What to do when an earthquake hits while you’re driving
Posted April 19, 2016 7:31 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – With repeated warnings for us to be prepared for the next big quake here, have you ever thought about what to do if it hits while you are driving?
Would you even recognize what you are feeling?
It has been said that driving down a highway during a moderate earthquake can feel like the vehicle is being buffeted by strong wind, but Doug Dahl with the Washington State Traffic Safety Commission says a strong quake feels more like major car troubles.
“When the road starts shaking, it’s going to feel like your tires all went flat and your steering is not working anymore,” he tells NEWS 1130.
“The best thing to do is pull off to the side of the road, just not near tall buildings or things that can fall down on you.”
Dahl also recommends stashing a scaled-down version of a 72-hour emergency kit in your vehicle so you are prepared to deal with what happens after a major earthquake.
“You can start even with the bare minimum, because if you start listing off a zillion things people need, they won’t do it. If you have some food, some water and a way to keep warm, you can always ramp it up from there.”
He also suggests parents include something to keep children engaged so they don’t become panicked.
Once the shaking stops, Dahl says you should stay put and listen to your radio.
“If you are in a situation where you don’t need an immediate emergency response, you can consider yourself fortunate. But that also means you will likely be on your own for a bit. You’re probably not going to get through on a cell phone for a while because networks often go down during major incidents. Eventually, you are going to hear radio reports of what’s damaged and what’s not and you might be able to pick a route to home or a shelter.”
If you want to let people know you’re okay, Dahl says you should send a text or email. Text messages and email will queue up and get delivered as capacity becomes available. A text also takes up less bandwidth than a phone call.
