Residents of Southern California need to think about what they will do during a major earthquake. Will they panic, dial 911 or a law enforcement office, and finds it's too late to get help because communications are already down? Residents could be on their own for days, camping out at a house, stuck in a car, or at work.

Following are steps to take during a natural disaster.

•Do not use a cellphone or land phone. The lines will be down or overwhelmed. Stay put. Do not get on the roads. They must be kept open for first responders.

•Check the house and family and contain pets. Gather emergency supplies for evacuation if necessary. Get proper clothing, leather gloves, and flashlights.

•Turn on a battery-operated radio to an AM emergency response station: 980, 1070 or others.

•Check the house for gas leaks, water leaks, and broken electrical lines. Unplug electronics, and turn off and unplug major electrical items or switch off power at the breaker panel.

Always turn off gas if someone smells gas and before flipping electrical switches at circuit breakers. Make sure a wrench is available.

Turn off the water valve if broken lines are suspected. This is essential to protect the water supplies in water heaters and toilet tanks—people may drink this water in an emergency. Swimming pool and spa water is not usable for drinking. Check the neighbors' homes.

•Put out a HELP/OK sign to signal for assistance or to let rescuers know they can pass on.

•Go to the predesignated assembly area in center of the block, away from trees and power lines.

•Join the pre-designated team. CERT team members are specially trained to handle this phase of the disaster. If CERT members are not available, the EP block captain(s) will take charge.

The assessment team will check all homes with no sign displayed or with a HELP sign, identify trapped or missing people, check neighborhood utilities and fallen trees, and then relay the information to the communications team, the amateur radio operators.

The special needs team will set up a first aid/emergency medical station, check all elderly/disabled and special needs residents, assist non-English speaking people, and take care of small children. The team will keep a log of all homes with assistance provided and mark buildings.

•If fires develop, turn off gas and electricity and fight small fires with fire extinguishers. For those who live on narrow, winding roads and have to evacuate, be sure that all remaining vehicles are parked on the same side of the road so emergency equipment can get through.

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