Should an earthquake strike, a single family dwelling is actually one of the safest places to be. Still, this will not protect you from falling furniture and shattering glass. To earthquake proof your home, make sure it is structurally sound and think about what elements would fall and hurt you if the earth began to shake. Read on to learn more. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Structurally Secure Your Home
1. Find out if your house is bolted to its foundation. If your house was built after 1935, chances are it is. If your home is older, you can have your house inspected and install bolts if necessary.
2. Make sure your chimney is soundly attached to the structure of your home. Collapsing chimneys are one extremely dangerous outcome of an earthquake. If your home was built before 1960, you may have to have it reinforced.
3. Have shear walls installed if your home was built on a raised foundation. Older houses often have cripple walls in the crawlspace between the foundation and the floor. To earthquake proof your home, you'll need shear plywood reinforcement.
Securing Furniture and Appliances
4. Bolt down the water heater. This will help prevent gas leaks.
5. Equip all cabinets with child-proof latches. This includes kitchen cupboards and medicine cabinets. These latches are cheap, easy to install and keep the contents of your cabinets from flying during and earthquake.
6. Store the heaviest objects, along with hazardous materials, in floor-level cabinets.
7. Secure tall furniture and hanging picture frames to the wall. Bolts will keep heavy furniture against the wall, as will Velcro installed at the corners. Pictures will probably stay put if you use a security hanger to keep them in place.
8. Place your T.V. on a lower, sturdy stand. It shouldn't be perched on anything too small.
9. Move beds out from under windows. Ideally, a bed should sit against the room's inner wall, which is the most stable.
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