How soon can expect local emergency response after an earthquake?

How soon can expect local emergency response after an earthquake?

Mark Benthien (Director of Communication, Education, and Outreach, Southern California Earthquake Center ) gives expert video advice on: Where can I find alternate sources of shelter, medicine, and food after an earthquake? and more...

Depending on the magnitude of the earthquake - how widespread the earthquake is - it may be several days to a week before emergency response officials arrive in a local area to provide assistance. Therefore, it's very important to realize that you and your neighbors are the true first responders to the earthquake, who are going to be helping each other both in terms of medical issues and all of the emergency situations that might come up. In a true emergency situation of someone who's really injured - a life threatening emergency - you want to try to get word out any way you can. If the phone lines are down, the cell phones are down, it may be a matter of sending someone walking to their nearest fire station to find help to bring to where that injured person is. Otherwise, develop the neighborhood capacity to treat injuries through a community emergency response team - people who know CPR etc. Know the skills of the people in your neighborhood in order for you to be the first responders after an earthquake.