How to behave before an earthquake. Before, during and after the earthquake. What to do after an earthquake

Memo from the Ministry of Emergency Situations: how to behave during an earthquake.

• 1. Conduct a detailed discussion in your family about the possibility of an earthquake, draw up and ask your family to remember well a plan for gathering the whole family after an earthquake. Designate a collection point in an open area near your home.
• 2. Plan in advance the most economical and safe way to exit the premises in the event of an earthquake. Remember that it can happen at night when the lights are off; stairwells, corridors, and doors will be crowded with people.
• 3. Determine in advance the safest places in the apartment (house): internal corners of main walls and entrance door openings, places under the beams of the building frame (seismic belt), tables, beds. 4. Teach children how to act during an earthquake, teach them to take a safe place.
• 5. Check the condition of your home - ceilings, roofing, chimney, condition of electrical wiring and gas pipes. Determine what measures are required to strengthen it.
• 6. Provide the apartment (house) with the possibility of a quick exit, remove unnecessary, disturbing things from the corridors and passages.
• 7. Sleeping places should be located away from large windows, glass partitions, and mirrors that could fall. Do not place shelves above beds and sofas.
• 8. Do not store flammable or toxic liquids in the apartment, or store them in a safe place where they cannot spill.
• 9. Have a first aid kit ready and know how to provide it. If you take any medications regularly, have a supply of them.
• 10. Always have a battery-powered radio, a flashlight, a supply of batteries, and matches ready.
• 11. Find out how gas, electricity and water are turned off in your apartment (house). If you need a wrench to shut off a line, place or tie it near the valve you want to shut off.
• 12. It is advisable to store documents, especially valuable ones and items made of precious metals in a place in the bag so that you can quickly take them with you if necessary.
• 13. When creating a stock of canned foods and drinks, count on the first 3 - 5 days. All this can be put in a backpack or bag and stored in a visible place.

What priority actions should be taken in the event of an earthquake:

When receiving an alarm. Depending on your specific situation and developments, consider the following tips and tricks for surviving an earthquake: -- Turn on your radio, television, or any live broadcast source to ensure that there is a serious earthquake threat, and to receive recommendations for action and the latest information about current situation; - inform loved ones, relatives, neighbors, people within reach about the threat of a disaster, while limiting yourself to short phrases without unnecessary emotions, saving time and not panicking others. It is best to limit yourself to advice to turn on the radio or TV to get more complete information; -- gather all your family members with whom you live to distribute responsibilities for gathering and preparing for a possible evacuation;

What to do if you need to evacuate:

1. Pack essentials, passports, other important documents, money, and valuables into a backpack or any container convenient for you. 2. Fill a container with water and prepare a small amount of canned food; 3. Prepare the apartment for conservation (lock and latch all windows, balconies, turn off gas and water, turn off electrical appliances from the network), lock the entrance doors; 4. Take, if available, personal protective equipment (respirators, gas masks, gauze bandages, etc.); 5. Take clothes (necessarily a warm set); 6. At the first shocks, try to leave the building as quickly as possible. Every second counts in such a situation. It is strictly not recommended to use the elevator - only by stairs! 7. Run out of the house quickly, but carefully. Beware of debris, electrical wires and other hazards. 8. Move further away from buildings and power lines, open space with clear skies saves 90 percent of your life in the event of an earthquake. Listen to information on the receiver about the development of the situation. 9. Provide assistance to the disabled in the area, the elderly and sick, and help other people who need help.

If a person did not have time to evacuate from the apartment, what should he do to save his life and the lives of loved ones:

