Earthquake Preparedness - 2 Common Mistakes Californians Should Know About

The 1906 Earthquake –

The most lethal earthquake in United States history struck San Francisco on April 18, 1906. More than 480 city blocks were obliterated, causing close to $400,000,000 in structural damage. But even though 250,000 people lost their homes, under 700 people lost their lives, meaning that roughly one person died for more than 285 homes destroyed.

How was this even possible, especially considering that the largest tremors struck at 5:15 AM, when most were still in bed asleep? The fact is: the initial quake only caused the tip of an iceberg of damage. The majority of homes were destroyed by the fire that raged unchecked across the city for the three days following. After the ground had stabilized, the vast majority of citizens were able to escape from their homes relatively unharmed, even if it meant living like refugees in the years to come. (More info on the 1906 quake can be found here.)

The Aftermath - Modern Earthquake Preparedness

With all that has been learned in the last century about fire control, a 6.5 on the Richter scale does not require my attention. I do, however, follow all the new guidelines and regulations that have responded to what we have learned from disasters, such as the 1906 quake. Tips, such as securing shelves, checking electricity and gas connections (to prevent fire after a quake), and organizing storage so that heavier items are stored closer to the ground are made available to everyone across the country on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) website.

Two Common Mistakes Californians

Because FEMA is a Federal organization, it is missing the regulations that are specific to California. These are crucial for households that may undergo an earthquake, because they decrease the likelihood of significant structural damage and fires resulting from earthquakes.

• Forgetting water heater straps - The state of California has made water heater straps mandatory to prevent heaters from falling over during quakes. Simply check all water heaters for two thick straps attached to the wall. One strap should hug the top and one the bottom. If a heater is missing them, they may be installed either professionally or by the owner.

• Not checking for an automatic earthquake gas valve – A study conducted after the 1994 Northridge earthquake concluded that roughly half of the resultant fires would have been prevented by earthquake gas valves. These will automatically shut off the gas to a home in the event of an earthquake, preventing damaged gas lines from causing fires and are now . For more information on how to know if you have one, see my page.

Additionally, comments, tips, regulations, or new technologies I have missed are welcome! We want to make sure everyone is safe and secure.