by Diane Sussman and Charles Smith
If you weren't in line after the Jan. 17 Northridge earthquake buying MRE's (those Army meals you heat under your armpit), childproof cabinet latches and water, then you have a strong case of earthquake complacency.
Either that, or you prepared so well after 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that all you have left to do is change your water supply every six months, check the expiration dates on your canned goods and make sure the batteries in your radio and flashlight still work.
According to a recent poll by the San Jose Mercury News, few of us are that organized and far-sighted. That poll found that only 61 percent of the people who were here during the Loma Prieta earthquake had taken the minimum steps of securing their water heaters and assembling emergency kits.
Another study showed that if people don't act within the first six weeks to 24 months after a disaster, they are unlikely to act at all.
So, without belaboring the point, it's time to act. Earthquake kits don't pack themselves. A water heater has never been known to strap itself to a wall. Follow this list, and you're there.
Emergency supplies. We all know the basics: first aid kit, emergency water, food, spare cash, cooking utensils, flashlights with extra batteries, a fire extinguisher and a portable radio. Water purification pills and pet food for any pets are also a good idea.
Less obvious are duct tape and heavy gloves. Many people receive cuts from broken glass, either from the glass shattering or while cleaning up. Duct tape works well for taping cracked windows, and heavy gloves protect hands while cleaning up any glass shards.
Bolt your house to the foundation. A structural engineer can verify whether your house is bolted to the foundation and that the structure is properly reinforced. At the same time, it's wise to check the roof, foundation and walls for cracks or other problems.
Attach bookshelves and cabinets to the walls.
Generally all you need is an electric drill, a stud finder and a handful of long, sturdy wood screws. Make sure you put the screws through a solid piece (3/4-inch thick) of plywood or lumber in the back of the cabinet, and that the screws hit the wall studs. Attaching compact disc players and televisions to shelving with heavy-duty Velcro strips is a good idea, too.
The same advice applies to mirrors. Mirrors should be firmly fastened to dressers or walls. Never leave mirrors leaning against a wall, unattached.
Install cabinet latches on kitchen cabinets. These will give your stemware and crockery at least a fighting chance of not ending up in shards on the floor. Again, all you need are some inexpensive childproof latches that won't release in a quake, a drill and a screwdriver.
This job takes a few hours, but it may save your kitchenware.
Know where your gas shutoff valve is and have a suitable wrench handy. A major threat to life in residential neighborhoods comes from fires that start from broken gas lines after a quake.
To shut off the electricity, turn off the single breakers first, then switch off the main breaker. On older panels, pull the main fuse blocks out. Strap your water heater to the wall studs with metal plumber's tape.
Often, gas fires are started by the pilot lights of water heaters that have fallen over. Make sure the metal strapping is bolted into the wall studs. Straps screwed into drywall with expansion anchors might hold the heater for the first millisecond of a quake, but probably won't last long.
Here's an under-appreciated fact about water heaters: If they don't fall over, they are a great emergency water storage system. Toilet tanks also serve as an emergency water supply. It's wise to have two gallons of water per person per week.
Remove brick chimneys. Second to gas-fed fires, the greatest danger to life and limb is a toppling chimney.
The sad truth is that most bracing is ineffectual. The only real cure is remove the brick chimney and replace it with a wood frame and insulated metal chimney. This is not cheap, but it's better than having the chimney come crashing through your ceiling.
An easier fix that some experts recommend is to nail 3/4-inch plywood in the attic around the chimney so that if the chimney does topple over, the plywood keeps it from smashing through the drywall or plaster ceiling (at least, that is the hope).
If you believe your fireplace or flue is a fire hazard, fire officials will inspect them. Properly trained home inspectors, general contractors and masonry contractors can assess the safety of masonry fireplaces.
If your home has a crawlspace, then bolt and brace the cripple wall. This is the short wall between the concrete foundation and the floor of your house. Structurally, this is weakest point in wood frame homes, especially multi-story ones.
Getting this work done professionally generally costs between 1 and 3 percent of the value of the home, unless the home is perched on a hillside or has an unusual design.
Consider earthquake insurance. For many homeowners, figuring out how to pay for extensive repairs is more frightening than the actual quake. Emergency loans are always available to homeowners after a quake, but those are still loans that have to be paid back in the future.
Talk to your neighbors. Check to see if they are prepared. Share plans to check on each other immediately after a quake. Discuss the dangers of gas-fed fires, and how you might work together to protect your neighborhood. Remember that emergency aid from municipal fire departments might not be available for several days after a severe quake.
Educate yourself. There are many organizations with good information.
One local example is the Building Education Center in Berkeley. The BEC offers a class in Earthquake Retrofitting Techniques for Homeowners, a 30-minute instructional video called "Earthquake: Home Safe Home," and an 80-page manual called "Introduction to Earthquake Retrofitting." For information, call 510/525-7610.
Another source is the "Homeowners Guide to Safety," published by the California Seismic Safety Commission. To receive the booklet, send $2.25 to the CSSC at 1900 K Street, Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95814.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency also has a booklet, call "Are You Ready?: Your Guide to Disaster Preparedness." To receive a free copy, write to FEMA, Publication Request, P.O. Box 70274, Washington, D.C. 20024.
And remember: Anything you do to prepare, however small, makes a big difference. It may even save your house.
Charles Smith is a free-lance writer and a staff member at the non-profit Building Education Center in Berkeley.
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