• 1. If you were unable to leave the apartment, stand in the doorway or in the corner of the room (near the load-bearing wall). As far as possible from windows, chandeliers, hanging shelves, mirrors, cabinets. If you don’t know what a load-bearing wall is or it’s much easier for you to lie down, then settle down under a table or bed, while you warn yourself from collapsed pieces of plaster, bricks, broken glass and other troubles, turn away from the window, cover your head with your hands . Leave corner rooms immediately if you are above the second floor. 2. After the main impact of the earthquake, if you and those who were nearby were spared the trouble and you can move, try to leave the building as quickly as possible, pressing your back against the wall, if they are still there. Along the way, someone may need help, depending on your physical condition, provide all possible first aid to the victims, help other people with the evacuation, if it is within your power. 3. Be careful when seeking and providing help. There may be repeated earthquakes, so assess the situation soberly, without giving in to panic, make a decision - go to help or stay on the street. 4. If an earthquake catches you driving, stop, leave the car or motorcycle until the tremors end. If you find yourself on public transport, do not panic, ask the driver to stop and open the doors if he has not done so himself. It is advisable to leave the salon after shocks.
• 5. If an earthquake hits you on the railway, do not panic, in this case everything depends largely on the drivers and the work of specially trained people to prevent accidents. Grab the handrails, wait for notifications from the driver, and during an emergency evacuation, follow everyone, avoiding panic and crush.

General attitude: calm, self-control, clear, calculated actions. You need to remember that an earthquake will almost certainly take you by surprise and may plunge you into a state of shock. The main thing is to get out of the state of shock as quickly as possible and move on to thoughtful actions. If you know in advance what to do in a given situation, it will be easier for you to remain calm and thereby help yourself and those around you.

Your calm will instill confidence in those around you. Ill-considered actions in a state of panic can worsen your situation and cause harm to others. Heart-rending screams and cries of despair are easily transmitted to others and create an atmosphere of general panic. Smirnov A.T., Frolov M.P., Litvinov E.N., Bogoyavlensky I.F., Petrov S.V.. Fundamentals of life safety: Textbook / A.T. Smirnov. - M.: Publishing house AST-LTD, 2007. - 232 p.

Remember that even during catastrophic earthquakes, buildings do not collapse immediately. It is known that during the Spitak earthquake of 1988 in Stepanavan (9 points), the building of boarding school No. 21 was completely destroyed, but not a single child or teacher was injured, because at the first weak tremors, they immediately left the building through the doors and windows. Analysis of the destruction in Gyumri (9 points) showed that 10-story buildings began to collapse 10-12 seconds after the first shock. Don't panic - you have time to take some action to save yourself.

In addition, during any earthquake, only a small part of the population is located in the epicentral zone - the majority will experience the echoes of a given earthquake. The likelihood that you are at the epicenter is extremely low. But don’t be careless: you can be seriously injured even during a magnitude 6 earthquake if a cabinet or poorly secured shelf with books falls on you.

Capable men and women, remember that children, the elderly and the sick need your help. By focusing on the needs of others, you will free yourself from fear for your life and be able to act more calmly.

Children, the elderly and the sick, know that those who are stronger think about you; don’t scream or wail, don’t stop them from helping you.

And the main instruction for everyone: know that professionals from rescue services are already rushing to your aid. Do not give in to despair even in seemingly hopeless situations. They will save you, they will definitely save you.

What to do if you are on the street

1. During tremors, do not enter or run around buildings. It's best to stay in an open area, away from buildings and power lines.

2. If you find yourself next to a high-rise building, stand in the doorway - this will protect you from falling pieces of glass, balconies, cornices and parapets.

REMEMBER: underground communications are a source of increased danger, especially pipelines with hot water and steam, as well as the gas supply system. It is useful for rural residents to take care of their pets. Free them, they will follow you.

What to do if you are in transport

1. Any transport must be stopped calmly and quickly, as far as possible from buildings (buildings, overpasses, bridges, power lines, tall trees). Ask the driver to stop and open the doors if he has not done so himself.

2. Drivers should avoid traffic jams and intersection closures. Try to avoid the center and narrow passages.

3. Drivers of buses and trams, having stopped the transport, must open all doors, and then, after the first shocks, monitor compliance with order when exiting the vehicle.

4. If an earthquake hits you on the railway, do not panic, grab the handrails, wait for notifications from the driver, and during an emergency evacuation, follow everyone, avoiding panic and crush.

REMEMBER : You should not get out of the car or bus until the end of the tremors. Do not break windows or rush towards doors, creating a crush and a clear risk of injury.

After the earthquake

1. If there are no other sources of light, before lighting matches or a lighter, make sure there is no smell of gas, gasoline or other flammable or explosive substances.

