Safety Precautions for the Great Chilean Earthquake

The earthquake with the largest magnitude recorded in history is the Great Chilean Earthquake, also known as Vladivia Earthquake.This quake occurred on May 22 1960 and measured 9.5 on the Richter scale. The earthquake and the resultant tsunami killed around 1,600 people in Chile, while Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii lost 200 lives due to the quake-generated tsunami. The coast of Chile is seismically actively zone and is known for large earthquakes. So, it is possible that Chile might experience another earthquake similar to the Great Chilean Earthquake. Over the years, the government of Chile has taken measures to prepare the nation against earthquakes.

Chilean Building Codes

• After the Great Chilean Earthquake in 1960, the government of Chile has enacted stringent building codes to ensure that new buildings in the country are earthquake resistant. The buildings are reinforced with steel to minimize damage and loss of life during earthquakes. The building codes are updated from time to time after taking into account the experiences from previous earthquakes and advancements in preventive earthquake technologies. Local authorities enforce these building codes.

Emergency Response System

• The Chilean government has established the Chilean National Emergency Office (ONEMI) that coordinates the emergency responses of fire fighters, civil defense personnel and medical teams. Additionally, the office gives advice to people for preparation for earthquakes and how to behave in case an earthquake occurs. The emergency response system in Chile is organized at local, regional as well as national level.

Earthquake Drills

• Since 1977, Operacion Deyse has been in place to ensure schools in Chile have mandatory earthquake drills three times in a year. In addition, school children and employees from public and private sectors are taught the basic earthquake precautionary measure of dropping to the ground, getting under a heavy table or door frame and then covering the head and face with the arms until the tremors cease. This safety precaution is better known as "drop, cover, hold on" measure.

General Safety Precautions

• You and your family should know their earthquake readiness plan, what to do and where to go in case you are not together when the earthquake strikes.

  Consult a building professional who specializes in enforcing houses against earthquakes. Learn how to make your home earthquake-proof, like fixing the bookcase and water heater to wall studs and replacing the cupboard latches with stronger ones.

  If you live in an apartment building, learn what the plan in place for evacuating the building during an earthquake.Allocate one room in the house for family members to converge in case of an earthquake. Keep canned and dehydrated food, blankets, and water stocked in the room.

  Have a first aid kit ready and this should be housed in a location that is easy to access. The flashlights should be working order with spare batteries. Also, store a portable battery-operated radio handy.

  Learn how to shut off the main valves for water and gas in event of an earthquake.