¿Cómo prepararse para un gran terremoto?

Antes de que el próximo gran terremoto (o de otra emergencia), hay que hacer todo lo posible para prepararse para que sobrevivir y se recuparse rápidamente. Estos cuatro pasos cada contienen un conjunto básico de acciones recomendadas para cómo preparar tu casa o el espacio de trabajo. Muchas son soluciones gratis o de bajo costo.

Comience con el Paso 1,

Asegurando un peligro potencial en su casa, algo que es fácil y rápido de realizar. Por ejemplo, mover un objeto pesado desde un lugar alto cerca del suelo. Esto solo le tomará un minuto y evitará que el objeto caiga sobre alguien o causar daños. No es necesario para completar todas las acciones en cada paso antes de comenzar la siguiente.

Asegura tu espacio identificando riesgos y asegurando ítems móviles. 

El movimiento de un sismo puede mover prácticamente todo, inclusive items grandes y pesados. Imagina tu hogar o lugar de trabajo siendo zamarreado de arriba a abajo y de lado a lado ¿qué cosas serían movidas? ¿cómo podrías prevenirlo?

COMIENZA AHORA moviendo muebles tales como estanterías y libreros lejos de las camas, sofas u otros lugares donde la gente se sienta, duerme o pasa mucho tiempo.  Cambia los objetos pesados a lugares más bajos.

Luego continúa tu "caza de riesgos" ayudando a identificar y arreglar cosas como televisores inseguros, computadores, estanterías, hervidores no empotrados, etc. Una lista de los típicos items en casa o en el trabajo, con recomendaciones de cómo asegurar cada uno te lo presentamos en esta sección.

¿Por qué es importante? Mucha gente ha muerto y cientos han sido heridos en terremotos a causa de ítems inseguros tales como libreros. Según la universidad de California en Los Angeles (UCLA), 55% de los heridas durante un terremoto fueron causadas por este este tipo de muebles u objetos. Solo 1% de estas heridas fueron causadas por daños en los edificios. Otras lesiones fueron causadas por gente que cayó o que se comportaba peligrosamente. Es más, muchos billones de dólares se pierden durante este tipo de daños (sí, billones). Muchos de estos daños y lesiones pueden ser prevenidos con anticipación mediante acciones secciones como asegurar estos artículos. Por esto es que recomendamos empezar por ese primer paso.

Asegurando tu espacio también puede reducir el daño y lesiones en otras situaciones. Por ejemplo, un reportaje de NBC Today mostró cuan insegura puede ser que tu TV si tienes niños. Inclusive si los terremotos no son comunes donde vives o trabajas, estas sugerencias siempre son útiles para considerar. 

La lista básica para comenzar

Intenta asegurar al menos un item cada fin de semana hasta que finalmente tengas todo. Comienza con lo que puedes hacer sin costo alguno. Puedes preguntar a otros por ayuda o herramientas prestadas.

Sin costo:

• Move heavy or large items to the floor or low shelves.
• Move things that can fall on you away from where you spend a lot of time.
• Move heavy or unstable objects away from doors and escape routes.

Low cost:

Animation showing how to secure your space, courtesy FLASH

• Secure a water heater to wall studs with two metal straps.
• Secure top-heavy furniture and appliances to wall studs.
• Hang mirrors and pictures on closed hooks
• Secure computers and TVs with special straps.
• Prevent small objects from falling by using museum putty or wax.
• Install latches on kitchen cabinets.

Many of these items may be available at your local hardware store, or from ShakeOut partner ReadyAmerica.

A bit more work or cost:

• Use flexible connections where gas lines meet appliances (such as water heaters, ovens, and clothes dryers).
• Secure overhead light fixtures.
• Secure free-standing wood stoves or fireplace inserts.

Plan to be safe by creating a disaster plan and deciding how you will communicate in an emergency.

Will everyone in your household do the right thing during the violent shaking of a major earthquake? Before the next earthquake, get together with your family or housemates to plan now what each person will do before, during and after.

Once the earthquake is over, we will have to live with the risk of fire, the potential lack of utilities and basic services, and the certainty of aftershocks. By planning now, you will be ready. This plan will also be useful for other emergencies.

Planning for an earthquake, terrorist attack, or other emergency is not much different from planning for a party or vacation. Make sure that your emergency plan includes evacuation and reunion plans; your out-of-state contact person's name and number; the location of your emergency supplies and other pertinent information. By planning now, you will be ready for the next emergency.

Plan NOW to be safe during an earthquake:

• Practice "drop, cover, and hold on." (See Step 5)
• Identify safe spots in every room, such as under sturdy desks and tables.
• Learn how to protect yourself no matter where you are when an earthquake strikes.

Plan NOW to respond after an earthquake:

• Keep shoes and a working flashlight next to each bed.
• Get a fire extinguisher for your home. Your local fire department can train you and your family to use it properly.
• Teach everyone in your household to use emergency whistles and/or to knock three times repeatedly if trapped. Rescuers searching collapsed buildings will be listening for sounds.
• Identify the needs of household members and neighbors with special requirements or situations, such as use of a wheelchair, walking aids, special diets, or medication.
• Take a Red Cross first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training course. Learn who else in your neighborhood is trained in first aid and CPR.
• Know the location of utility shutoffs and keep needed tools nearby. Make sure you know how to turn off the gas, water, and electricity to your home. Only turn off the gas if you smell or hear leaking gas.
• Install smoke alarms and test them monthly. Change the battery once a year, or when the alarm emits a "chirping" sound (low-battery signal).
• Work with your neighbors to identify who has skills and resources that will be useful in an emergency, and who may need special attention (children, elderly, disabled, etc).
• Check with your city or county to see if there is a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in your area. If not, ask how to start one.

Plan NOW to communicate and recover after an earthquake:

• Select a safe place outside of your home to meet your family or housemates after the shaking stops.
• Designate an out-of-area contact person who can be called by everyone in the household to relay information.
• Provide all family members with a list of important contact phone numbers.
• Determine where you might live if your home cannot be occupied after an earthquake or other disaster.
• Know about the earthquake plan developed by your children's school or day care. Keep your children's school emergency release card current.
• Keep copies of essential documents, such as identification, insurance policies, and financial records, in a secure, waterproof container, and keep with your disaster supplies kits. Include a household inventory (a list and photos or video of your belongings).

Have occasional earthquake "drills" to practice your plan. Share your plan with people who take care of your children, pets, or home.

Organize disaster supplies in convenient locations.

Everyone should have personal disaster supplies kits. Keep them where you spend most of your time, so they can be reached even if your building is badly damaged. The kits will be useful for many emergencies.

Everyone should have disaster supplies kits stored in accessible locations at home, at work and in your vehicle. Having emergency supplies readily available can reduce the impact of an earthquake, a terrorist incident or other emergency on you and your family. Your disaster supplies kits should include food, water, flashlights, portable radios, batteries, a first aid kit, cash, extra medications, a whistle, fire extinguisher, etc.

Keep one kit in your home, another in your car, and a third kit at work. Backpacks or other small bags are best for your disaster supplies kits so you can take them with you if you evacuate. Include at least the following items: 

Medications, prescription list, copies of medical cards, doctor's name and contact information Medical consent forms for dependents First aid kit and handbook Examination gloves (non-latex) Dust mask Spare eyeglasses or contact lenses and cleaning solution Bottled water Whistle (to alert rescuers to your location) Sturdy shoes Emergency cash Road maps

List of emergency out-of-area contact phone numbers Snack foods, high in water and calories Working flashlight with extra batteries and light bulbs, or light sticks Personal hygiene supplies Comfort items such as games, crayons, writing materials, teddy bears Toiletries and special provisions you need for yourself and others in your family including elderly, disabled, small children, and animals. Copies of personal identification (drivers license, work ID card, etc.)

Household disaster supplies kit

Electrical, water, transportation, and other vital systems can be disrupted for several days or much longer in some places after a large earthquake. