Earthquake safety is not up to par according to California Earthquake Preparedness Survey
By Itak Moradi
March 10, 2010 11:20 p.m.
After conducting a California Earthquake Preparedness Survey, UCLA researchers have found that Californians are not prepared for the disaster a large earthquake would inevitably create.
The UCLA School of Public Health and the Survey Research Center presented their results in an online press conference on March 5.
The groups telephone-surveyed more than 2,000 homes, with an emphasis on the high-risk areas of Northern and Southern California.
Conducted on behalf of the California Emergency Management Agency, the California Seismic Safety Commission and CaliforniaVolunteers, the study found that, while public safety management is at its most sophisticated level, less than 35 percent of Californians know how to make their home structure safer.
However, despite this, more than 60 percent of Californians are aware of proper safety measures and supply needs.
“Since Sept. 11, many groups have come up with suggestions for what people can do for disasters. … We took a look at all of these documents and constructed a pyramid,” said Linda Bourque, an associate director of both the Center for Public Health and Disasters and the Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center in the UCLA School of Public Health.
Devised to provide Californians with necessary information, the “Get Ready” Pyramid consolidates information drawn from numerous national, state and regional readiness programs. It includes the importance of practicing, creating earthquake kits, protecting finances and securing building contents and structure. Cost and level of difficulty increase as the pyramid reaches its point.
Even though a wide range of information about preparedness is available to the public, the lack of unity in content and method of distribution inhibits Californians from receiving a clear message on preparing for and mitigating loss, according to the study.
Bourque said that, because of the recent Haitian and Chilean earthquakes, natural disasters are fresh in people’s minds and thus the hastiness of such research and more succinct knowledge dissemination is important.
“California needs to get better coordinated,” she said.
Los Angeles is considered a high-risk county, with both the San Andreas and Inglewood faults running through the area.
Since most buildings in West Los Angeles are newer and built to proper building code, the fear in California is not so much of building collapse, but the injuries that occur from loose objects flying across rooms, Bourque said. Securing objects to the floor and wall are thus important for safety.
“(Flying objects are) why “˜drop, cover and hold on’ is the most valuable piece of information to protect yourself. … Be a turtle,” Bourque said, “If you’re going to spend money, (securing) is definitely one of the things you want to spend money on.”
Contrary to popular belief, doorways are not safe, and moving as little as possible is ideal. Cell phones are also virtually useless during an earthquake because signal towers may collapse, according to the study.
The study also found that less than 20 percent of Californians have received disaster service training.
Michael Stajura, a graduate student in public health and public policy, currently represents the campus branches of the Community Emergency Response Team and Red Cross. Both organizations offer training programs, volunteer programs and educational literature.
UCLA volunteers for the Red Cross teach CPR and first aid to students and staff while promoting disaster awareness and safety, as well as offering more in-depth training for Bruins interested in interning at shelters.
Such efforts have been enhanced in light of recent disasters worldwide.
Red Cross also offers online discounts exclusively to Bruins for first aid disaster preparedness kits.
To increase student knowledge, Stajura, a volunteer disaster services and health and safety instructor at American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, will partner with the Office of Residential Life to offer CPR and first aid classes next quarter.
