FORM


 * FORM: "What is it like?" The understanding that everything has a form with recognizable features that can be observed, identified, described and categorized.

ISABELLA OTERO **

​(Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency [])

Earthquake preparedness includes three different aspects:
 * 1) What to do before an earthquake.
 * 2) What to do during an earthquake.
 * 3) What to do after an earthquake**.**

We cannot prevent or even predict when an earthquake will happen. To prevent people from getting hurt or dying, we can identify the posible dangers and create a plan of action and procedures.
 * What to do before an earthquake**

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency of the United States there are six steps to take before an earthquake. They are:
 * 1) **//Check for dangers in the home.//** For example: securing the shelves safely to the walls, checking for cracks in the walls and foundation of the house, checking gas connections, and putting heavy objects on the lower shelves.
 * 2) **//Identify safe places indoors and outdoors.//** Indoors, identify strong and heavy furniture to kneel next to near an inside wall, away from glass. Outdoors, try to be away from buildings, trees, electrical wires, and over head roads.
 * 3) **//Educate your selfs and your family members.//** Teach your family to shut off gas, water, and electricity. Teach children to call the police and fire department.
 * 4) **//Have a disaster kit ready.//** Flashlights and batteries should be ready, esential medicines, emergency food and water, cash and credit cards, sturdy shoes are very useful.
 * 5) **//Develop emergency communication plan.//** Create a plan of reuniting with your family after the earthquake. You should have a contact person in another city, all of the people in your family should contact that person after the earthquake. Sometimes long distance communication is easier because local communication systems will be damaged.
 * 6) **//Help your community get ready.//** Get the local news paper to publish information about emergencies. Work with your comunity to create an action plan.

Remain calm. Remember sometimes an earthquake can be a foreshock, which means another stronger shake will happen soon. The first thing you should do is to find a secure place to stand during the earthquake. This secure place has to be nearby because you don't want to move a lot during the earthquake. Stay there until the earthquake stops and you are sure it is safe to go outside.
 * What to do during an earthquake.**


 * If you are indoors you should:**
 * Try to avoid moving from one place to the other because that is when people get hurt.
 * Move away from glass windows and doors.
 * Move next or under a large and strong piece of furniture like a desk or wardrobe.
 * If there is no furniture, move to an inside corner wall.
 * Don't use elevators.
 * If you are outdoors you should:**
 * Stay there, don't go into a building.
 * Move away from buildings, wires and street lights.
 * Stay there until the shaking stops.


 * What to do after an earthquake.**
 * Remain calm.
 * Expect aftershocks.
 * Listen to radio and news for emergency information.
 * Stay away from damaged areas.
 * Use the phone only for emergencies.
 * Open cabinets carefully.
 * Help people who are injured and trapped.
 * Clean up possible toxic or flamable liquids.
 * Inspect utilities.


 * //isabella otero 18 may 2010//**