Given the impossibility of predicting when an earthquake will occur, preparedness can make all the difference when facing an emergency. Isaí Galván Rubio, a Mexican rescuer, firefighter, and instructor, leads the Mayday Mexico Program, shared with Enlace Latino NC recommendations on what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
“An earthquake cannot be prevented; it arrives unexpectedly. Although many studies have been conducted, we have not yet found the correct way to anticipate it. What we can do is be prepared,” Galván Rubio stated.
Galván Rubio, who He visited the city of GreensboroNorth Carolina, this week, explained that if a person is inside a structure when an earthquake begins and the movements intensify, it is advisable to identify a safe place within the same building.
“It is not advisable to position yourself under tables, chairs or door frames, but rather to place yourself next to rigid structures that can provide protection and create a safe space in case objects or parts of the structure fall, which serve as a triangle to position yourself in the widest part.”
Related: Earthquake in Colombia: Where and how to help from North Carolina?
What to do when the earthquake alarm sounds?
“Many countries do not have an early earthquake warning system. In the case of Mexico, there is a system that allows for warning of an earthquake with some advance notice,” explained Galván Rubio.
“When earthquakes begin in areas like the coasts of Guerrero, Michoacán, or Oaxaca, an alert can be issued to Mexico City one or two minutes in advance. This allows us to react,” he added.
Galván Rubio pointed out that if there is an alert system, one should be vigilant and use that time to act.
“If the earthquake alarm sounds, we must first identify where we are. If we are in a one- or two-story house and conditions allow, we can evacuate,” he said.
“If we are in a multi-story building, we must follow the established evacuation protocols,” he explained.
The function of the seismic alert
The recent seismic activity recorded in Latin America—including a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia and two earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 in Venezuela— they have brought to the forefront a reality once again: most countries do not have early seismic warning systems that allow the population to be warned before the strongest movements arrive.
Early earthquake warning systems are operational in several countries around the world, including Mexico, Japan, Turkey, Romania, China, Italy, and Taiwan.
All these systems They detect earthquakes quickly and they monitor its evolution to issue warnings before strong ground movements occur.
Systems may vary depending on the geological faults of each region and the available data on ground movement.
What are earthquakes?
Earthquakes are sudden and violent shaking of the ground, caused by movements in the Earth's crust or by volcanic activity.
These occur unexpectedly, and the resulting impact, depending on their magnitude, leaves a trail of destruction of buildings and infrastructure, landslides, and rockfalls.
Recommendations before, during, and after an earthquake:
Before
- Find out about the evacuation plans for all the buildings you regularly occupy.
- Secure water heaters and gas appliances to wall studs using bolts and reinforcements.
- Secure shelves and other tall furniture to wall studs.
- Hang heavy objects (mirrors, pictures, etc.) away from beds or sofas.
- In cupboards and cabinets, place heavy objects as close to the floor as possible.
During
- Drop to the ground, cover yourself, and hold on. Sit on the floor next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms.
- Move as little as possible.
- Stay where you are until the shaking stops. If you need to leave the building, use the stairs, not the elevators.
- If you are outdoors, find an open area away from trees, buildings, power lines, and streetlights, and lie down on the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops.
- If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear area and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses, and power lines.
After
- Prepare for aftershocks or landslides.
- Check yourself and those around you for injuries. If necessary, call for first aid.
- When working near debris, wear long pants, long sleeves, and closed shoes to protect yourself from injuries caused by broken glass or other objects.
- Look for and extinguish any small fires that occur.
- Clean up any spills of medication, bleach, gasoline, or other flammable liquids immediately.
- Be careful when opening cupboards and cabinets; objects may have moved.
- Be careful of downed power lines or broken gas pipes.
- Evacuate and stay away from damaged buildings and infrastructure.
- Drive carefully and anticipate possible traffic light failures.
*Information shared by the city of Raleigh
From Mexico to the world: the work of Topos Azteca
Galván Rubio explained that in Mexico there are different groups specializing in rescue, among them Aztec Moles, an organization that has participated in search and rescue operations, as well as humanitarian assistance, both inside and outside the country.
The rescuer explained that the group was born in 1985 as a result of the citizen response to an earthquake in Mexico, when structures gave way and there was no one in charge of the rescue.
“The citizens began to work on the tasks, moving stones with their hands and seeing how they could help the population.”
Based on that experience, Galván Rubio recounted, its members began to train and organize themselves.
Over time, the group has participated in disaster response operations in different countries.
“Today it is a group that has gone to different nations, to different countries and to different disasters with the idea of helping, either in the rescue part or, once the operation is completed, with humanitarian aid,” he said.
Galván Rubio also emphasized that assistance after an earthquake does not end with the search and rescue of victims, but continues with support for affected communities to recover basic services and conditions.
Regarding his own experience, the firefighter indicated that he participated in 2017 with the Topos rescue team in earthquake response operations in Oaxaca, Mexico, and that same year he worked on the earthquakes that occurred in Oaxaca and Mexico City.
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