2022 Earthquake Preparedness Checklist
Every year, homeowners should conduct a routine earthquake preparedness check around their home and workplace.
Because we live in earthquake country, it’s important to make sure you’re prepared for the inevitable “big one.” Take a look at Julian Construction’s checklist for earthquake preparedness below!
- Examine your earthquake kit: Hopefully, you’ve assembled an earthquake kit for your home and in your workplace. Once a year, it’s a great idea to dig out the kit and check the expiration dates on all of the food stored within it. If you have items in there that are close to expiring you can donate them or toss them out and replace the kit with new items. The same can be done with water bottles and any medication – rotate those ones out and replace them with new ones. And don’t forget about your pets! You’ll want to check the expiration date on their food as well.
- Reevaluate your daily commutes and emergency exits in your workplace: This is especially important if you have started a new job this year – take a look at the different ways you can get to and from your workplace, in addition to all emergency exits in the building. It’s important to know a few different ways to exit a building in an emergency disaster.
- Check on any new and impending home repairs inside your house: Sometimes we can start something and forget to finish it (especially when it comes to home repair). Now is the time to take inventory of areas of your home that seem damaged or in need of repair, any new signs of damage (i.e. sloping floors, wall cracks, or water damage), and get started scheduling any needed inspections or contractors to handle those repairs. In addition to checking out visible damage around your home, now is also the time to make sure you have earthquake proofed your house as much as possible. This means securing heavy pieces of furniture to the wall, installing safety latches to your cabinets (especially those holding glass) so they can’t shake open, and making sure your water heater is strapped down correctly.
- Don’t forget about the exterior of your home: The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior, especially in regards to home maintenance and repair. Lookout for any new cracks in your home’s exterior, and any damage to your roof and gutters. Also keep an eye out for areas that seem overly saturated or that have pooling water nearby. And if you’ve continued to put off having your home inspected and retrofitted for earthquakes, now is the time to make that appointment and have a foundation specialist come and check out the property. And while you’re outside, make sure you know where your emergency gas shut off valve is as well.
- Revisit your family emergency plan: Has any information changed? Did someone get a new number? Did you move? These are all things to consider in the event of an emergency. Who will you call, where will you meet, what roads will you take?
- Take a look at your finances: It’s always a good idea to have some cash hidden in your emergency earthquake kit. This will ensure you can buy food and other necessities if electronic payments are down. You’ll also want to review your earthquake insurance policy. Have you added any new valuables to your home? Has anything changed with your house? Have you been able to reduce the deductible with some new repairs and replacements? These are all good things to think about each year.
At Julian Construction, we’re advocates of earthquake preparedness — and we’ll help you find the best solution for your seismic retrofitting needs and foundation problems.
No matter what your foundation situation is, we’ll conduct a (free) detailed home inspection, followed by an informative consultation, and at the end of our discussion we’ll provide you with a quote for repair.
Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors, earthquake retrofitting, foundation repair and foundation replacement. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 30,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair and earthquake retrofitting in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.
