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Next Big Quake:

A Major Earthquake is Highly Likely Soon

What to Do Right Now to Prepare
Learn how to "duck, cover and hold"
Develop an Earthquake plan at home, in your neighborhood, at school, at work
Make Your Own Earthquake Survival Kit
Protect Your Belongings

What to do now to Prepare

4. Protect your belongings

Falling objects and toppling furniture present the greatest danger and the biggest potential financial loss for most people. Imagine all of the contents of your kitchen cabinets falling to the floor or on your head! At home, at work, and in schools, building contents should be secured.

  • Be sure that no heavy items, such as pictures or mirrors, can fall on your bed, where you typically spend a third of each day.
  • Secure tall furniture and bookcases to the wall. Add lips to shelves to prevent costly items from sliding off. Be sure adjustable shelves cannot slide off their supports.
  • Put strong latches on cabinet doors, especially at home in your kitchen and at work in laboratories.
  • Fasten heavy or precious items to secured shelves or tables. Secure file cabinets, computers, and machinery that may overturn during an earthquake.
  • Store potentially hazardous materials such as cleaners, fertilizers, chemicals, and petroleum products in secure containers and in sturdy cabinets fastened to the wall or floor.
  • In your office, be sure heavy objects are fastened to the building structure and not just to a movable wall. Have a specialist check to be sure light fixtures and modular ceiling systems are securely supported.
  • Be sure your gas hot-water heater is fastened to the wall studs and that all gas heaters and appliances are connected to the gas pipe through a short piece of flexible tubing. If you use propane gas, be sure the storage tank is secured against overturning and sliding.
  • Check with your school officials to be sure that they have taken similar precautions.
Latches  
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Latches

For many residents of the Bay Area, a large financial loss during the next severe earthquake will come from the doors of kitchen cabinets being shaken open and most of the contents being hurled to the floor. A few dollars spent now can prevent most of that loss. In choosing a latch, consider looks and ease of use. The standard hook and eye (A) is an inexpensive and secure latch, but you may not close it every time you enter the cabinet because it takes extra effort to do so. A child-proof catch (E) prevents a door from opening more than an inch or two. These catches close automatically, but they require an extra action every time you open the door.

Some standard types of secure latches mount on the surface of the door (B, C). Latches are available that mount inside the door (D), hold the door firmly shut, and open by being pushed gently inward. These are marketed under names such as push latch, touch latch, or pressure catch. If you cannot find these latches, ask your hardware dealer to order them for you.


Secure your Water Heater  
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Water Heater Wrap a 1-1/2-inch-wide, 16-gauge-thick metal strap (A) around the top of the water heater and bolt the ends together. Do the same about 1/3 of the way up the side of the water heater. Take four lengths of EMT electrical conduit, each no longer than 30 inches. Flatten the ends. Bolt one end to the metal strap as shown (B). Screw the other end to a 2-inch by 4-inch stud in the wall using a 5/16-inch by 3-inch lag screw. Be sure a flexible pipe (C) is used to connect the gas supply to the heater.
How to Reduce Earthquake Damage >