During an earthquake, flying and falling debris can cause the majority of injuries and financial loss. Take this time as a family to conduct a home hazard hunt to identify and eliminate dangers to protect your family and your home.
Walk through each room and identify any objects that could fall and injure someone, cause a fire, block an exit route, or be costly to replace.
As you walk through each room, imagine the ground movement of a significant earthquake and identify potential hazards, make a list of them so you can fix the risk.
Check the Hazards around the Home
Here are a few things to think about:
- Check your water heater. Is it securely fastened to the wall studs with heavy metal strapping at the top and bottom? Do not use metal plumber’s tape.
- Does your water heater have flexible water and gas connectors?
- Tall pieces of furniture are especially vulnerable to earthquakes. Identify each bookcase, cabinet, and armoire that needs fastening.
- Identify heavy or breakable objects on high shelves. Pay special attention to objects with sentimental value. Move heavy objects to lower shelves.
- Identify electronics, microwaves, and other small appliances that need to be secured. • Identify hanging objects, especially plants in heavy baskets and hanging lights near windows.
- Identify mirrors, framed artwork, and other heavy hanging objects (such as lamps and hanging plants) that need to be secured to the wall studs. Pay special attention to items hung over beds.
- Identify kitchen, bedroom, and garage cabinets that need to be secured to keep their contents inside during the ground shaking.
- Check the foundation of your home. Is your home securely fastened to it? Check with your local city or county office, which issues building permits, for regulations.
- Does your chimney have loose bricks?
- Has your attic been reinforced with plywood to help prevent chimney bricks from falling into living areas?
- Identify poisons, toxins, or solvents in breakable containers that are located in high or dangerous locations, houses, garages, and sheds
- Gas Shut Off – know where to find your gas line and how to shut it off – an earthquake can cause a gas leak – if you smell gas (rotten egg smell) hear a leak (hissing noise) or if there is a fire nearby, turn off your gas
- Electrical boxes – electricity in your home could cause shocks or fire in the event of flooding or an earthquake – know where to find this and turn off the main breaker
- Water shut-off bursting pipes or earthquake damage can cause flooding – know how to shut off the water to your home to prevent more damage