earthquake
safety
basic steps to take
before, during and after
an earthquake
www.lacledegas.com
Laclede Earthquake broch.indd 2 12/17/08 10:27:18 AM
Contents
What you should know about earthquakes 1
Earthquakes and natural gas 2
Knowing what to do 2
How to prepare for an earthquake 3
Family emergency plan 4
Your survival kits 5
What to do during an earthquake 7
What to do after the earthquake 8
When should you turn off your
gas at the meter? 9
If you smell gas… 10
If you do not smell gas… 10
What is your earthquake quotient (EQ)? 11
Earthquake shut-off valves 13
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what you should
know about
earthquakes
If you live in Missouri or Illinois,
you stand a good chance of
experiencing a moderate to
severe earthquake in your
lifetime. The New Madrid Fault
Zone, part of a seven-state
network of fault systems, is
considered the most active
seismic zone east of the Rocky
Mountains. It has a 25-40%
probability of producing a
magnitude 6.0 to 7.5 earthquake
at any time during the next
50 years.
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Earthquakes and natural gas
While no one can predict how much damage
an earthquake may cause, the good news
is that natural gas pipeline systems have
proven remarkably resistant to earthquake-
related damage. Recently installed natural gas
pipelines are made of high-strength steel or
polyethylene plastic, which are flexible enough
to withstand significant earth movement
without being damaged. Natural gas has some
added safety features of its own.
n It is lighter than air, so that it rapidly
dissipates into the atmosphere.
n It is odorized for easy detection. In other
words, you can smell it.
n It has a narrow combustion range.
n It is nontoxic.
Knowing what to do
There is no warning before
an earthquake, but that
doesn’t mean you have no
control over your own safety.
There are ways to prepare
for an earthquake, ways to
protect yourself when one
occurs, and actions to take
when it is over.
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How to prepare for an earthquake
Anything that moves, falls, or breaks
when your house starts to shake is
an earthquake hazard. Reduce or
eliminate these hazards in advance
by conducting a home hazard hunt.
Label gas valves, water valves and
electricity main switches. Teach
responsible family members how and
when to turn them off. Do not turn off
your gas unless an emergency exists.
Secure your hot water heater by
strapping it to the wall or ceiling,
bolting it to the floor, or using metal
straps to attach it to wood studs or
steel support posts. (You can have
this done by Laclede if you wish.
Call 621-6960).
Anchor tall bookcases or cabinets
to the wall so they won’t tip over.
Remove heavy items from high shelves
to prevent them from falling and
hitting someone.
Install latches on cabinets to keep
them from springing open and spilling
their contents.
Remove any flammable liquids,
such as gasoline, paint, and cleaning
products. Store away from your water
heater and furnace.
Connect appliances, including ranges,
dryers, and space heaters to the gas
supply with flexible connectors (if local
codes allow).
earthquake safety 3
Check with your neighbors, building
manager, or homeowners association
to determine if there is a neighborhood
response plan and point person.
Have a family meeting to develop
a family emergency plan. Be sure
everyone understands and memorizes
it. The plan should spell out:
1. Where every family member will
go if they are at home at the first
sign of an earthquake.
2. A gathering point outside the
home in the event the house
is damaged.
3. Where you will go if you are not
at home when it strikes.
4. Where family members should
meet if the family is scattered.
5. A single contact person that all
family members should call to
report in when they are safe.
6. A list of support people to
call if help is needed, including
doctors and the point person
designated by your neighborhood
response plan.
Have a family
meeting to
develop a family
emergency plan.
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Assemble basic emergency supplies
and store them in an easily accessible
place. You should have one kit for your
home and another for your car.
Your home survival kit should contain:
1. First aid kit
2. At least one flashlight with
spare batteries
3. One or more fire extinguishers
(dry chemical, type ABC)
4. Portable radio with spare batteries
5. Tool kit with basic tools
6. Bottled water
(1 gallon per person per day)
plus purification tablets
7. Non-perishable foods
(cans, boxed meals, dried food)
8. Manually operated can opener
9. Blankets and sleeping bags
10. Watch or clock
(battery operated or spring wound)
11. Duct tape
12. Dust masks
13. Cooking supplies
(outside grill, paper plates and
towels, plastic utensils)
14. Sanitation supplies
(plastic trash bags, chlorine
bleach, newspapers)
15. Important papers (medical
records, insurance policies, wills)
16. Special-needs items
(medications, eye glasses,
contact lenses and solution,
hearing-aid batteries, infant
supplies, personal-hygiene
articles)
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Your car survival kit should contain:
1. Nonperishable food
2. Flares
3. Blankets
4. Flashlight with extra batteries
5. Pre-moistened towelettes
6. Toilet paper
7. Sturdy shoes and gloves
8. First aid kit
9. Fire extinguisher
10. Sealable plastic bags
11. Critical medications
12. Portable tool kit
13. Cell phone charger
You should have
survival items
to keep on hand
at home and in
your car.
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When a major earthquake strikes,
you may experience one of two signs:
(1) a gentle shaking that quickly
grows violent enough to knock
you off your feet; or (2) a powerful
jolt, as if the building had been
hit by a train, followed by shaking
that makes it almost impossible
to walk around. The moment
you become aware of the ground
shaking, take action.
What to do during an earthquake
M
ost importantly, remain calm. The
odds of surviving a quake are in
your favor.
If you are indoors, stay there. The best
places to be are under a table or
bed, against a wall, or in a corner or
doorway. The worst places to be are
near windows, mirrors, chimneys,
bookcases or cabinets that may fall
over, or under ceiling light fixtures.
If you are outside, move into an open area.
Stay away from buildings, power lines,
trees, and walls. Lie down or crouch
on the ground, but remain aware of
dangers that may force you to move.
