Before The Earthquake

EARTHQUAKE HOME IMPROVEMENTS:

1. SAVE YOUR WINDOWS
   The next time the kids send a baseball through one of your windows, consider replacing the glass with tempered glass. Tempered glass may still break during an earthquake; but it will break into small dull fragments instead of large dangerous shards.
   
   Another alternative is to put polyester shatter resistant films on all your windows. The film will help hold together glass fragments of any panes that crack in an earthquake. (Typical solar film may not be adequate for this purpose).
   
   
2. STRAP YOUR WATER HEATER TO THE WALLS
   Strapping your water heater to the wall is one mitigation item every homeowner can do himself. Here are two different diagrams for strapping your water heater to the wall - the first diagram is a corner location and may cost $80 to complete to this home improvement. The second diagram shows how to strap your water heater to the wall- this may cost about $200 dollars.
   
   
3. SECURE BOOKCASES, CHINA HUTCHES AND DISPLAY CASES TO WALLS
   The homeowner needs angle brackets to secure the bookcases etc. to wall studs. Metal wires or elastic guardrails may help keep books, dishes, trophies etc. from falling out of the unit. REMEMBER keep heavy items off the top shelves especially if the unit is located close to where someone will be sitting or lying in bed. Depending on the number of bookcases, hutches, display cases, record racks, the cost may run as high as $50 dollars.
   
   
4. SAVING FRAGILE ARTWORK AND TROPHIES
   Seldom used glassware in china hutches may be secured to the shelf with either bee's wax on the bottom of the glass or double-sided sticky Velcro. If you don't like the idea of bee's wax, you might try monofilament fishing line or fine wire wrapped around the glassware and secured to the back of the hutch. A third option, might be to build a close-fitting clear plexiglass display case -but remember to anchor the object inside the display case. Instead of wire or elastic bands across the shelves, a homeowner might make a plexiglass lip which can be screwed into the shelving unit.
   
   
5. COMPUTERS, TVS, STEREO EQUIPMENT, MICROWAVES, etc.
   Double-sided sticky Velcro to the rescue! Along with connecting straps, "bungee" elastic cords, rubber "doorknob bumpers, and a chain to secure the equipment to a wall. Your electronic equipment can be secured to a desk or table with double-sided sticky Velcro or a bungee cord; a chain would secure the equipment to a nearby wall. Connecting straps may be used to secure electronic equipment that is tacked such as a computer monitor on top of a processor or a CD player on top of a power unit. The cost may run as much as $50 dollars per unit depending on how you wish to secure your electronic equipment.
6. FRAMED PHOTOGRAPHS, OR ARTWORK
   Every homeowner can protect framed photographs and artwork. You need to make sure that a closed hook or a closed wire loop is secured to the back of the frame. Use a eye bolt embedded into a wood stud to secure your photos and artwork to the wall. Depending on the numbers of framed photographs and artwork, this improvement might cost as much as $50 dollars.
   
   
7. SECURING LARGE POTTED PLANTS
   Similar to securing your electronic equipment, use double-sided sticky Velcro on the bottom of the bottom of the pot to a coffee table, the floor or window ledge where you normally keep your large potted plants. As an added protection to keep the pot from tipping over, wrap nylon or monofilament line around the largest part of the pot and secure the line to eye hooks embedded into the wall. The cost should be negligible.
   
   
8. EARTHQUAKE AND BABY PROOFING YOUR KITCHEN
   Plastic bicycle latches (the kind used to baby proof the kitchen) are ideal for securing kitchen cabinets. However, to be more aesthetically pleasing, a homeowner might want to use a strong mechanical cabinet catch such as a safety hasp, slide bolt, touch-door cabinet catch, clip roller or snap-action catch, baby proof latches or locks on the cabinet doors or drawers. These items can be found in the baby sections of discount or grocery stores, as well as, hardware and building supply stores.
   
