Tip: stay safe during a power outage after an earthquake

If the power fails after an earthquake or strong shaking, the order of priorities is different from a normal outage. Safety comes first, comfort comes later.

Stay calm and first check whether anyone is injured. Then check whether you smell gas, see leaking water, cracked walls, damaged sockets, damaged cables or broken appliances. If anything looks dangerous, do not simply switch devices back on and do not touch loose wires.

Use flashlights or LED lanterns. Candles are a bad idea after an earthquake because gas lines may be damaged and objects can fall over more easily. Open flames, camping stoves, grills and generators must never be used inside the home, garage or partly enclosed spaces.

If you can safely reach the fuse box, switch off sensitive circuits or the main switch until it is clear that no wiring has been damaged. Leave one light switched on so you know when power returns. Appliances with motors, heating elements or charging electronics should only be reconnected when everything is dry, stable and undamaged.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer closed. Use foods that spoil quickly first. Drinking water is more important than hot food. Fill clean containers while tap water is still available, because pumps can fail later or water may become contaminated.

Save important contacts offline: electricity company, fire service, doctor, family and neighbours. After an earthquake, mobile networks can be overloaded. Short text messages often work better than long phone calls.

The most important tip: do not go outside unnecessarily. Aftershocks, loose facade parts, damaged power lines and traffic lights that do not work make streets dangerous. Help neighbours, but do not play the hero. If buildings, lines or gas may be affected, wait for professionals.