Run down the following list and build your Emergency Family Kit to use in any serious situation.  As a general guideline, for each person in your household, store one gallon of water per day for drinking, washing and cooking (including pets). That means storing three gallons for each person to cover 72 hours.  Buy a three-day supply of canned food for everyone in the home (including pets).

Oh, and please remember to rotate out any batteries, water, and canned goods every few months to keep things fresh.

Life Essentials

• Emergency Water –  As a good rule of thumb, store three gallons of water for each person and pet in your household to cover 72 hours of drinking, washing, and cooking, as emergency situations and power outages may interrupt your utility services.
• Drinking Water Tablets –  Helps to purify water when a trusted source is inaccessible.
• First Aid Kit –  A 50-piece kit is perfect for a family of four.
• Canned Food / Manual Can Opener / Disposable Plats and Utensils –  Keep on hand enough non-perishable food for a few days. Also, remember to rotate the food out of your emergency kit and replace it after a few months. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in an emergency with spoiled food!
• Emergency Blanket – Also called a space blanket, this reflects heat and helps keep you warm without taking up a lot of space.
• Warm Clothes – Sweaters, heavy-duty jeans, insulated socks, gloves, etc.
• Sturdy Shoes – Work boots or steel-toed shoes are good to walk over dangerous terrain or debris.

Medical Needs

• Medication –  If you or your family takes any prescriptions, keep a week’s supply in your emergency kit along with a list of them.
• Eye Glasses – If you or your family needs prescription eye glasses, keep an extra pair in the kit.
• Dust Mask – Helps to reduce smoke or dust inhalation.
• Bleach – A good thing to have on hand for simple and effective disinfecting.
• Essential Infant and/or Pet Care Items – Include vaccination records.
• Hygiene Products – Tissues, wipes, hand sanitizer, etc.
• Toilet Chemicals and Plastic Bucket – In some situations, proper sanitation and plumbing may be unavailable.

Tools

• Battery-Powered Radio – If your electricity, phone lines, and Internet are down, this may be your only link to rescue information and news.
• Flashlights – Keep multiple flashlights in your kit and spread throughout the house. It’s also a good idea to store batteries and flashlights separately.
• Batteries –  Keep packs of batteries for your most used items (typically AA and D batteries).
• Candles – For instant light and heat, keep a few candles in your emergency pack.
• Matches / Lighter – Waterproof matches and a lighter will come in handy for lighting candles, starting a fire, or lighting a burner to cook food.
• Light Sticks – Use light sticks or glow sticks to provide some light if you suspect there might be a gas leak in the area.
• Clock – Battery-powered.
• Fire Extinguisher – Keep a small household fire extinguisher in your kit. Make sure to read the directions and understand how to use it in an emergency.
• Multifunctional Knife / All-Tool / Axe – Cutting implements and tools come in handy in many emergency situations. Please know how to use them, and do so safely and away from children.
• Whistle – A loud whistle may help indicate your location for help and emergency workers.
• Trash Bags – A box of trash bags are a good add to your kit, and have many applications.
• Small Tent – For emergency shelter.
• Cooking Stove w/ Propane Fuel – To heat food if power and gas lines are down.
• Heavy Gloves – For moving debris and broken glass.
• Duct Tape – It’s got almost endless uses.
• Shovel / Broom – For moving debris, digging out areas, and cleaning.
• Rope – Helps secure items and move things.
• Wrench – Something large enough to shut off your gas valve if necessary.
• Pry Bar -Something to lift and move debris if someone is trapped or an exit is blocked.

Essential Documents

• Currency – It’s a good idea to store some emergency money in your kit, especially small bills, as local ATMs may not be working.
• Copies of Important Documents – Important papers like deeds, birth certificates, insurance policies, etc., should be copied, with the originals stored in a safe place like a waterproof container or a bank safe deposit box.
• Copies of Important Phone Numbers – Keep a hard copy of family and emergency phone numbers.
• Map of the Area – Helps to identify evacuation routes and shelter locations.
• Generator and gas.
• A weapon if you feel the need.

If you live in an earthquake-prone area, it’s probably a question you’ve heard before…and one that might give you a panic attack. There are ways, though, to prepare for the next temblor, better protect you and your family, and calm your nerves a bit.

