Preparation is key, communication is crucial. Update the contact information of friends and relatives. Also, plan a potential meeting place for family members should organized transportation or communication be crippled.
Keep an emergency kit handy all at time - at home and even in the trunk of your car. You never know where you could end up stranded. Prepare for potential power losses, as well as shortages in normal everyday elements we all take for granted: gas, electricity, sewage, etc. FEMA provides an excellent source for these tips with much greater detail.
>> For further information, check out the USGS site on earthquake preparedness! <<
Aftermath
Expect aftershocks
Be aware of possible tsunamis
Go to a designated shelter if needed
Listen for announcements on the latest emergency information
Return home when it is safe
Fires are common after an earthquake
Preparation for Volcanoes
Volcanoes, unfortunately, are not as easy to prepare for or adapt with. Eruptions are violently destructive: lava flows can swallow towns, magma bombs act as volcanic rain, and hot ash is capable of literally clogging the atmosphere and suffocating the surface. Not much can be done for preparation, so it's key to have an evacuation route or plan of attack for escaping the volcanic effects. Nearby rivers and lakes will be partially contaminated by harsh interior gases, so plan for bottled water!
Preparation for Earthquakes
Fun fact: April is Earthquake Preparedness Month!
Preparation is key, communication is crucial. Update the contact information of friends and relatives. Also, plan a potential meeting place for family members should organized transportation or communication be crippled.
Keep an emergency kit handy all at time - at home and even in the trunk of your car. You never know where you could end up stranded. Prepare for potential power losses, as well as shortages in normal everyday elements we all take for granted: gas, electricity, sewage, etc. FEMA provides an excellent source for these tips with much greater detail.
>> For further information, check out the USGS site on earthquake preparedness! <<
Aftermath
Preparation for Volcanoes
Volcanoes, unfortunately, are not as easy to prepare for or adapt with. Eruptions are violently destructive: lava flows can swallow towns, magma bombs act as volcanic rain, and hot ash is capable of literally clogging the atmosphere and suffocating the surface. Not much can be done for preparation, so it's key to have an evacuation route or plan of attack for escaping the volcanic effects. Nearby rivers and lakes will be partially contaminated by harsh interior gases, so plan for bottled water!
Reference:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/faq/?categoryID=14
http://www.ready.gov/earthquakes
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/volcano-profile/
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/81/Mt.Mayon_tam3rd.jpg
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4926308_what-happens-after-volcanoes-erupt.html