2. Do not touch exposed wires.

3. If there are intact telephones nearby, try contacting ambulance, fire and other rescue services.

4. If rescue operations are underway and there is no need for your help, do not fuss around trying to help - this will only complicate the actions of the rescuers.

5. If you find spilled or explosive explosive, flammable or toxic substances, immediately warn others about them.

6. If there is a radio or repeater nearby, be sure to turn it on to hear information about the scale of the disaster and the necessary measures to eliminate its consequences.

7. Be sure to register at the earthquake relief headquarters so that your relatives can find you (you will learn where it is located on the radio or TV, or from rescue workers).

The main thing is don’t panic and don’t despair. Your help and endurance will be needed to save other people. Try to cheer up those around you: this will not only help despairing people, but will also give you additional strength. Don't spread rumors! Despite the suddenness of a natural disaster, you should remain calm, self-controlled, and act quickly and confidently.

Remember:

YOUR LIFE IS IN YOUR HANDS!

Earthquake Safety Measures

Everyone should know about this, SAFETY IS IMPORTANT!

Developed by: life safety teacher Koval A.P.

EARTHQUAKE - These are tremors and vibrations of the earth's surface that arise as a result of sudden displacements and ruptures in the earth's crust or upper mantle and are transmitted over long distances in the form of elastic vibrations. The point in the earth's crust from which seismic waves emanate is calledhypocenter of the earthquake. The shortest distance location on the earth's surface above the hypocenter of an earthquake is calledepicenter . The intensity of an earthquake is assessed on a 12-point seismic scale (MSK-86); magnitude is used to classify earthquakes in energy. Conventionally, earthquakes are divided into weak (1-4 points), strong (5-7 points) and destructive (8 or more points). During earthquakes, glass breaks and falls out, objects lying on them fall from shelves, bookcases shake, chandeliers sway, whitewash falls off the ceiling, and cracks appear in the walls and ceilings. All this is accompanied by deafening noise. After 10-20 seconds of shaking, the tremors intensify, resulting in destruction of buildings and structures. Just a dozen strong shocks destroy the entire building. On average, an earthquake lasts 5-20 seconds. The longer the shaking lasts, the more severe the damage.

How to behave during earthquakes

So what to do if:

… felt signs of an earthquake (buildings swaying, lamps swaying, glass clinking...)

1. Turn on the radio, TV, any direct broadcast source, and if possible, do not turn them off. In the shortest possible time, you will be able to hear important information about the earthquake and the actions that you need to take.

2. As briefly and without panic as possible, convey the information received about the earthquake to your relatives, friends, neighbors and acquaintances.

3. If necessary, give priority to children, the disabled and the elderly.

If it's not safe to stay home

1. Take your passports, important documents, money, valuables with you;

2. Fill a container with water and prepare a small amount of canned food;

3. Prepare the apartment for conservation (lock and latch all windows, balconies, turn off gas and water, turn off electrical appliances from the network), lock the entrance doors;

4. Take, if available, personal protective equipment (respirators, gas masks, gauze bandages).

What to do if you are indoors

If you are in a low building (up to 2-3 floors), then try to leave it;

run out quickly but carefully;

Beware of falling objects, downed wires and other sources of danger;

2. If you are on the upper floors of a multi-story building:

Don't rush towards the stairs or elevators (they will most likely be crowded and the elevators are disabled). Therefore it is better to stay in the building;

open the front door, which in the event of repeated shocks may be warped and jammed;

quickly take the safest place in the room: under durable furniture, near the load-bearing wall closest to the center, supporting column, in the doorways of main walls, in the corner of the room, in the bathtub (where at least children can fit);

You have 10-20 seconds to find yourself in a safe and secure place - as a rule, this is the entrance door to the apartment.

Residents of territories that are relatively calm in terms of seismic activity, as a rule, do not think about how to behave and what to do first in the event of an earthquake. Their theoretical training on this topic is limited to a short lecture in a school geography or life safety lesson and does not find application in real life. And thank God! But world experience shows that Mother Nature is not always so supportive of her careless children. From time to time, natural disasters occur even in places where no one even suspected such a possibility. This means that everyone should have rescue and first aid skills in case of natural disasters. As they say, if you want peace, prepare for war. Or even simpler: trust in God, and don’t make a mistake yourself.

