In the event you simply felt the bottom shaking, you is perhaps questioning what occurred or how you can react the subsequent time an earthquake strikes. Listed here are the solutions to some frequent questions on earthquakes.
What causes them?
To grasp earthquakes, think about the Earth as an egg, mentioned Mark Benthien, the communications director for the Statewide California Earthquake Heart, a analysis group.
The egg’s shell represents the Earth’s crust, and “if you look at it from a worldwide view, there are 12 or so major egg pieces of the crust that are called plates,” Mr. Benthien mentioned. Items of the egg’s shell — tectonic plates — transfer round slowly, about as rapidly as your fingernails develop, build up stress between them.
Most earthquakes happen when the pressure of the shifting tectonic plates exceeds the friction between them. When this occurs, the stress releases instantly and plates transfer into, previous or away from each other. The stress is launched as seismic waves that cross by means of the earth, inflicting the bottom to shake.
In uncommon instances, an earthquake can even happen within the inside of a tectonic plate.
Earthquakes may also be caused by human action, such because the disposal of waste fluids as a part of the method of oil manufacturing.
Can earthquakes be predicted?
No. It’s not possible to foretell the place or when an earthquake would possibly occur.
Nonetheless, national seismic hazard maps from the U.S. Geological Survey describe what number of sturdy earthquakes are prone to occur within the subsequent 10,000 years in america. Extra earthquakes with damaging shaking are prone to happen alongside the West Coast, alongside Alaska’s south coast and in elements of Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Globally, earthquakes are more than likely close to the “Ring of Fire,” which spans the Pacific Ocean on the edges of tectonic plates.
You’ll be able to put together forward of time.
Ought to individuals fear about earthquakes earlier than they occur? “It’s not that they should be worried, but they should act,” mentioned Mr. Benthien, who leads the Earthquake Nation Alliance, an earthquake coordination group.
The group suggests securing gadgets in your house forward of time. Fasten down bookcases and different furnishings, in addition to your tv and even your sizzling water heater. “As our buildings are built better and better, these aspects are really the cause of the most injuries — not the buildings collapsing, but just all this stuff flying around,” Mr. Benthien mentioned.
You must also put together no less than one package of provides to make use of within the aftermath of an earthquake. Amongst different issues, your emergency package ought to embrace a fireplace extinguisher, further doses of medicines you might be taking, first-aid provides, meals and water, in keeping with the U.S.G.S.
Earthquake early warning programs comparable to ShakeAlert can even generally present treasured seconds of advance warning earlier than shaking strikes your space, mentioned Robert-Michael de Groot, a coordinator for this system, which is run by the usG.S. This offers you extra time to react and keep away from harm. “ShakeAlert asks you to do what you already do, but do it sooner,” he mentioned. (Right here’s how to sign up for U.S.G.S. early warning programs.)
What ought to I do if an earthquake occurs?
The subsequent time you’re feeling the bottom shaking, observe these three steps: Drop to the bottom, cowl your physique to stop accidents — by crawling beneath a desk, for instance — and maintain on, in keeping with the Earthquake Nation Alliance. In the event you use a wheelchair or walker, stay seated, bend over and canopy your head and neck.
Consultants used to advise individuals to face beneath a doorway throughout an earthquake, however they don’t do this anymore, Dr. de Groot mentioned. “There was a time when the doorway was structurally more stable, stronger than the rest of other parts of the house,” he mentioned. “That really isn’t the case anymore.”
Irrespective of the place you might be when an earthquake strikes, Dr. de Groot mentioned, keep alert and take protecting measures. “If you’re driving on the highway at 70 miles an hour, you may not be able to drop, cover and hold on,” he mentioned. “But there’s an idea about having that situational awareness and knowing how to protect yourself no matter where you are.”
“So staying in your place, dropping, is actually the most important part,” he mentioned, advising individuals to remain low on the bottom, and discover a approach to shield themselves, wherever they’re.
