How to Help Protect Your Home from Earthquakes in the East Bay
This month marks the 35th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. This 6.9 magnitude earthquake on the San Andreas Fault was a violent one, killing 63 people and injuring almost 4,000. Damage was close to $6 billion (equivalent to about $14 billion in today’s economy). It serves as an eerie reminder to those who experienced it firsthand, and a good reminder to all Bay Area residents to be, and stay prepared. Living in the East Bay, earthquake preparedness is essential due to the region’s proximity to another major fault line, the Hayward Fault. Here's how to help protect your home and stay safe. Secure Heavy Furniture: Anchor bookshelves, cabinets, and large appliances to walls using straps or brackets. This prevents them from toppling over during an earthquake. Reinforce Your Home’s Structure: If you live in an older home, consider retrofitting to improve its earthquake resistance. This may include bolting your house to the foundation and reinforcing or bracing walls. Reach out for recommendations on local companies that specialize in earthquake retrofitting. Retrofit Your Chimney: If you have a fireplace, and therefore a chimney, it’s important to secure your chimney in the case of an earthquake. An unsecured chimney can cause significant damage both during and after an earthquake. Some homeowners in the East Bay elect to remove their chimneys (and fireplaces) altogether as both a safety and an environmental decision. Install Flexible Gas Lines: Earthquakes can cause gas leaks, which may lead to fires. Flexible gas lines are less likely to break during shaking, providing an added layer of safety. If your home has standard gas lines, make sure you know how and where to shut the gas off in case of a large earthquake. Secure Water Heaters: Strapping your water heater to the wall helps prevent it from tipping over, which could cause leaks or fires. It’s always a good idea to ensure that straps remain intact over time. Secure Overhead Fixtures: Often forgotten, large or heavy light fixtures should be braced for safety. Create an Emergency Kit: Stock essentials like food, water, and first aid supplies for at least three days. Include flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio for staying informed. By taking these precautions, you can help safeguard your home and loved ones from the impact of earthquakes. If you have questions or need suggestions for local vendors, please reach out - we’d love to help.
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This month marks the 35th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. This 6.9 magnitude earthquake on the San Andreas Fault was a violent one, killing 63 people and injuring almost 4,000. Damage was close to $6 billion (equivalent to about $14 billion in today’s economy). It serves as an eerie reminder to those who experienced it firsthand, and a good reminder to all Bay Area residents to be, and stay prepared.
Living in the East Bay, earthquake preparedness is essential due to the region’s proximity to another major fault line, the Hayward Fault. Here's how to help protect your home and stay safe.
- Secure Heavy Furniture: Anchor bookshelves, cabinets, and large appliances to walls using straps or brackets. This prevents them from toppling over during an earthquake.
- Reinforce Your Home’s Structure: If you live in an older home, consider retrofitting to improve its earthquake resistance. This may include bolting your house to the foundation and reinforcing or bracing walls. Reach out for recommendations on local companies that specialize in earthquake retrofitting.
- Retrofit Your Chimney: If you have a fireplace, and therefore a chimney, it’s important to secure your chimney in the case of an earthquake. An unsecured chimney can cause significant damage both during and after an earthquake. Some homeowners in the East Bay elect to remove their chimneys (and fireplaces) altogether as both a safety and an environmental decision.
- Install Flexible Gas Lines: Earthquakes can cause gas leaks, which may lead to fires. Flexible gas lines are less likely to break during shaking, providing an added layer of safety. If your home has standard gas lines, make sure you know how and where to shut the gas off in case of a large earthquake.
- Secure Water Heaters: Strapping your water heater to the wall helps prevent it from tipping over, which could cause leaks or fires. It’s always a good idea to ensure that straps remain intact over time.
- Secure Overhead Fixtures: Often forgotten, large or heavy light fixtures should be braced for safety.
- Create an Emergency Kit: Stock essentials like food, water, and first aid supplies for at least three days. Include flashlights, batteries, and a battery-powered radio for staying informed.
By taking these precautions, you can help safeguard your home and loved ones from the impact of earthquakes. If you have questions or need suggestions for local vendors, please reach out - we’d love to help.
