No one ever wants to think of being caught up in one of the potential natural disasters that seem to be occurring, but the reality is that it can happen to anyone. That is why we want everyone we know, and even those we don’t know, to understand how to prepare for those events.
In California, we can have an earthquake without a moment’s notice and unfortunately, there may be a day when an earthquake hits and tries to destroy cities and towns throughout the entire state. You may not be able to do anything to stop the earthquake from hitting, but you can prepare to minimize the damage that occurs to you and your home or business.
Here are 6 things to do to start preparing for the next earthquake:
Find Your Safe Zones
Everyone should have a safe zone in their home or business and know where it is. This is where you will go when the earthquake hits, as it will ensure your safety. Purchase Non-Perishables and Store Them in an Easy to Move Tote
Non-perishables may be necessary if a major earthquake, or even a minor one, does enough damage to knock out power and shut down stores. We recommend that you purchase bottled water and canned foods that do not need to be cooked. You should place all that in an easy to move tote along with a can opener, flashlights, batteries, first aid supplies, and blankets. A battery powered radio could be helpful as well.
Install a Seismic Valve
Seismic valves should be installed everywhere that earthquakes can strike, because they automatically turn off the gas when they sense shaking over a certain magnitude. They will also turn the gas off if they detect a broken pipe. We encourage everyone to have these devices installed in their homes, because fires or explosions from gas leaks can be more damaging than the earthquakes.
Brace Larger Items to the Wall
Large bookshelves and other tall and heavy items can easily topple over when an earthquake is happening, and you can get killed or seriously injured if these objects land on top of you. Therefore, we recommend that you brace these items to the walls.
Install Flexible Lines and Hoses to Appliances
The lines and hoses that lead to your gas stove, water heater, and other appliances can get moved around during an earthquake and break apart. However, if you have flexible lines and hoses hooked up to them, you will have a better chance of them moving with the appliance as everything is shaking.
Be Aware of How to Turn Off All Your Utilities
Even though you may have taken the precautions of installing a seismic valve, you should still know how to turn off all your utilities. This can hopefully help, so that you can turn them all back on when the earthquake is over. These are six of the things that you should do to prepare for an earthquake, although there are many others. However, these six will be enough to keep you safe if one does hit anytime soon.
