What to do and what to take with you in case of an earthquake? Romania launches national campaign

The Romanian Ministry of Interior recently launched a national information campaign on how to behave and what measures to take in case of an earthquake. The “No shaking during earthquake” campaign (“Nu tremur la cutremur” in Romanian) deals with several situations: inside the house, on the street, at work, inside shopping centers and at school. For example, if you are at home when the earthquake occurs, remain calm and move to the nearest safe place. That can be under the door, under a beam or near an interior wall of resistance. You should also stay away from windows, exterior walls or any objects that can hurt you and turn off all sources of fire. Don’t go out, run on the stairs or use the elevator. If you are on the street, stay away from buildings, trees, electricity poles or any other objects that might hurt you. In case you are at work, the same rules apply as if you were at home: move to the nearest safe place (under the desk, under a beam or under the door), stay away from windows and exterior walls and don’t go outside or take the elevator. Technical staff will act according to procedures. If the earthquake occurs while you are inside a shopping center, stay close to an interior wall of resistance or under a beam. Stay away from windows, shelves, exterior walls or objects that can injure you. Don’t try to go outside and don’t run on the stairs. You can go out of the building after the earthquake stops and the evacuation routes are safe, according to the information presented in the campaign. In case you are at school, remain calm and hide under your desk. Stay away from windows or exterior walls. The evacuation process will start after the earthquake ends and the evacuation routes are considered safe. After the earthquake stops, you should leave the building calmly, without taking unnecessary things. Also, pay attention around you, to avoid exposure to danger. Don’t use your phones unless it’s necessary. Check the installations of gas, water, and electricity. Each one should have an emergency plan for different cases, depending where they are when the earthquake starts. At home, each family should have an emergency plan and rules of who needs to do what, as well as where the key commuters for gas, water and electricity are. The emergency kit in case of an earthquake should include at least four liters of water, non perishable food and energy drinks, a first aid kit, a blanket, a radio on batteries, a flashlight, spare batteries, a whistle, personal hygiene products, a list of all important phone numbers, personal identification documents, and documents to any bank accounts and deposits. This kit should be used for three to five days, in case you need to leave your house. More information can be found on the campaign’s website here (in Romanian). In March 1977, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake killed some 1,500 people in Bucharest. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com