Family Earthquake Plan
The most important component in earthquake recovery is to create a plan for you and your family prior to the disaster, and to practice it. Several key points make up an earthquake recovery plan including:

• Make sure you and your family know all the "safe spots" in the home, such as against inside walls, as well as the "danger spots" in the home such as windows, mirrors, hanging objects and fireplaces.
• Conduct practice drills. Physically place yourself and your children in the safe locations in the home.
• Learn first aid and CPR through your local Red Cross or other community organization.
• Decide where and when the family will reunite, if separated.
• Keep a list of emergency phone numbers available. Long distance phone service is usually restored before local service. You'll be able to reach someone faster who is across the country, rather than next door. Cell phone use could be restricted without a proper signal. It's helpful to identify an out-of-state relative or friend who can report your condition to other family members.
• Develop a portable survival kit for your home and for travel.

First Aid Kits
Following any type of emergency, first aid kits are a must. Make sure to store your first aid kit in a secure location that will be accessible after an earthquake. You must rotate all supplies in your kit to keep them fresh, especially if it's kept in a vehicle - exposure to heat can shorten the shelf life of your supplies. It's recommended that you update your first aid supplies twice a year. A good rule of thumb is to refresh them when you change your clocks for daylight savings time, or when you check smoke detector batteries.

Essential medications and supplies:

• Antibiotic ointment
• Extra prescriptions for all family members, as well as children's aspirin and other age-specific over the counter medications
• Diarrhea medication
• Eye drops
• Cold/Cough medicine
• Benadryl
• Insect repellent
• Ear and nose drops
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Skin disinfectant spray
• Old pairs of prescription eyeglasses

Also include these medical materials in your kit:

• Band-Aids
• Latex gloves
• Surgical mask
• Instant heat and cold packs
• Ace bandages
• Butterfly bandages
• Gauze pads
• Cotton swabs
• Adhesive tape
• Sterile bandage rolls
• Triangular bandage for a sling
• Tongue depressors
• Splint material
• Spray bottle with 10% bleach solution for disinfecting

Remember that you need to be able to get to these supplies after an earthquake, so store them in an area that has minimal chance of being buried under debris. A good receptacle for storing these items is a large, weatherproof trash can. The following items are essential to earthquake survival and recovery.

Earthquake Supply and Equipment Checklist:

• Work gloves
• Ax - weighing at least 6 lbs.
• Shovel - both flat head and pointed
• Broom
• Hammer and nails
• Screwdrivers
• Crowbar or Claw Tool - 36" or longer
• Plastic sheeting rolls
• Plastic garbage bags - heavy duty, 30 gallon or larger
• Small and large plastic bags
• Coils of rope and wire
• Tent - family sized
• Tarp - PVC or canvas, minimum of two, 8' x 10'
• Sleeping bags
• Cheesecloth to strain particles from water
• Cash - small bills and coins
• Dry food
• Water
• Clothing
• Walking shoes and socks
• Local road maps
• Fire extinguisher - a dry chemical type is recommended with a size rating of 2A- IOBC, with an earthquake restraining strap, a hose type nozzle and a metal head
• Compass
• Flashlight w/ batteries, or chemical light sticks matches in a waterproof container
• Small radio, battery-powered
• Entertainment - family pictures, notebooks and games

Water is the KEY to survival!
Of these supplies, water is the key to survival. Loss of safe drinking water is deadly. Most individuals will begin to experience side effects from dehydration after 36 hours. Starvation can be delayed by several days or weeks provided there is an ample, safe water supply.

At the bare minimum, you should store one gallon, per person, per day, for seven days. A three-week supply is ideal.

After an earthquake, city water is vulnerable to contaminants through ruptured pipes and adulterated filtering systems. Do not take adequate water supplies for granted. If you store an ample amount for your family beforehand, you've already greatly increased your family's chance of survival after an earthquake.

If your water supply is questionable, use these methods to treat it:

The best option: Add liquid chlorine bleach - eight drops per gallon of water. Double this amount if the water is cloudy.

A good option: Add 2% tincture of iodine to the water, or twelve drops per gallon of water. Double this amount if the water is cloudy.

An acceptable option: Boil the water vigorously for 10 minutes.

Dirty water should be strained through cheesecloth, a paper towel or a coffee filter before treating it to remove suspended matter. Wash and sanitize all food containers before use by washing them with warm, soapy water followed by a 10% bleach solution. Empty the bleach out after a five-minute soak, and let dry.

• Plastic bags - heavy duty garbage can size and small, zip-lock types
• Powdered chlorine lime - proper storage is required. This is an oxidizer and it's corrosive.
• Portable camp toilet with chemicals
• Toilet paper
• Handi-Wipes for water-free cleaning
• Shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, tampons and sanitary napkins
• Insect, fly, mosquito and ant spray