As you know, the world's oceans occupy more than 90% of the Earth's surface area, and therefore most earthquakes occur at the bottom of the oceans and go unnoticed by continental residents. They cause destruction only if they provoke a tsunami. And in general, there are many more earthquakes than is known to the general population - up to a million during the year. It’s just that almost all of them are so insignificant that only special equipment from geoactivity monitoring stations can detect them. But the infrequent but powerful movements of the earth’s surface cause so much damage to humanity that they are remembered for a long time.

The strength of an earthquake and the intensity of the destruction it causes is measured according to several officially accepted parameters in the world, each of which has its own scale. The most common rating system is the Richter magnitude scale, which characterizes the amount of energy released during seismic activity. For understanding not by seismologists, but by ordinary people, a 12-point scale for measuring the intensity of earthquakes is much more convenient. According to it, earthquakes with intensity from 1 to 3 units are considered weak and do not bring destructive consequences. An earthquake with an intensity of 4 to 6 units leads to noticeable damage, and from 7 to 9 – to destruction and casualties. Earthquakes estimated at 10 units or more are equated to natural disasters and catastrophes, leaving behind the ruins of cities and sinkholes.

It is useful to know that, according to statistics, most earthquake victims are killed and injured not in collapsed buildings, but from falling objects such as chandeliers, heavy furniture and glass from high floors. In practice, this information means that the main preparation for an earthquake should be to strengthen and secure those objects that can fall, securing cabinet doors, dishes, mirrors and heavy framed pictures. It is better to move furniture away from the walls and not place it where it may interfere with exit from the room and/or where people sleep. This is especially true for buildings erected without taking into account seismic strength, and these include all houses older than 1965, high-rise panel buildings without seismic belts, and remodeled apartments. But the fact is that science still cannot predict the time of an earthquake with such accuracy that it will allow planning an evacuation program. Therefore, even without prior preparation, you need to be able to find your bearings in time and not get confused when an earthquake starts.

Rules of conduct during an earthquake
Even buildings that do not have special seismic reinforcements, but are in good operating condition, can withstand an earthquake with an intensity of up to 6 units inclusive. Moreover, earthquakes, as a rule, do not last long and the duration of the strongest tremors usually does not exceed one minute. True, even this time is enough to seriously damage dilapidated buildings and unstable structures. Therefore, no matter what room you are in during an earthquake, without knowing for sure about its technical characteristics, you need to act very quickly and harmoniously with those around you. Try to remember and accurately reproduce the steps outlined in these instructions:
Thus, you have become familiar with the basic instructions for behavior during an earthquake that finds you within the city, in a familiar environment. But the area of ​​effect of an earthquake can be very vast, so let’s look at several unusual situations that may happen to you or your friends, and in which you also need to act thoughtfully and quickly:

1. On the road. All moving transport must be stopped immediately, this applies to both road and rail transport. The driver is obliged to open all doors and give passengers the opportunity to leave the carriages and/or the cabin. The exception is roads passing under bridges and other large, unsafe structures. In this case, you need to drive away from them and only then go outside. Under no circumstances should you stop under a bridge. When an earthquake begins, a personal car must be stopped immediately, but remain in it. The metal body can protect against falling debris.
   
2. On a rest. While in a hotel room, you need to act exactly the same as in your own apartment. Here, elevators may be turned off and fire alarms may be triggered. Don't panic and use the fire escape. Refer to the evacuation plan posted on each floor. If you were on the beach or embankment when the earthquake started, move away from the water as soon as possible. High waves and even a tsunami are possible on the coast. If you see a sharp ebb tide, then from minute to minute a stream of water will appear in its place and cover the shore.
   
3. At work. Most office premises are equipped with warning systems and fire safety devices. Most likely, they will all work when an earthquake begins. At the same time, many modern buildings intended for offices do not have special seismic protection and collapse quite quickly. Therefore, you need to act quickly. Once in the elevator, leave it as soon as possible so as not to get stuck in the cabin. If you work on a very high floor and cannot leave the building on foot, find a sturdy table and take cover under it. Another more or less reliable place is in the corner between load-bearing walls. Make sure that fragments of panoramic windows, office equipment, heavy safes and furniture will not hit you in the event of a fall.

