October 14, 2015

At 1:51pm on August 23, 2011, an event happened over 230 miles southwest of Philadelphia that literally sent tremors up the Eastern Seaboard.

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake shook our city for 30 seconds, causing buildings to be evacuated as well as damaging some structures in the city.

The quake was centered near the town of Mineral, Va. and its effects, which included rattled nerves, were felt from Georgia to Canada. It marked the most powerful tremor on the East Coast in nearly 115 years and was the third-strongest on record.

Earthquakes are a rare occasion here: the number of fault lines are unknown as they sit below the earth’s surface. Two of the more widely-know fault lines in and around Philadelphia are the Huntingdon Valley Fault, which runs through part of Fairmount Park and the Rosemont Fault which runs through the Wissahickon Valley.

Still, as those who experienced the quake on August 23rd would tell you, tremors do happen.

The time to prepare was not during the earthquake: it was time to put preparation into action.

That is part of the reason that the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill was created: to bring awareness and preparation to people about what to do during and after an quake.

On Thursday, October 15th at 10:15am EST, hundreds of thousands in our region and tens of millions internationally will drop, cover and hold during this year’s ShakeOut.

For more information on how to participate, go to http://www.shakeout.org/northeast/

Philadelphia’s Office of Emergency Management has information that can help you be prepared for an earthquake.

Communication is key:

  • Sign up for OEM’s ReadyPhiladelphia alert system at www.phila.gov/ready. Click on “Sign Up For Alerts”.
  • Follow OEM on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for important messages prior to, during and after an emergency.

If you are indoors:

  • DROP to the ground.
  • Take COVER under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture.
  • HOLD ON until the shaking stops.
  • If there is no table or desk near you:

-COVER your face and head with your arms.

-CROUCH in an inside corner of the building.

  • STAY INSIDE until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside.
  • STAY AWAY from glass, windows, outside doors, walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures, pictures and paintings, wall-mounted TVs, and furniture.
  • BE AWARE that electricity may go out and sprinkler systems and fire alarms may turn on.

If you are outdoors:

  • STAY outdoors.
  • MOVE AWAY from buildings, street lights, and utility wires.
  • Once in the open, STAY there until the shaking stops.

If you are in a moving vehicle:

  • STOP as quickly and safely as you can.
  • STAY in your vehicle.
  • AVOID STOPPING near or under buildings, trees, utility wires, and bridge, road and railway overpasses.

After an Earthquake:

  • When the shaking stops, look around to make sure it is safe to move.
  • Listen for instructions from building management or your supervisors. Building management will coordinate with officials to determine if evacuation is warranted.
  • Sheltering in place (remaining in your building) is often the safest response to an emergency situation.
  • If an evacuation is recommended and your High-Rise Office Building has a pre-designated Rallying Point, proceed to your Rallying Point. A Rallying Point is typically a park or other public space nearby where further instructions will be given or where further evacuation steps will be taken.
  • Expect aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are often less violent than the main quake but may cause additional damage to weakened structures.
  • Look for and extinguish small fires. Fire is the most common hazard after an earthquake.
  • Listen to a battery-operated or wind up radio or television, signup for emergency text or email alerts from ReadyPhiladelphia, follow Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management on Twitter or Facebook for the latest emergency information.
  • Telephone lines may be overloaded. ONLY use the phone to call 911 when there is an imminent threat to health and safety.

History tells us…

Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls.

Why Do Most Injuries Happen?

Do not exit a building or use the elevators during the shaking. Most injuries happen when people inside

buildings try to move to a different location inside or try to leave the building.

Where Are the Greatest Dangers?

  • Directly outside buildings
  • At exits
  • Alongside exterior walls.

Why Do Most Casualties Happen?

Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of injuries or deaths.