Earthquake Safety Tips for 2019
There’s nothing better than starting off a new year by accomplishing new tasks. A task that every homeowner should be preparing for is earthquake safety.
Los Angeles marked a major milestone in January with the launch of their very own earthquake warning app which will notify residents with the phone application up to a minute before shaking starts from a large earthquake.
As a homeowner, it can seem like there is always something that needs to be done around your house. While preparing for the next big earthquake may not make the top of your “to-do” list, it should certainly take priority.
There are several major fault lines that run through our Golden State, which means the chances of a major earthquake occurring along one of these active faults is not only very real but increases in likelihood every year.
Check out Julian Construction’s 5 tips for earthquake preparation and safety in 2019:
- Prepare your emergency earthquake safety kit: Every household should have an emergency earthquake safety kit. In the event of a large earthquake, you’ll want to make sure that there is enough food and water in your household to last each person and pet for at least three days. In addition to water and canned foods, you’ll want first aid supplies and medications located in the kit as well.
- Secure large pieces of furniture: It’s also important that you secure large pieces of your furniture to your floors and walls with fasteners. Know the layout of your home like where your electrical panel is, and which switches will shut off power (to prevent electrical fires).
- Have an evacuation plan/place to meet: There can be a lot of chaos when a natural disaster strikes. Power lines and cell phone towers will be down, so communication will be limited. Spend time creating an evacuation route in the event you need to vacate your home and pick a meet up spot in case you get separated.
- Make copies of important documents: It’s important to have copies of important documents such as your deed, birth certificates, passports, IDs and driver licenses, in case you have to evacuate your home. Another way to backup this information is by uploading copies of these documents to your Google Drive to ensure it doesn’t get lost.
- Get your home inspected and insured for earthquakes: Many homes in Los Angeles are not built to sustain a massive earthquake. Have your home inspected by a foundation specialist to see if the property needs any earthquake retrofitting. You may also want to look into earthquake insurance or see what disasters your home is covered for (flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes, etc.).
Now, more than ever, it’s important to be proactive about earthquake preparation and safety.
Julian De La Torre is an expert in Los Angeles foundation inspection, foundation contractors and foundation repair. Julian’s company, Julian Construction, has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with engineering firms and local departments of building & safety. The company has done more foundation repair in Los Angeles than any other company in the area over the last five years.
