By The Survivors Club Staff
January 14, 2010

As hours have passed since the powerful earthquake in Haiti, miraculous survival stories continue to be reported amid the death and devastation left by the seismic event. In one dispatch, CNN confirmed that a man was pulled alive from beneath the rubble of the UN compound in Port-au-Prince.

A USAID rescue team spent five hours removing slabs of concrete that trapped the man, who was identified as a security worker, inside the building where more than 100 UN workers are believed to have been when the disaster struck on Tuesday.

Even though most of them are still unaccounted for, the rescued man was well enough to be able to walk by himself, the news provider reported.

Another inspiring survival story came from near the presidential palace, where a 13-year-old girl was pulled out of a field of debris unharmed on Wednesday to a cheering crowd.

Though not the most seismically active region in the world, the U.S. can also suffer from earthquakes, which have killed approximately 4,000 Americans since 1811, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

For those living in quake-prone zones, The Center for Earthquake Research and Information at the University of Memphis recommends anchoring heavy objects, such as bookcases, mirrors or cabinets, to walls.

They 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 or glass dividers. Those who are caught outdoors should stay away from buildings, trees, telephones 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.