If you are in a car, stop driving, and sit
tight. Despite the shaking, a car is a
relatively safe place to be. If possible,
stop away from steep slopes/road
cuts, power lines, bridges, overpasses,
and buildings.
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What to do after the earthquake
Check yourself and those around you
for injuries (Do not move a seriously
injured person; instead, call or go
for help).
Listen to your portable radio for emergency
instructions and news updates.
Be prepared for aftershocks, which, while
not as strong as the original quake,
can still cause damage.
Watch for and protect yourself from
falling debris.
C
heck for:
F
n ire or potential fire hazards
B
n roken pipes or appliances
W
n aterline breaks
S
n tructural damage
Stay away from power lines or anything
touching power lines.
Check your home for the smell of
natural gas.
Be prepared
for aftershocks.
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When should you turn off your gas
at the meter?
If you smell natural gas.
If you hear natural gas leaking.
If there is structural damage to your home.
If there is a fire.
CAUTION:
Do not shut off
the gas if doing
so jeopardizes
your safety.
The meter shut-off valve is located next to the meter as
shown. Use a wrench to turn the valve a quarter turn
in either direction to the “off” position shown in the
illustration. If you turn the meter off, do not attempt to
turn it back on yourself. Natural gas meters should be
turned on only by a properly trained Laclede Gas employee,
plumber, or heating contractor. Depending on the severity
of the earthquake and the number of gas meters that are
turned off, you may have to wait some time for your gas
service to be restored, even if there is no damage to the
gas pipelines in your area.
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Also if you smell gas …
D
n o not operate any electrical appliances,
including light switches
D
n o not attempt to locate a gas leak with
a match, candle, cigarette lighter, or any
open flame
I
n f the odor is strong or if there is a
sound of escaping gas, leave the building
immediately, and call Laclede from an
outside phone (314-621-6960 or
314-342-0800). If you can’t reach Laclede,
contact your local fire department (911)
If you do not smell gas …
C
n heck the furnace, water heater, and other
gas appliances for damage
B
n efore using your furnace or water heater,
check chimneys and flues, clearing them
of any fallen bricks or other obstructions
I
n f your water heater is undamaged, it is
a good source of an emergency supply
of water
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What is your earthquake quotient (EQ)?
Here are some of the most common words and
phrases you may hear and a brief explanation
of what they mean.
Aftershock: one of a series of minor
earthquakes that follow a larger earthquake
and originate at or near the same place.
CUSEC: the Central United States Earthquake
Consortium, an earthquake emergency
preparedness organization of the seven
states that are most vulnerable to the effects
of a major earthquake in the new Madrid
Seismic Zone.
Epicenter: the point on the earth’s surface
located directly above the focus of an
earthquake energy release.
Fault: a crack or facture in the earth’s crust
that is not directly visible on the earth’s
surface. Most faults are tens to hundreds
of millions years old.
Intensity: varies according to the types of soil
and rock that is beneath the surface. Degree
of intensity is measured on the Modified
Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI).
Liquefaction: an earthquake-induced
phenomenon common to wet, sandy, alluvial
(river bed) soils. Such soils actually increase
earthquake energy, in contrast to layers of stiff,
clay soil, or hard, subsurface rock.
Magnitude: the amount of energy release or
strength of the ground waves emanating from
an earthquake’s epicenter, as measured by
a seismometer.
Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale: measures the
effect or intensity of an earthquake based
on the observations of people who have
experienced its effects. The power release
or magnitude of an earthquake is measured
according to the Richter Scale.
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New Madrid Fault/New Madrid Seismic Zone:
a deep fault zone in the middle of the North
American plate, estimated to be roughly
150 miles long, 40 miles wide, and 25 miles
deep and regarded as the most active seismic
zone east of the Rocky Mountains
Tectonic Plates: widely accepted as valid, the
tectonic plate theory holds that the earth’s
surface is broken into pieces like an enormous
jigsaw puzzle. The pieces are molded in a
sphere that has been stretched, tilted,
bulged, and cracked over the life of the
planet. The larger pieces of the puzzle are
the tectonic plates.
Richter Scale: introduced in 1935 by
Charles Richter, a seismologist, it measures
the magnitude of energy released by
an earthquake.
Seiche: a phenomenon commonly caused by
inequalities in atmospheric pressure over an
enclosed body of water but which can also
occur as a result of an earthquake.
Seismometer: an instrument that is sensitive
to ground shaking and measures the
strength or magnitude of earthquakes.
Seismometers operate continuously and
produce “squiggle-lined” seismograph charts
of earthquake waves.
Tsunami: ocean phenomena that cannot occur
in the central U.S. Tsunamis are caused by
powerful earthquakes at the bottom of the
ocean, which break open the sea floor and
release enormous energy.
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Earthquake shut-off valves
Seismic automatic shut-off vales or earthquake
valves are devices designed to turn off the
natural gas supply in the event of a tremor
of significant magnitude. These valves are
activated by movement forces but do not
sense the presence of a gas leak or safety
hazard. The design of the valve is intended
to minimize false shuts offs, but if the device
is moved, bumped, or vibrated, it may be
activated unintentionally. When the valve
is activated, the gas supply shuts off and
remains off until it is manually reset by a
qualified person. Thus, your gas service may
be interrupted until it is possible to reset your
automatic shut-off valve. For these reasons,
Laclede does not install earthquake valves
and suggests that anyone who is considering
purchasing one carefully evaluate whether it
will provide the desired level of performance,
protection, and convenience.
earthquake safety 13
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720 Olive Street
St. Louis, MO 63101
www.lacledegas.com CC-ES-12/08
Laclede Earthquake broch.indd 1 12/17/08 10:27:17 AM