How can I best prepare myself for a major earthquake?

Preparing for an Earthquake

Attitude:

Adopt an attitude that the big one might hit in 9 months, 9 weeks or 9 minutes.

Adopt the attitude that you CAN do something about it, starting now.

Building Preparation:

If it hasn't already been done, bolt the foundation of your home to the sill every 4 feet or less, with 7 ½ " long, 1/2 " diameter (min.) expanding masonry bolts. This is job #1 – period. If you have a brick or crumbling foundation - call an engineer immediately!

Install "shear wall" on the lowest story of the home. Glue AND over-nail!

Buy a book and understand how to do the work before beginning the project or hire someone qualified and experienced. See below for a book.

The above projects are your 9 month projects.

Interior Preparation

Strap water heater so it won’t fall in a shake – preferably with the new 2 inch wide steel tape the code now calls for. A high priority item. A toppled water heater is an extreme fire hazard and it takes reserve water with it.

Highly recommended is the use of the new strap kits. Although the formerly recommended plumber's tape method is MUCH better than nothing, many failed during the Northridge quake. This is one case where the upgraded code makes sense!

Have flexible gas line fittings installed on furnace, water heater and other gas fueled appliances. NOT a do it yourself project!

Secure bookshelves to wall studs with 29 cent "L" brackets, into wall studs with screws.

Wire Television to wall using heavy picture hanger wire and eyelet rings screwed into wall studs. This will keep the TV from falling and exploding into glass shards.

Protect pictures from falling and breaking by using a screw and picture hanging wire to install a safety wire – so picture will not fall to the floor if shaken off it’s hanger.

Install child proof latches on cabinet doors. This will keep the contents of cabinets from dumping on the floor and breaking.

Buy and install several fire extinguishers in strategic areas of your home. I recommend that you avoid the B:C rated ones, as they have little effect on ordinary combustibles. At the least get the A:B:C rated ones. I hear good things about the new FOAM extinguishers. At about $40 to $50 each they can seem expensive on the store shelf, but become a good buy when you confront a fire in your home!

Buy and install several battery operated smoke detectors in your home – EVEN IF YOU HAVE POWERED SMOKE ALARMS OR A FIRE ALARM SYSTEM. Battery operated detectors will work for a year without outside power. Other fire alarms will not.

Purchase needed tools: Crescent wrench for the gas line, water meter wrench, gloves, safety glasses, a hard hat for each family member, flashlights, Battery operated radio, extra batteries, a GOOD first aid kit and light sticks. Light sticks do not cause any heat or sparks that can ignite escaping gas. Put them where you can easily and quickly lay hands on them. Using candles for emergency lighting is discouraged. Too many things can go wrong from an aftershock or an accident.

Personal Preparation

Learn how to use your new purchases. The best way is by letting the San Francisco Fire Department train you for free. It's the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) program, and it's terrific. Call 415-558-3456 for information on when and where the next classes are. Many other Fire Departments offer similar courses. Call and ask. If they don't offer it, suggest that they do!

Otherwise (and in addition), there are several good books on the subject. My favorite is "Peace of Mind in Earthquake Country", by Peter Yanev. The library might have copies you can borrow, a good bookstore might be able to order it for you, or they are often seen in used bookstores.

This is the most important Personal Preparation step you can take: Keep plenty of water on hand. Your water heater is a good secondary source, IF: 1) No contaminated water has entered and 2) It hasn’t fallen over in the quake. Close the incoming water valve after a quake so contaminated water won't enter the water heater. Those 2 ½ gallon containers of water are ideal. You can’t have too many. Are you really going to turn away the mother and baby that comes to you and asks that you share? Have at least a week’s supply on hand, in addition to your water heater. Store it in a place it can’t fall in an earthquake. Do this before sundown!

Keep an ample supply of stored food on hand. You may be on your own for a week or more. Have a means of heating and cooking. Camp stoves and gas barbecues (especially with the extra burner) are ideal. Make sure you can prepare tasty, hearty meals you like. Survival biscuits may keep you going for a day or two, but you’ll want familiar eats. Also, a big pot of spaghetti or macaroni and cheese cooking will go a long way in recruiting volunteer neighbors to help and protect you. Store ample fuel, and store it safely!

Keep emergency supplies in your vehicle. You may be out when an earthquake hits.

If you are elderly or disabled, make arrangements with capable people to check on you and help with any emergencies following a quake. You will find that taking the training class is exceedingly useful. You may have an able bodied helper, and you may have to tell them what to do! Comment: Seniors and those with physical disabilities often make the best neighborhood trainees. Able bodied volunteers often try to do it all themselves. Someone who moves a bit slower, tends to wind up commanding a whole squad!

All the above is your 9 week project list.

A nine minute project you can do right now: Take a small trash bag. Put in the following: an old pair of shoes, a flashlight and some lightsticks. Put the bag under your bed. Now, when a temblor shakes you awake, grab the bag. Now you can see what’s happening and put on the shoes to avoid cutting your feet on broken glass. 90% of the injuries from the Northridge Earthquake were cut up feet! Add a pair of heavy gloves and safety glasses tomorrow.

A long term project: Insulate your home and weatherstrip doors and windows. How is that disaster related? Following a major event, you probably will be without electricity and/or gas for weeks. It's going to get cold. The tighter you're zipped up, the less cold you'll be.

This information is provided by Bill Cereske, Chief Engineer at the San Francisco Office of Emergency Services – Auxiliary Communications - and a member of the Advisory Board of the San Francisco Fire Department’s Neighborhood Emergency Response Teams project. This is my own public safety undertaking and is officially approved by nobody. For more information, contact your local Fire Department and Office of Emergency Services. They DO have additional information and will be pleased to hear from you - and help you!

Source

Never hang anything over your bed! ie: heavy pictures or book shelf, because you don't want it falling on you in the middle of the night! I constantly go to peoples homes and they have huge mirrors above their heads! That is a good Way to kill yourself if there is an earthquake! Be careful!