Earthquake Preparedness: AFAD’s Before, During & After Guide

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Earthquake Preparedness: Before, During and After (AFAD)

Earthquakes cannot be predicted, but a few simple preparations make a real difference. This article summarizes the public guidance of AFAD, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, in plain language. It is a general summary, not a replacement for official instructions: for the current and complete guidance, visit afad.gov.tr. Before: know your risk and make a plan AFAD recommends learning the earthquake hazard of the place where your building stands; it provides a hazard map service for this purpose at tdth.afad.gov.tr. It also recommends that every household make a family plan and practice it, so that everyone knows what to do without having to think. Part of the plan is a meeting place for the family after an earthquake, and knowing your nearest emergency gathering area. AFAD says you can look up the gathering area closest to your address through e-Devlet. Before: secure your home Heavy furniture can fall and injure people. AFAD's guidance includes fixing wardrobes and other tall items that could topple to each other and to the wall, securing stoves and heaters to the wall or floor with solid materials, and hanging fixtures such as chandeliers and air conditioners away from walls and windows on hooks that can carry their weight. Keeping cupboard doors with heavy contents closed with mechanical latches, adding an elastic band or wire to shelf fronts and fixing toxic, explosive or flammable materials so they cannot fall are also on the list. Do not place a bed next to a window or next to heavy cabinets that could tip over. Keep exit routes clear and marked, and do not leave emergency exits locked. Before: the disaster and emergency bag AFAD recommends a Disaster and Emergency Bag for the first 72 hours after an earthquake, to hold your urgent needs and valuable documents until rescue teams reach you. The bag should be ready and within reach, and should cover the needs of people you are responsible for (babies, older people, people with disabilities) and of pets, if you have them. AFAD suggests keeping a bag not only at home but also at the workplace and at school, in the classroom. Check the food and drink inside regularly. AFAD's list includes: Food: high-calorie, long-lasting food that contains vitamins and carbohydrates and helps prevent water loss (such as canned food, dried fruit, tahini-molasses and fruit juice) Water: enough drinking water, thinking of every family member Photocopies of important documents: ID cards, title deeds, insurance and licence documents, the compulsory earthquake insurance policy (DASK), diplomas, passport, bank book; also documents such as a pet's health record Clothing: underwear, socks, a raincoat and clothes suited to the climate Hygiene items: soap and disinfectant, toothbrush and toothpaste, wet wipes, toilet paper, sanitary pads A first aid kit and a sleeping bag or blanket A pocket knife, a whistle and small scissors; paper and a pen A battery-powered radio, a flashlight and spare batteries (choose durable, long-life batteries) During: Drop, Cover and Hold On AFAD teaches the Drop-Cover-Hold On movement (Çök-Kapan-Tutun in Turkish). Get down on your knees (drop), protect your head and neck (cover), and hold on to something stable so you are not thrown around (hold on). A sturdy table or the side of strong furniture is preferred, away from windows and unfixed objects. Do not run to the stairs or the exits while the ground is shaking; stay inside until the shaking stops, then leave. Do not go out on the balcony and do not jump from a window or balcony. Do not use the elevator. If you are outdoors, move away from power lines, poles, trees and buildings and wall bases. Do not light a match or lighter and do not touch electrical switches; use the phone only to report an emergency or a fire. If you are in a car and the spot is safe, pull over to the right without blocking the road, leave the key in the ignition and wait inside with the windows closed; go to open areas once th...

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