Some Advice in Dealing With Natural Disasters.

I know disaster is not something enjoyable to talk and think about but when we get to reality, emergency situation caused by disaster is something we have to face it, like it or not, ready or not if it had to happen. We can learn one important lesson from earthquake and tsunami which struck Japan on March 11, 2011 that their state of preparedness in dealing with natural disaster have saved many lives. Let's compare this condition with what happened in Aceh, a province in northern tip of Sumatra, in 2004. Lack of socialization and readiness in dealing with earthquake and tsunami had taken around 130,000 victims of local people after an 8.9 RS (Richter scale) earthquake followed by tsunami some minutes later devastated the province.

Here are some advices in dealing with earthquakes at different situations. The first thing needed during earthquake that we must stay calm and not panic :

Inside home :

Some places inside home can give good protection. When the building shaking, stay away from objects possibly fall. Reach a pillow to protect your head if possible and go hiding under sturdy wooden desk is recommended. Switch of stoves, and unplug electronic equipment to avoid short circuits and sudden power input which may damage your equipment.

Slowly leave the house when the quake stops jolting avoid staying close to fractured, tilted buildings.

Outside home :

Stay away from concrete, walls, trees, power lines, and buildings. Beware of possibly falling glasses, advertisement boards and protect your head with hands, bags, or anything possible.

At the mall and cinema :

Don't panic and find signs or directions which lead to exit door or emergency exit. Stay away from large glasses, hanging lamps, windows.

Avoid jostling or pushing others which will only create chaotic situation and bring unnecessary victims.

Inside a Lift.

It is not recommended to use lift when there is earthquake but If you're inside a lift when an earthquake jolts, then puss all digits of the lift to stop it at nearest floor. Get out of it as soon as it stops and find a safe place or get out of the building through the emergency exits. Call the building management by the interphone provided in the lift to let them know your position.

In the Car :

If Earthquake happens while you drive, you'll feel as if the tires are bald and have no strong grips on the street. This condition may make the drivers lose control on their cars. Avoid going through an intersection and carefully pull over and stay in car.

Don't stop under flyover, underpass, or bridges.

In The Mountain and On The Beach :

Be aware of possible landslide and avalanche when earthquake happens in the mountain. Don't stay under steep mountain sides, especially if those sloping sides have no vegetation on it. A bare sloping land will make a prone area for landslide and avalanche when earthquake shakes it.

Menacing danger on the beach if earthquake happens (with epicenter) near the beach is tidal waves and tsunami. Leave the beach area and go to high, safer land right away.

Don't look for protection behind compound walls, some evidence of historical earthquakes proved that such walls were not strong enough to resist tsunami. Areas with mangrove trees and coconuts stand to tsunami better since those trees break the waves and become less powerful. Some survivors  got advantage from the presence trees around the beach and managed to survive when tsunami struck Aceh in 2004.