 

Creating an earthquake action plan in case disaster strikes is your first line of defense. It’s also crucial to strengthen your home ahead of time, so it’s less vulnerable when a quake hits.

 

Also known as “seismic retrofitting,” reinforcing your home’s structure ensures that the foundation, floor, and walls are fastened together and bolted down, from below the ground up, better protecting it from earthquakes. Work with a licensed contractor or an engineer to reinforce your home’s structure, rather than trying to do it yourself.

 

Here are three common types of retrofits you can ask your contractor about:

Repairing and Straping & Bolting the foundation

Ask yourself: If an earthquake struck today, is my home’s foundation solid enough to withstand a heavy beating? Keep in mind older homes are especially in danger of frail or cracked foundations.

Seismic retrofitting starts with repairing a weak foundation so it’s more stable, secure, and resistant to damage from earthquakes.

It’s also important to ask your contractor if your home is properly bolted to its foundation. Foundation bolting attaches your home’s wood frame to the foundation with anchor bolts and metal plates.

 

Bracing the cripple walls

Another smart upgrade involves adding plywood sheathing to shore up the cripple wall or the short wood wall, which extends from the foundation to beneath the floor of the house. If the cripple wall is not stiff enough, it can literally cripple your main floor, which can buckle under the pressure of an earthquake.

 

Bracing un-reinforced chimneys and walls

Some older homes have walls or chimneys made of brick or other masonry, which aren’t braced securely. During an earthquake, they can crumble or crash into your home. A licensed contractor or engineer can inspect your chimney and recommend any repairs.

An earthquake can hit your home with force enough to simply rattle your glass wear, or strike with devastating results, completely destroying your home. Without proper preparation or earthquake insurance (if available in your area), a powerful quake can leave you with a massive repair bill or even worse, without a roof over your head. Contractor and retrofitting costs can add up, but if you live in an earthquake zone, it pays to be prepared, as your home is more likely to ride out an earthquake with less damage.

You can also take some smart precautions around the house to make it more earthquake-resistant. Lock down or anchor anything that’s likely to fall and crash when a quake hits, such as bookcases, drawers, appliances, electronics, and valuables. And remember, most homeowner’s policies do not cover earthquake damage. Speak to a licensed agent for more information on earthquake insurance.

 

Purchase an automatic gas shut off value.

Some cities and counties have regulations that require the installation of automatic gas shutoff devices, which may include excess flow gas shutoff valves and/or earthquake actuated gas shutoff valves. Regulations vary, but generally apply to new building construction, or significant alterations or additions to existing buildings. Check with your local city or county agency to see if regulations apply in your area.

If a customer installs an excess flow gas shutoff valve or earthquake actuated gas shutoff valve, it should be one that is certified by the State of California and it should be installed by a licensed plumbing contractor in accordance to the manufacturers instructions.

In the event that a gas service shutoff valve or an automatic gas shutoff device is closed, there may be a considerable delay before service can be turned on, but do not turn it on yourself. Your gas company or another qualified professional should perform a safety check, restore gas service, and relight any appliance pilots, even if the closure was not caused by an earthquake.

Facts about Earthquakes and Earthquake Insurance

1. Rates for Earthquake insurance can vary significantly.
2. In earthquake-prone areas, the cost of this insurance is relatively high. In other areas, it is relatively inexpensive.
3. In California, Earthquake insurance is issued by an independent organization, the California Earthquake Authority (CEA). CEA policies are available through your many fine companies. Stand alone products also available.
4. There is no way to predict exactly when or where an earthquake will occur. Seismologists can say that numerous minor to moderate earthquakes will be felt in the United States in the next year or two and that a major one will occur within the next 25 years.
5. It is estimated that a major earthquake in a populated area of the United States could cause as much as $200 billion in losses.

Do You Need Earthquake Insurance?

Here are some questions to ask your self when considering coverage:

• Is my home covered if an earthquake does occur? No, homeowner’s does not, unless endorsed. Neither is landslide or flood.
• Can I afford the cost of rebuilding or repairing my home if damaged as the result of an earthquake?
• What would it cost to replace my personal belongings damaged as a result of an earthquake?  Save money and buy coverage for just the structure. Something is better than nothing.

 

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