What Is An Earthquake
Earthquakes are caused by abrupt motions of rocks separated by a geological fault. These motions generate vibrations that can be felt, and, if sufficiently strong, can cause damage to houses. An earthquake generally begins with a sudden noise, or roar, and is followed by vibrations or a swaying sensation. Although vertical movement (up and down) can occur, the horizontal movements (side to side) are those that generate damage. The vibrations can last for mere seconds or for several minutes, depending on the size of the earthquake and the distance from the epicentre.
8 Steps You Can Take To Help Earthquake Proof Your Home
Do The Walk Around Outside
Tour the outside of your home. Look for Large cracks in the concrete foundation that your home sits on, plan to repair these as even a slight earthquake can cause enough further damage to make repairs more expensive. Any shrubbery, or landscaping (bushes, plantings) that hide your homes gas or electric meter. During or after a natural disaster there will be no time to “find” these utility connections. Make sure everyone knows where these are. Trees or limbs that are likely to damage power lines or buildings when the fall.
Do The Walk Around Inside
Contact your local utility company and get instructions on how to safely turn off hydro and natural gas.
Locate and mark each of the following areas. (You can use a variety of methods to do this such as use fluorescent paint to mark valves or taps. Take care to only mark the HANDLE area of valves or taps, not where these join the pipes. You might want to use tags to help identify shutoffs, switches or connections.
- The main electrical panel
- The main water service shutoff
- The natural gas, main shutoff
Be careful about keeping these 3 important areas free of storage or other materials that block access to them. Do make sure that ALL family members and residents of the home know where these utilities are located. Each of them should be taught how to safely turn them off as the utility companies have instructed during an emergency.
Locate your hot water tank – if it is possible use strapping to anchor your hot water tank to the floor ONLY. (California homeowners and water tank professionals report that during the last earthquake further damage to homes arose because the hot water tank was anchored to wall studs, in some cases this resulted in the wall being damaged to a greater extent.) Flexible gas supple lines will also endure the movement of an earthquake better than the more common rigid type. If repair or replacement of your tank arises that will be an opportunity to have these supply lines changed.
Other things in your home should be anchored too!
Bookcases and other tall, heavy furniture should be attached directly to wall studs.
Large mirrors and pictures require proper attachment to wall studs. These items should not be hung over seating or sleeping areas.
Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves
Keep items from falling out of cabinets by using clips or locking devices on doors.
Get the kids together and make a Family Plan for preparedness.
Do These Steps
- Select a place that you will meet in the event of a natural disaster (don’t choose more than two locations)
- Name a person or persons that you will all contact should you be separated from each other (this should be someone who lives far enough away that it is unlikely they will have experienced the same event)
- Help your children learn this information before they need it.
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The Provincial Emergency Preparedness site :
http://www.pep.bc.ca/
Earthquake Canada site :
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php