Tips On Preparing Your Home For An Earthquake
By Owen Whetzel
If you live in earthquake country, you know that quakes strike without warning. You should be prepared for your own safety and for the safety of those around you. An important part of planning is to take some steps, to prepare your home.
--- Know where your electrical service panel, incoming water shut-off valve and gas meter are located. It may become necessary, to shut-off one or all of these services.
The main switch to your electrical service should be the easiest to turn off. Many people have allowed their water shut off valve to become "locked-" shut with mineral deposits or corrosion, so check it now and if it doesn't work easily, repair or replace it.
Turning off the incoming gas supply can be the most difficult. The valve on the meter is often difficult to turn. You should keep at least a 12-inch adjustable wrench or device specifically made for turning off a gas valve near the meter. (If gas is shut off, it must be turned back on by a technician with your local gas utility or other professional.) You will find wrenches for this purpose in the OSH hardware department. Also, consider having a valve installed on the gas line, that will automatically shut off the gas in the event of an earthquake. A licensed, qualified plumbing contractor can install one for you.
Since an earthquake could disrupt the flow of drinking water, preserving what you have can be important. One of your sources is the water in a water heater, providing that the heater isn't damaged during a quake. To minimize that possibility, make sure that the heater is secured to the studs in an adjoining wall with two state approved water heater straps or other approved bracing system. (OSH sells water heater straps. You will find them in the plumbing department. See the Association of Bay Area Governments' Web site, http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea/eqmaps/fixit/manual/PT19-App-F.PDF for information on how to make your own bracing system.)
--- Check all of the flexible gas lines in your residence, most commonly found on a gas water heater, clothes dryer, range, or furnace. If the lines show any sign of wear or damage, replace them now. There are also types of lines, that are no longer acceptable. Your local gas utility company can give you details.
--- If you have a masonry chimney and your roof isn't sheathed with a solid material (such as plywood panels beneath the shingles or tiles), nail 1-inch plywood to the floor of your attic in the area of the chimney. This could help protect occupants inside the house from bricks and mortar falling through the roof. The plywood deck should cover an area large enough to catch any bricks that may fall through the roof.
--- Determine if your house is properly secured to the foundation. You may need to have the foundation inspected by a structural engineer or qualified inspector. If work is needed, the engineer or inspector may be able to recommend a licensed, qualified contractor.
--- Exterior and interior masonry should be held to wall studs with metal bands, that are nailed to the studs and secured in the brick's mortar. If you have bricks that aren't secured this way, there are other methods for anchoring the masonry. Consult with a licensed, qualified masonry contractor.
-- Secure hanging pots and plants. Don't have heavy objects, such as mirrors, pictures and lamps mounted above or near the head of your bed. Wherever heavy paintings and mirrors are hung, they should be secured to the wall with earthquake resistant hangers, that are firmly screwed into wall studs. Secure electronics, bookcases, cabinets, etc. to wall studs with anchoring straps (see http://quakehold.com/fasteners.html for products sold at OSH stores), or L-brackets. Cabinets and cupboards, with contents that could fall in a quake, should have strong latches on each door. This is particularly true of a cabinet, where you store flammables, cleaning products or pesticides.
--- Homes vary so greatly in both construction and interior design, that it's necessary that you look around your residence room-by-room and imagine what could be a potential hazard during severe shaking.
Earthquake preparedness is an important endeavor. Most importantly, get as much information as you can on earthquake preparedness. Local libraries and police and fire departments are a good resource. Here are some Internet sources of more information, which are well worth reading:
American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org/. Be sure to read Earthquake on the American Red Cross Web site.
California Seismic Safety Commission: http://www.seismic.ca.gov/. Look at a list of topics under the heading "Be Prepared."
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/index.shtm
State of California, Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES): http://www.oes.ca.gov/. Scroll down and click-on "Earthquake Program," which will open up an index of topics.
U. S. Geological Survey (USGS), a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/. From the home page choose "Regional Information," and then the state where you live.