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Earthquakes have been making headlines in the last several months. A catastrophic quake devastated Haiti in January. A little over a month later an earthquake hit central Chile. In March, yet another quake rocked Turkey.

Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning, and can occur at any time of the year, day or night. Forty-*five states and territories in every region in the United States are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes.

Do you know what you should do in the event of an earthquake? For instance, the thinking used to be to stand in a doorway if you are inside during an earthquake. Now the recommendation is to get under a sturdy piece of furniture and hold on to protect yourself from falling objects during the quake.

If you are inside when an earthquake strikes...

Drop, cover and hold on. Move as little as possible.

• If you are in bed, stay there, curl up and hold on. Protect your head with a pillow.
• Stay away from windows to avoid being injured by shattered glass.
• Stay indoors until the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. If you must leave the building after the shaking stops, use stairs rather than an elevator in case there are aftershocks, power outages or other damage.
• Be aware that fire alarms and sprinkler systems frequently go off in buildings during an earthquake, even if there is no fire.

If you are outside...

• Find a clear spot and drop to the ground. Stay there until the shaking stops (away from buildings, power lines, trees, streetlights).
• If you are in a vehicle, pull over to a clear location and stop. Avoid bridges, overpasses and power lines if possible. Stay inside with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Then, drive carefully, avoiding bridges and ramps that may have been damaged.
• If a power line falls on your vehicle, do not get out. Wait for assistance.
• If you are in a mountainous area or near unstable slopes or cliffs, be alert for falling rocks and other debris. Landslides are often triggered by earthquakes.

The American Red Cross information on earthquake preparedness tells you how to be ready before an earthquake starts, and what to do to stay safe during and after an earthquake. You can learn what you should pack in your emergency kit. Be ready. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Excellent info we should all memorize and know. Thanks for posting this.

I thought you were supposed to bend over, place your head between your knees, and kiss your @$$ goodbye!!! Good advice though. I will drill the wife and son.