Federal, state and local emergency management experts partnering with Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services all agree that “Drop, Cover and Hold On” is the appropriate action to reduce injury and death during earthquakes.
The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut earthquake drills to be held Thursday at 10:15 a.m. are opportunities to practice how to protect ourselves during earthquakes. (www.shakeout.org/centralus/)
You cannot tell from the initial shaking if an earthquake will suddenly become intense ... so always “Drop, Cover and Hold On” immediately.
• DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you.),
• Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table and
• HOLD ON to your shelter and be prepared to move with it until the shaking stops.
If there is no table or desk near you, drop to the ground and then, if possible, move to an inside corner of the room. Be in a crawling position to protect your vital organs and be ready to move, if necessary, and cover your head and neck with your hands and arms.
Do not move to another location or outside. Earthquakes occur without any warning and may be so violent that you cannot run or crawl. You are more likely to be injured if you try to move around during strong shaking. Also, you will never know if the initial jolt will turn out to be the start of the big one ... and that’s why you should always Drop, Cover and Hold On immediately.
These are guidelines for most situations.
If you are unable to Drop, Cover and Hold On: If you have difficulty getting safely to the floor on your own, get as low as possible, protect our head and neck and move away from windows or other items that can fall on you.
If you are in a wheelchair: Lock your wheels and remain seated until the shaking stops. Always protect your head and neck with your arms, a pillow, a book or whatever is available.
If you are in bed: If you are in bed, hold on and stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.  You are less likely to be injured staying where you are. Broken glass on the floor has caused injury to those who have rolled to the floor or tried to get to doorways.
If you are in a high-rise: Drop, Cover and Hold On. Avoid windows and other hazards. Do not use elevators. Do not be surprised if sprinkler systems or fire alarms activate.
If you are in a store: When shaking starts, Drop, Cover and Hold On. A shopping cart or getting inside clothing racks can provide some protection. If you must move to get away from heavy items on high shelves, drop to the ground first and crawl only the shortest distance necessary. Whenever you enter any retail store, take a moment to look around: What is above and around you that could move or fall during an earthquake? Then use your best judgment to stay safe.
If you are outdoors: Move to a clear area if you can safely do so; avoid power lines, trees, signs, buildings, vehicles and other hazards.  
If you are driving: Pull over to the side of the road, stop and set the parking brake. Avoid overpasses, bridges, power lines, signs and other hazards. Stay inside the vehicle until the shaking is over. If a power line falls on the car, stay inside until a trained person removes the wire.
If you are in a stadium or theater: Stay at your seat or drop to the floor between rows and protect your head and neck with your arms. Don’t try to leave until the shaking is over. Then walk out slowly, watching for anything that could fall in the aftershocks.
If you are near the shore: Drop, Cover and Hold On until the shaking stops. If severe shaking lasts 20 seconds or more, immediately evacuate to high ground as a tsunami might have been generated by the earthquake. Move inland two miles or to land that is at least 100 feet above sea level immediately. Don’t wait for officials to issue a warning. Walk quickly, rather than drive, to avoid traffic, debris and other hazards.
If you are below a dam: Dams can fail during a major earthquake. Catastrophic failure is unlikely, but if you live downstream from a dam, you should know flood-zone information and have prepared an evacuation plan.
For more information, visit the Southern California Earthquake Center’s Drop, Cover and Hold On website at  www.dropcoverholdon.org or the Northwest Tennessee Disaster Services website at www.togetherforall.org.

Published in The Messenger 2.1.13