By The Survivors Club Staff
March 4, 2010

In the early hours of last Saturday, Eduardo Ravani Jr. was photographing a wedding reception outside of Santiago, Chile, when the earth began to tremble violently, sending guests screaming outside.

In describing the eerie atmosphere following the three-minute magnitude 8.8 earthquake, Ravani said that "it was like something you see in the movies - one by one, each of the blocks of the city went dark," quoted by CNN.

"It felt like the shaking would never stop ... then all you heard were people crying and the sound of car alarms and house alarms," he added.

The man was fortunate to find his family safe when he returned home, but that was not the case for the families of the nearly 800 people who died. However, the survivor also told the news source that given the shortages and the looting that have taken place since the disaster, he is now focusing on ensuring his family's safety so that he, his wife and two young daughters can thrive again.

Although earthquakes are rare the U.S. - where they have killed approximately 4,000 Americans since 1811, according to the U.S. Geological Survey - residents of danger zones should take precautions by anchoring heavy objects, such as bookcases, mirrors or cabinets, to walls.

Such objects should never be placed over beds and should be kept lower than head height of the shortest member of family.

When a tremor begins, it is best to crouch under a desk or table, or stand in a stout doorway, away from windows. Those who are caught outdoors should stay away from buildings, trees, telephone and electrical lines. If on the road, it is important to drive away from underpasses and overpasses, stop in a safe area and stay inside the vehicle.

Those who would like to support victims of the Haiti quake can donate to the Red Cross or UNICEF.