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REALTOR®: Review Earthquake Safety Measures

Monday, November 5, 2007

The recent magnitude-5.6 earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area shook homes and rattled some nerves did not leave serious damage or injuries, but gave California residents another reminder that they should be prepared, in case one of even greater magnitude strikes again.

Homeowners can protect their families and reduce the risk of destruction by following a few simple guidelines recommended made by California’s Department of Conservation and the U.S. Geological Survey:

Identify Potential Hazards in Your Home and Fix Them
1. Identify all unsecured objects that might fall in your home during an earthquake. Move heavy furniture, such as bookcases, away from beds, couches, and other places where people sit or sleep. Make sure exit paths are clear of clutter. Use earthquake-safety straps, fasteners, and adhesives to secure hanging objects, like heavy picture frames and paintings and mirrors that may shatter. Pottery and lamps can be held in place by using removable earthquake putty, museum wax, or quake gel.
2. Water or gas pipes anywhere in your home can break. Have a plumber evaluate, replace, and properly secure rusted or worn water and gas pipes. A plumber can replace rigid gas connections to water heaters, stoves, dryers, and other gas appliances with flexible (corrugated) stainless-steel gas connectors (see below).
3. Move flammable or hazardous materials stored in garages and utility rooms to low areas that are secure.
4. Make sure your home has enough bolts connecting the “sill plate” to the foundation. If your home is a hillside house, contact a geologist or contractor who can examine its foundation to make sure that it was adequately designed to withstand strong earthquake shaking

How to Be Prepared Before An Earthquake

Have a disaster-preparedness plan. Electricity, water, gas and telephones may not be working after an earthquake. The police and fire departments are likely to be tied up. You should be prepared to fend for yourself for at least one week.
1. Create personal disaster kits for everyone in your family and keep them where they can be easily reached – at home, in the car, at work or school. Keep the following in the kit:
• Medications and medical consent forms for dependents.
• First aid kit and handbook.
• Spare eyeglasses and personal hygiene supplies.
• Bottled water.
• Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location).
• Emergency cash.
• List of emergency contact phone numbers.
• Snack foods high in calories.
• Emergency lighting—light sticks and (or) a working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs (hand-powered flashlights are also available).
• Comfort items, such as games, crayons, writing materials, and teddy bears.
2. Create a household disaster kit and keep it in an easily accessible location, preferably outdoors, but not in your garage. This kit should hold at least a one-week supply of the following items:
• Drinking water (minimum one gallon per person per day).
• First aid supplies, medications, and essential hygiene items, such as soap, toothpaste, and toilet paper.
• Emergency lighting—light sticks and (or) a working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs (hand-powered flashlights are also available).
• A hand-cranked or battery-operated radio (and spare batteries).
• Canned and packaged foods and cooking utensils, including a manual can opener.
• Warm clothing, sturdy shoes, extra socks, blankets, and perhaps even a tent.
• Heavy-duty plastic bags for waste and to serve other uses, such as tarps and rain ponchos.
• Work gloves and protective goggles.
• Pet food and pet restraints.
• Copies of vital documents, such as insurance policies and personal identification.
• Cash in small bills. (ATMs may not work)
• A pipe wrench to turn off gas or water
NOTE: Replace perishable items like water, food, medications, and batteries on a yearly basis.

3. Decide beforehand how and where your family will reunite if separated during a quake and to conduct in-home practice drills.

4. Discuss earthquake insurance with your agent. Depending on your financial situation and the value of your home, it may be worthwhile.

During An Earthquake

1. If you're indoors, stay there. Get under and hold onto a desk or table, or stand against an interior wall. Stay clear of exterior walls, glass, heavy furniture, fireplaces and appliances. The kitchen is a particularly dangerous spot. If you’re in an office building, stay away from windows and outside walls and do not use the elevator. If you're outside, get into the open. Stay clear of buildings, power lines or anything else that could fall on you.

2. If you're driving, move the car out of traffic and stop. Avoid parking under or on bridges or overpasses. Try to get clear of trees, light posts, signs and power lines.

3. If you're in a mountainous area, beware of the potential for landslides. Likewise, if you're near the ocean, be aware that tsunamis are associated with large earthquakes. Get to high ground.

To learn more about earthquake safety, you can visit the USGS Web site at http://quake.usgs.gov, or http://www.conservation.ca.gov/index/Earthquakes/qh_earthquakes_what.htm.

The San Mateo County Association of REALTORS® (SAMCAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 3,800 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula. SAMCAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in San Mateo County.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Julie Ziemelis, Director of Public Affairs, e-mail , or phone (650) 696-8214.

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