15 Ways to Prepare Your Home for an Earthquake

It may not be possible to completely earthquake proof your home, but those of us who have lived in California for any length of time know the importance of doing all we can to be prepared for this type of natural disaster. 

The sudden nature of earthquakes is what makes them so dangerous and, while earthquake predictions have saved thousands of lives around the world, this imperfect science has not yet yielded a warning system on which we can rely.

According to the Earthquake Country Alliance, Californians are facing a 99.7% chance of experiencing an earthquake with a 6.7 magnitude (or larger) at some point in the next 30 years. That statistic, alone, is probably enough to turn some folks into hardcore preppers, but it should concern all of us at least enough to spend a couple of weekends making sure our homes are as prepared as possible. 

Taking these steps is particularly important when you consider that most injuries are not caused by the shaking; it is falling objects, crumbling chimneys and other debris falling from buildings that cause the most harm.

Here are 15 things you can do to limit property damage and help ensure your family's safety:

1. Learn how to shut off your utilities, including electricity, water and gas.

2. Move heavy items to low shelves to avoid damage or injuries from falling objects.

3. Secure televisions and tall or heavy furniture to the wall. 

4. If you have an older home with a crawl space, make sure the walls in the crawl space are shear plywood and not older cripple walls. 

5. Store flammable liquids in low, latched cabinets in your shed or garage.

6. Install latches on all cabinets to keep contents safely inside during an earthquake.

7. Make sure your home is properly bolted to the foundation, particularly if it was built before 1935. 

8. Hire a professional to make sure your chimney is stable and in good repair, particularly if your home was constructed prior to 1960.

9. Secure your water heater with an earthquake strap.

10. Make sure you have flexible connections attaching your appliances to your gas lines.

11. Secure knickknacks and picture frames with adhesive tabs or museum putty.

12. Hang mirrors, art and picture frames using adhesive tabs or closed hooks.

13. If your yard slopes, consider installing a retaining wall or landscaping to manage erosion and stabilize the slope.

14. Move beds away from glass doors or windows and place them near interior walls.

15. Hanging plants inside or outside of your home should be on closed hooks to prevent them swinging off and causing damage or injuries.

Since most homeowners' insurance policies do not cover damage from earthquakes, you might also want to consider purchasing earthquake insurance to protect your investment

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AimeeJo Davis-Varela is a member of The Davis Group and a freelance writer specializing in real estate, sustainable home improvement, eco-friendly landscaping, and green living. She is also the owner of Mind Your Manors, which provides second home management services.