and minor swaying. Moderate quakes often result in books and heavier objects falling from bookcases, etc.
Major earthquakes result in noticeable structural damage to buildings, including broken windows.
Though much structural damage can remain unseen, broken windows may indicate that more hidden damage has occurred. According to Vechil, one of the big lessons learned from the Northridge quake and others is the use of automobiles as shelter. Primarily, autos offer excellent solid protection from the elements, and enable us to keep safe through the use of air conditioning and heating. The car radio provides a means for hearing emergency updates from local and state authorities. Automobiles rest on shock absorbers, so they offer good protection from potentially violent earthquake aftershocks, which can sometimes be more powerful than the initial quake.