A strong earthquake hit Canterbury just after 4.30 this morning. It was 7.1 on the Richter scale. This is about the same as the Haiti earthquake but very fortunately no one was killed. Two people are in hospital with serious injuries. The population of Canterbury is only about 560,000.
The earthquake was centred about 30km west of Christchurch and was quite shallow, only about 10km deep. There is a lot of damage to buildings in some parts of Canterbury while other parts have very little damage. The railway lines are twisted west of Christchurch. The central city area in Christchurch has many old buildings which have lost walls, chimneys and roofs. Some areas in the east have large cracks and holes in the ground. There are flooded streets in some places.
Most places in Christchurch had no power or water for some time this morning. However, on some streets, there were broken water pipes sending jets of water into the air. A fire started in one building when the power came on again.
The first shock lasted less than a minute but was very scary. Most people jumped out of bed as soon as the quake started, to stand under a doorway. Buildings shook back and forward and it was almost impossible to walk until the shaking stopped. Smaller after-shocks are still continuing. They are also scary.
It was lucky this happened when most people were home in bed and not out on the streets.
Questions
1. What is the safest thing to do when an earthquake hits at night when people are asleep?
2. What is the safest thing to do when an earthquake hits during the day when people are at work or school?
3. What can you do to your house to prepare for an earthquake?
1. Stay in the house and tune to radio . Stay out the house if possible
2. Stay in position with ‘ cover, hold, and squared’
3. Use corded phone instead of cordless phone, ensure fittings are firmly secured against the wall, prepare emergency kits….ensure your home is insured.
If in a bungalow, a sudden earthquake, must rapidly drill to bed, table, at the same time with bedding, pillow, washbasin, etc to protect the head, and the earthquake gap again as soon as possible to leave housing, transfer to a safe place.When the earthquake if houses collapsed and should stay in bed or table, don’t move, wait until the earthquake has stopped to escape from outdoor or waiting for rescue.
1. People have to stay in the house, turn on the radio and stay out the house if possible.
2. People should stay in position with cover, hold, and squared.
3. I should use corded phone instead of cordless phone, ensure fittings are firmly secured against the wall, prepare emergency kits. Most important is to ensure my house is insured.
1-drop cover and hold.
2-stay indoors untill the shake ends listen to radio.to know the updates.
3-the don’t go out side
4-dont stay beside windows.
5the emergency kit should be prepared.
6-take a way kit should be prepared.
7-atorch,radio with battries should be prepared, plankets,sun glesses,water to survive,clothes for each member at least three times change,milk for children and napies.
unperishable food to be enough for at least three days
6-all important documents shoul be redy to take with us.the car should be filled with fuel.
7-put off gas ,power and water.
8-if you are driving park to the side and keep calm untill shakes end.
9-don’t leave heavy objects on shelves they’ll fall during the quake
10-go to familey asembling area
@DynaSpeakNZCEL3 1.stay in bed put the pillow under your neck and don’t go out. 2.don’t stand the doorways ，drop cover and hold；3.prepare some cans food、water、plunkets、batteries、radio，turn off the power、gas，safety exit door，prepare the getaway kit、enmergency kit，first Aid kit。
1.take your flashlight and then stay under your bed
2.work:stay under desk and take your cup
school:if it is possible, go to the playground
if not,stay in the corner
3.a flashlight，a whistle and a radio are always home.