Earthquake Preparedness
These tips come from the American Red Cross.
If you are inside when the quake hits:
• Drop, cover and hold on. Move as little as possible.
• If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on. Protect your head with a pillow.
• Stay away from windows to avoid being injured by shattered glass.
• Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. When it is, use stairs rather than the elevator in case there are aftershocks, power outages or other damage.
• Be aware that fire alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire.
If you are outside when the quake hits:
• If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible. Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Then, drive carefully, avoiding bridges and ramps that may have been damaged.
• If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance.
• If you are in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes or cliffs, be alert for falling rocks and other debris. Landslides are often triggered by earthquakes.
For more information, go to preparesandiego.org.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported two earthquakes, magnitudes 3.4 and 3.0, in the Salton Sea region Wednesday morning.
That's a week after a series of small jolts under the Salton Sea near the 800-mile-long San Andreas fault.
The U.S. Geological Survey had said the swarm temporarily increased the risk of a bigger earthquake, but that risk quickly decreased over time. The largest quake in the swarm was a magnitude 4.3.
California emergency officials on Tuesday said the period of elevated risk of a large earthquake on the San Andreas Fault is over.
Earthquake swarms have occurred under the Salton Sea in the past.
The last time the southernmost section of the San Andreas Fault ruptured was in 1680, more than 330 years ago.
