Sheltering in the City: Stay or Evacuate

Protecting the home: before and during

1. Secure shelves and tall furniture to the wall; keep heavy items low.
2. Locate and practice: the gas valve, main water shutoff, and circuit breaker. Knowing how to turn them off in 30 seconds prevents leaks and explosions.
3. During an earthquake: drop, cover (under a sturdy table), and hold on. Stay away from windows and glass.
4. During a flood: move to upper floors, turn off electricity and gas, do not try to cross flooded areas, even by car.
5. During a fire: get out and do not go back in for anything; if there is smoke, crawl (smoke rises); feel doors before opening them (if they are hot, do not exit that way).
6. If there is a shelter-in-place order: close and seal doors and windows with tape and wet cloths, cover cracks, and listen to the radio for instructions.

The urban evacuation backpack

In the city, evacuation is usually on foot or by improvised transport. The backpack should be light: if it weighs more than 8-10 kg, you won't carry it. The essentials:

• Water (2 bottles) and light food
• Emergency blanket and raincoat
• Documents + cash
• Portable charger and radio
• Minimum first aid kit and medication
• Whistle, flashlight, lighter, knife
• Masks and hand sanitizer
• Paper map of the area with a meeting point

Risk points in the city

• Viaducts, bridges, and overpasses: avoid them during earthquakes or extreme wind.
• Buildings with glass facades and fragile exteriors: stay away from the perimeter.
• Manholes, subway entrances, and basements: areas of rapid flooding.
• Downed power lines: treat every cable on the ground as live; call 112.
• Gas stations and warehouses: risk of explosion; don't waste time in useless car lines.
• Crowds: in a panic, people trample; move along the edges, not against the flow.