How do we protect our homes from a big disaster such as a deadly earthquake?

An earthquake occurs when there is a sudden release of energy between two plates in the Earth’s crust, creating seismic waves. Some can cause tsunami and some can cause things as simple as pans clattering to your house floor. As a result of earthquakes, damage to land, buildings, and homes can also occur. Although earthquakes cannot be avoided, the damage they leave in their wake can be reduced drastically. In order to achieve this, the right precautions must be taken.

• Planning for an Earthquake
• Become familiar with your community’s disaster preparedness plans and create a family plan with escape routes, an emergency meeting place and a contact point to communicate with concerned relatives.
• Make certain all adult and teenage family members know where your gas, electric and water main shutoff controls are and how to turn them off if there is a leak or electrical short. Keep necessary tools close by.
  Put together an emergency kit.

If the structural elements of your home need reinforcing, some of the most important and common retrofits include:

• Adding anchor bolts or steel plates between your home and its foundation.
• Bracing the inside of your home’s cripple wall — the short wood-stud wall between the top of the foundation wall and the first floor — with sheathing.
• Bracing unreinforced chimneys, masonry and concrete walls and foundations.

To get started today or for more information, contact us today to schedule a FREE on-site inspection by our team of soft-story experts or call us now at (818)287-8002.

Posted on Tuesday, August 20th, 2019.