All members of your family should be familiar with earthquake precautions. Show them where the electrical plugs, gas and water switches are located in the house. Designate a meeting point and location in case one of you gets lost or separated from others during another earthquake. The fact is that seismic activity can be quite long-term, and periods of calm will only be temporary. But for now you have some (unspecified) amount of time to prepare for new attacks. Try to prepare a bag during this period: quite voluminous, but one that you can carry on your shoulder without slowing down. Place basic identification documents, money and medicines in it. Also place a portable flashlight and a portable radio here.

As for the food supply, try to find products that do not spoil and withstand temperature changes and mechanical pressure well. Ideally, these are canned foods, but not in heavy cans. A supply of water is also necessary. It will be good if you manage to store all this in a protected place away from the epicenter of destruction. In addition, study all entrances and exits of nearby buildings, find out where emergency escape routes, fire hydrants, fire extinguishers and gas masks are located. You may have 3 to 24 hours to urgently evacuate a dangerous area. But it is impossible to predict the exact time of the aftershocks, so do not hesitate, maintain your presence of mind and be attentive to what is happening around you. Typically, the onset of an earthquake is like being on the deck of a ship, with the floor giving way under your feet and loose objects clinking and moving. If you notice this, do not hesitate and follow the instructions. This greatly increases your chances of a successful rescue.

It is important that people living or temporarily visiting seismic areas take some simple precautions and know what to do in the event of an earthquake.

Remember that those people who firmly know how to behave before, during and after an earthquake overcome their natural fear much easier.

What to do during an earthquake

When an earthquake occurs, the ground will vibrate perceptibly for a relatively short time - only a few seconds, at most a minute in a very strong earthquake. These fluctuations are unpleasant and can cause fear, but you have no choice but to wait for them to end. Therefore, it is very important to maintain calm and composure. If you act calmly and consciously, you have a better chance of remaining unharmed. Moreover, other people will follow your example and will only benefit from it.

If you feel a shaking of the ground or building, react immediately, remembering that the greatest danger comes from falling objects. Don't be embarrassed if you have to hide under the table. People who hesitate are more likely to become victims of falling objects, parts of the ceiling and walls.

Stay calm and don't do anything that disturbs other people's peace (eg, shouting, running).

If you are indoors, immediately find a safe place. Get under a table or bed. Stand in an inner doorway or in an inner corner of a room. Remember that the outer walls of a building collapse more often. Stay away from windows, stoves, and heavy objects such as refrigerators that could tip over or move.

Don't run out of the building. Debris falling along walls poses a serious hazard. It’s safer to wait out the shock where it finds you, and only after waiting for it to end, move to a safe place.

If you are inside a multi-story building, do not rush towards elevators or stairs. There will most likely be crowds near the exits, and the elevators will not work. In addition, flights of stairs and elevators often collapse during an earthquake.

Don't be surprised if the power goes out or the fire alarm, burglar alarm, or fire extinguishing system goes off. Be prepared to hear the sound of breaking glass, cracking walls and falling objects.

If you are in an unfortified one- or two-story brick building, it may be safer to leave the building than to remain in it. Leave the building as quickly as possible, but be careful to watch out for falling brickwork, wires and other dangerous objects.

Don't jump out of windows unless absolutely necessary. Remember, this can cause injury even if the building is completely intact.

When on a sidewalk near a tall building, enter an entrance or move to an open area to avoid falling debris.

When in a moving vehicle, brake smoothly away from tall buildings, bridges and overpasses. Stay in the car until the aftershocks end.

Don't be surprised if you feel aftershocks. After the first shock there is usually a pause, after which another shock may follow. This is caused by the arrival of different seismic waves from the same earthquake. In addition, there may be a so-called aftershock - a new shock following the main one. Aftershocks can occur minutes, hours, or even days after the main shock. Sometimes aftershocks cause damage or destruction to building structures already weakened by the main shock.

