|
 Berkeley,
California (Monday, October 30, 2000) – HERE
in Berkeley, the question is not if there will be an
earthquake, it's only a matter of when. There is a 70%
chance of a 6.7 quake striking the Greater Bay Area within 30 years.
Our community has worked diligently since the 1989 Loma Prieta
earthquake and the tragic 1991 East Bay Hills fire to make Berkeley
a safer place for us all. We, at the City, want to encourage
everyone to create a safer environment for your family and
neighbors. This is a good time to look at your home safety and
reduce potential devastating effects of earthquakes by taking
30 minutes to walk through your home to identify potential hazards:
EARTHQUAKE
HAZARD HUNT
1.
Check your water heater.
Securely fasten it to the wall with a heater strap.
You can learn more about this by going on to the Associated
Bay Area Government (ABAG) website at www.abag.ca.gov
and clicking on “Mitigation Techniques” then on “Reducing
Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage.”
2.
Identify top-heavy, freestanding furniture that could topple
in an earthquake, such as bookcases and china cabinets.
3.
Identify heavy or breakable objects in high shelves or in cabinets.
Securely fasten or
move. For
bookshelves, consider installing a wooden, elastic or metal bar
(called guardrail) on open shelves to keep items from sliding or
falling off.
4. Identify
appliances and electronic equipment that might slide off shelves. Secure with industrial-strength velcro or provide a
restraining edge on the cabinet or shelf.
5.
Remove or fasten anything that might potentially rupture gas
or electrical connections.
6.
Identify mirrors and heavy frames or objects that are over
beds, couches, and chairs and move them or secure them in place by
drilling screws into walls on all sides.
7.
Check appliances and the water heater to make sure they are
connected to the fuel sources with flexible lines.
Flexible connecters on all gas appliances and water heaters
can be installed by an electrician.
8.
Check the batteries in the smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
9.
Make sure secure latches or hooks are installed in kitchen
and bathroom cabinet doors so that they remain closed during heavy
shaking.
10. Inspect the foundation of your house. It should be securely bolted and shear walled.
This means that the wooden structure of your house should be
fastened to the concrete foundation with expansion bolts.
If your house was built before 1950, the wood is most likely
not secured to the concrete. Have this checked by a licensed contractor.
11. Check for loose tiles and bricks in the chimney and on your
roof.
12.
Clear dry brush and leaves from your roof and around your house.
13. Move poisons, toxins, and other dangerous chemicals into
lower cabinet space and place in heavy plastic painter tray
containers.
14. Know how to turn the gas and electricity off.
Go to www.abag.ca.gov
to learn how to locate the shut-off valves of these utilities.
You
can make the hazard hunt quick and efficient by identifying the
hazards first, then making the actual changes.
You can find contractors listed in the phone book and on ABAG’s
website at www.abag.ca.gov. Take notes as you survey your home or make a checklist.
Involve your family members and have them understand the
safety procedures.
If
you have any questions or would like general information about
disaster prevention, other announcements, or safety events, contact
Dory Ehrlich, OES at 981-3473.
The
information contained in this article is standard information
available on preparing for emergencies. Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy
of the material. The
City of Berkeley and the authors do not assume any responsibility or
liability in how the reader uses the information or the effect of
any recommended practice, procedure, or product specified in this
article.
### |
