I have a brother who experienced the earthquake in Chile, firsthand, as an LDS missionary. Not only that, he was in the most damaged area, Concepcion. So I wanted to take from his experiences and see if we could learn a few lessons that might help us in our preparedness efforts, since earthquakes seem to be happening on a more frequent and severe basis. It could happen to any of us.
1) They had to evacuate the area immediately because of the danger from aftershocks (falling buildings and debris) and even more perilous, the looters. From what I could gather, he only had time to grab a couple pair of extra underwear and his camera (the most important things LOL). Lesson learned: Have 72 hour kits and other important items accessible and ready to go at a moment’s notice. There may not be time to gather food, water, extra clothing if it is not close by.
2) They had to go to a neighboring city where the danger wasn’t so great and because public transportation was totally full, they ended up hitch-hiking and catching a ride with a horse drawn buggy (cool…but a little stressful under the circumstances. And last time I checked there weren’t a heck of a lot of horse drawn buggies in these parts.) Lesson learned: Have the car full of gas, an extra tank if possible, and even some cash available for travel (or to pay someone to get you there). Or even have another means of transportation available, i.e. four-wheelers, bicycles, etc.
3) The pre-determined meeting place was damaged to the point that they couldn’t gather there, so they ended up going to the neighboring city to find another. Lesson learned: Have a pre-determined plan in place of where you can meet up with your family; have a plan B and C also.
4) The utilities, including electric and phones, were out for a long period of time. Even cell phones were out of service. Lesson learned: Have back-up communication, and make sure you have a place to meet up if all communication is down. A good solar- or battery-powered radio is great to have when you need to know what’s going on. Also, be prepared to be without utilities and electricity. What will you do for warmth? Cooking? Light?
5) They had a major problem with looters which still continues. Lesson learned: Be prepared to be able to take care of your family and home in whatever way you think is best, and know that your home may be raided if you have left it.
6) Most stores are STILL not in operation, 2 weeks later. The group of missionaries pooled their money together to buy food and water, but many of the people are still struggling to find food; thus, the looting out of desperation in many cases. Lesson learned: Food and water storage are imperative, as well as all other items that you must have, i.e. medications, sanitation items, etc. How long could you live without a store? A good way to find out is to try it now; start small and learn to plan for longer and longer periods without visits to the store, i.e. start with one week, then 2, then a month, etc.
7) Aftershocks are happening on a daily basis; many are 6 and 7’s. They are constantly on the watch. Many of these happen during the night. Lesson learned: Once the “main” earthquake has hit, be prepared for more. Make sure falling hazards are secure, have an exit strategy wherever you are, have some shoes and a flashlight next to your bed in case you need to get out during the night.
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