What to do after an earthquake

When the ground shaking stops, you may find significant damage and casualties. In this case, it is especially important, while remaining calm, to immediately begin to help the injured and wounded. The second most important thing is extinguishing the fires that have arisen. After this, you can begin assessing the damage and restoration work.

Help the wounded. Give them first aid and cover them with blankets to prevent them from getting cold. Refer a doctor to those in need.

Try to detect fires and, if possible, take measures to extinguish them.

Inspect communications for damage. Close gas valves if there is a risk of leakage. Determine gas leaks by smell; never use matches or a candle. If there is a risk of damage to the wiring, turn off the power. Turn off the water if damage to the water pipes is detected.

Do not use the vehicle unless necessary for safety or assistance.

Do not use the telephone except to call for help or report serious incidents, injuries or crimes. Overloaded telephone lines reduce the effectiveness of emergency services, and it would be frivolous to use the telephone for personal needs or to satisfy curiosity. When the tension subsides, contact family and friends to let them know you are safe.

Do not go exploring or enter areas of destruction unless your assistance is needed. Avoid coastal areas where tsunamis are possible.

If possible, do not use the toilet until you are sure that the sewer line is intact.

Be extremely careful when walking past damaged buildings. Collapses can occur suddenly; in addition, there is a danger due to gas leaks, damaged wiring, broken glass, etc.

Clean up spilled hazardous liquids (gasoline, chemicals, etc.) and warn others about them.

Listen carefully to radio announcements.

Try to support and encourage children and those who are psychologically traumatized by what is happening. Don't spread rumors.

Assist police, troops, firefighters, emergency medical services and others involved in rescue and recovery efforts.

If you find yourself stuck

Help those around you, help them calm down. Try to establish contact with people outside the rubble (voice, knock).

Remember: help will come, the main thing is to wait for it. Save energy. A person can remain viable (without water or food) for more than half a month.

If there are people in the rubble next to you

Look around. Try to find people who are not depressed, team up with them and immediately begin search and rescue operations.

Connect with victims. When receiving response sound signals from people in the rubble, one must strive to establish two-way communication with the victims by periodically knocking, and if possible, then provide them with fresh air, water, and medicine.

To extract a person from under a rubble, they either dismantle the rubble from above or from the side, or break through an opening from an adjacent room, or make a manhole in the rubble.

Depending on the situation, use the method that is less labor-intensive and ensures quick rescue of the victim, his safety and yours.

In some cases, instead of dismantling the rubble, it is advisable to punch an opening in the wall or make a crawl space.

Properly organize the work on equipping the manhole passage!

Choose a place to make a manhole passage (do not choose areas with a pile of blocks, they can tip over or settle and thereby complicate the work).

Pay special attention to strengthening the elements of the manhole passage with fastening posts, crossbars, and spacers. Remember, repeated tremors are possible, which can lead to the destruction of the manhole passage.

As they approach the victim, remove everything from the path that could interfere with the extraction of the person and cause additional injuries to him. Large debris is removed first, then small debris. First of all, free the victim’s head and upper torso, then the limbs, not forgetting to apply tourniquets to them above the places that have been subjected to prolonged compression. Burning and smoldering objects must be removed from the rubble and extinguished to avoid burns and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Provide first aid to the injured.

Be sure to wait for professional rescuers to arrive, share your observations with them, and answer their questions.

REMEMBER! The lives of people in trouble largely depend on your skillful actions.

How to prepare for an earthquake

Everyone living in an earthquake-prone area should consciously and systematically plan their actions during a possible earthquake. You are much more likely to remain calm and able to act intelligently if you think through everything in advance - your actions at home, at work, in the store, on the street, in the car and in other places where you go.

The following is a list of preparations that can be made in anticipation of a possible earthquake. Some of them are simple measures that can be taken immediately, while other recommendations are addressed to those who are willing to spend their time and effort to ensure additional security.

Plan in advance the most economical and safe way to exit the premises in the event of an earthquake. Remember that it can happen at night, and the doors and corridors will be crowded with people. Doors can also jam.

Determine in advance the safest places in the apartment (internal corners near main walls, internal door openings, tables, beds).

