Earthquake Safety and Information

How many sticks were you given?

140 Small and 40 Big

How many floors does you building need to have?

3 complete floors

How tall does your building need to be?

30-50 cm tall, each floor being at least 10 cm.

What is an earthquake?

A sudden and violent shaking of the ground, sometimes causing great destruction, as a result of movements within the earth's crust or volcanic action.

What should you do if you are woken up by an earthquake while sleeping?

If an earthquake occurs while you are sleeping you can drop down and take cover under a desk or table and hold on. You should stay indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's safe to exit. Definitely stay away from bookcases or furniture that can fall on you.

Can you buildings have solid walls?

No

What was the largest earthquake ever recorded?

The world's largest earthquake was on May 22, 1960, near Valdivia, in southern Chile. It was a 9.5 magnitude earthquake.

Can we predict earthquakes?

We can find signs and predict an approximation of how long until an earthquake but we can not predict when and nothing is set in stone.

What can people do to buildings to better protect themselves from earthquakes?

You can make a simple structure more resistant to earthquakes by tieing the walls, floor, roof, and foundations into a rigid box that holds together when shaken by a quake. The most dangerous building construction, from an earthquake point of view, is unreinforced brick or concrete block.

Fact or Fiction? During an earthquake you should head for the doorway?

Fiction! During an earthquake, you should get away from things that could collapse on top of you or that could fall on top of you.

Fact or Fiction? It's been raining a lot, or very hot, it must be earthquake weather?

Fiction! If it has been raining for a long time or it is really hot it can make the ground softer and easier for an earthquake to occur but it doesn't directly create an earthquake.

Fact or Fiction? People can stop earthquakes?

Fiction! People cannot prevent or stop earthquakes but they can affect their outcome or how serious they are.

Fact of Fiction? California will eventually fall into the ocean?

Fiction! The strike-slip earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault are a result of this plate motion. The plates are moving horizontally past one another, so California is not going to fall into the ocean. However, Los Angeles and San Francisco will one day be adjacent to one another.

What can you do to prepare before an earthquake?

Before an earthquake occurs, secure items that could fall or move and cause injuries or damage such as bookshelves, mirrors, light fixtures, televisions, computers, hot water heaters. Move beds away from windows and secure any hanging items over beds, couches, cribs or other places people sit or lie. Plan and practice how to Drop to the ground, Cover your head and neck with your arms, and if a safer place is nearby that you can get to without exposing yourself to flying debris, crawl to it and Hold On to maintain cover. Store critical supplies such as water, medication, and documents. You should plan multiple ways of how you will communicate with family members.

Fact or Fiction? An earthquake on the San Andres fault can cause a large tsunami?

Fact! It is very possible that a tsunami will hit California due to an earthquake but at the same time is all depends on the magnitude.

Fact or Fiction? Earthquakes don't kill people, buildings and their contents do.

Fact! earthquakes all though them and they're after math can be very deadly, they can not directly kill you. Buildings, belongings, lack of knowledge and improper preparedness is what harms people.

What are warning signs of a possible tsunami and what should you do?

Severe ground shaking from local earthquakes may cause tsunamis. As a tsunami approaches shorelines, water may recede from the coast, exposing the ocean floor, reefs and fish. Abnormal ocean activity, a wall of water, and an approaching tsunami create a loud "roaring" sound similar to that of a train or jet aircraft. During a tsunami, you should follow the evacuation order issued by authorities and evacuate immediately, move to high ground or inland and away from water immediately. Make sure you stay away from the beach and save yourself not your possessions.

What is the name of the fault that runs across a significant portion of New Jersey?

The Ramapo Fault zone, spanning more than 185 miles in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, is a system of faults between the northern Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont areas to the east.

Where are the most earthquakes located?

The earth's crust is made up of several plates. Most earthquakes occur along the edge of the oceanic and continental plates.