   
9. SECURE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN A CABINET
   Use a quick release strap to secure a fire extinguisher and a flashlight to a wall, inside wooden cabinets under the kitchen sink or inside the pantry door. If you want to get more sophisticated, a homeowner might consider purchasing a metal cabinet with a glassed door to house the fire extinguisher and flashlight -- remember the cabinet should be secured to the wall studs. The cabinet housing might cost as much as $300 dollars depending on where you live.
   
   
10. INSTALL A FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR FOR STOVE, WATER HEATER, FURNACE GAS LINES
    Flexible utility piping and a shut-off valve can be found in plumbing section of hardware stores. This flexible piping should be secured to the rigid connector. The safety valve allows the homeowner to shut off the gas at the utility inlet connector.
    
    
11. SECURING A FREESTANDING WOOD STOVE
    Using steel straps, screws, bolts and bricks, a homeowner can secure a free standing wood stove for approximately $500 dollars. See diagram for details.
    
    
12. SECURING A RESIDENTIAL CHIMNEY
    Securing a residential chimney in a low to moderate seismicity area will probably require some professional engineering. FEMA estimates the approximate cost to be about $1,000 dollars. See the diagram.

EARTHQUAKE OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS:

1. SAVE YOUR WINDOWS
   See above under Home Improvements, same principals apply
   
   
2. STRAP YOUR WATER HEATER TO THE WALLS
   See above under Home Improvements, same principals apply
   
   
3. SECURE BOOKCASES, CHINA HUTCHES, AND DISPLAY CASES TO WALLS
   See above under Home Improvements, same principals apply
   
   
4. SAVING FRAGILE ARTWORK AND TROPHIES
   See above under Home Improvements, same principals apply
   
   
5. COMPUTERS, TVS, STEREO EQUIPMENT, MICROWAVES, ETC.
   See above under Home Improvements, same principals apply
   
   
6. FRAMED PHOTOGRAPHS OR ARTWORK
   See above under Home Improvements, same principals apply
   
   
7. SECURING PENDANT LIGHT FIXTURES
   First make sure the light fixtures are bolted into ceiling joists. By following the diagram, you should install safety cable through the hollow tubing to the pendant light fixture. As an added safety feature, run a cable from the bolt on the outside of the fixture to the ceiling.
   
   
8. SECURING SUSPENDED LIGHT FIXTURES
   Using 12 gauge wire, you will need to secure each corner of the fixture to ceiling joists. Take additional wire and wrap it around the light bulbs inside the fixture to keep the bulbs from shaking loose or breaking on the floor during an earthquake. See the diagram below.
   
   
9. SECURING TALL FILE CABINETS
   If your file cabinets are against a wall, use anchor brackets to secure the cabinets to wall studs. If the units are free standing, use anchor bolts to secure the file cabinets to the floor. Use top connectors or bolts to tie tall file cabinets to each other. Install strong latches on the drawers, this should keep the drawers from flying open and spilling valuable papers or files all over the working area.
   
   
10. FREESTANDING WALL PARTITIONS
    Freestanding partitions may tip over unless they are anchored to the floor or attached to stable furniture such as desks. Using stable work layouts also reduces the risk of partitions falling over on workers during an earthquake.
    
    
11. SECURING LARGE POTTED PLANTS
    See above Home Improvements, same principals apply
    
    
12. SECURING THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN A CABINET
    See above Home Improvements, same principals apply
    
    
13. INSTALL A FLEXIBLE CONNECTOR WATER HEATER OR GAS LINES
    See above Home Improvements, same principals apply. The cost will depend on the size of the connectors; obviously the cost will increase if the business is manufacturing.
    
    
14. SECURING COMPRESS GAS CYLINDERS
    To do this project, you will need 1/4" diameter screw eye bolts or expansion anchors which will go into concrete. You will also need a 1/4" threaded connector (safe working load 500 lbs), and a minimum 3/16" closed-linked steel chain (safe working load 500 lbs). Remember if you are securing multiple gas cylinders, you will need stronger hardware, wall supports and engineering recommendations may be required as well.