Teach children, as well as other members of your family, to occupy a safe place.

Do not keep heavy things on cabinets and shelves unless absolutely necessary.

Find out how gas, electricity and water are turned off in your home and other places you visit. If you need a wrench to shut off a line, place (or tie) it close to the valve to be shut off.

Have a first aid kit ready and know how to administer it. If you regularly take any medications, have an emergency supply of the medications you and your loved ones need.

Always have a battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries on hand.

Secure bookcases and other heavy furniture that could tip over to walls.

Store flammable and toxic materials in a safe place where they cannot be spilled.

Make sure your bed is located away from large windows, mirrors and heavy objects that could fall.

Check the condition of your home and determine what measures are required to strengthen it.

Support local disaster preparedness efforts. Support their efforts to restore and reconstruct old and dilapidated buildings and structures, including strengthening or demolishing unsafe building elements.

Write down the ambulance, fire brigade, police and seismic station numbers next to the phone. You may need the last number to clarify the location of the earthquake.

Estimation of earthquake magnitude based on general characteristics

1 point - invisible - not felt by people; Soil vibrations are detected only by instruments.

2 points - very weak - felt by people on the upper floors of buildings.

3 points - weak - fluctuations are noted by many people.

4 points - moderate - felt by almost everyone; glass rattles.

5 points - quite strong - many sleepers wake up; chandeliers swing, etc.

6 points - severe - slight damage to buildings, thin cracks in the plaster.

7 points - very strong - cracks in the walls, chipping of pieces of plaster, cornices, partial destruction of chimneys.

8 points - destructive - fall of cornices, chimneys; through cracks in the walls and their partial collapse; people find it difficult to stand on their feet.

9 points - devastating - collapse of walls, roofs of buildings.

10 points - destructive - destruction of many buildings, cracks in the soil up to 1 m wide.

11 points - catastrophe - numerous cracks and ditches on the earth's surface, large landslides in the mountains.

12 points - severe catastrophe - significant changes in the terrain.

A professional survival instructor told how to survive during an earthquake on the MIR 24 TV channel. Alexey Sedoy.

– How to behave so as not to end up under the rubble?

Alexey Sedoy: There are three classic scenarios: before, during and after the event. Information about an earthquake is either delayed or arrives simultaneously with it. We must remember that an earthquake never occurs immediately at its maximum - small tremors occur first. Therefore, if you quickly find your bearings, you can take a safer place.

Pets sense the approach of various natural disasters. If you notice strange behavior in your animal, you can call two or three animal friends and find out how their pets are behaving now. A changed behavior pattern of an animal is one of the signs that some natural phenomenon is approaching. If you are in the apartment at this moment, leave it immediately.

– What to do during the first tremors? Do you have to immediately run outside?

Alexey Sedoy: It depends on the house and how worn it is. There are earthquake-resistant and non-earthquake-resistant houses.

– Are there any safe places inside the house?

Alexey Sedoy: Conditionally safe places are considered to be a doorway in a load-bearing wall and small rooms, for example, toilets and a bathroom. The bathtub itself can also save you, because the floor slab falls on the sides of the bathtub when it falls. In any case, the first thing you need to do is grab your passport and mobile phone. At the same time, in any extreme situation, whether you are lost in the forest or caught in an earthquake, do not waste your phone’s charge, keep it dry and communicate only with rescuers.

– The United States holds annual earthquake drills. There they teach, among other things, to cover your head and neck with your hands. Is that necessary?

Alexey Sedoy: Yes, this is correct practice. Another correct position is to lie on your side, looking down and covering your neck with your hands. This way you protect vital organs.

– What are the chances of survival for residents of the upper floors of multi-storey buildings?

Alexey Sedoy: In any case, the elevator must not be used during evacuation.

– What to do if an earthquake hits you while driving a car?

Alexey Sedoy: You must stop immediately, get out of the car, and leave the roadway. If you are on the border of a populated area, then you need to go to the side of the road. If you are in a populated area, then two or three (up to 10) cars need to block the intersection and stay inside this safe space. On the street you need to save yourself at an intersection. The middle of an intersection, especially one blocked by cars, is the safest place.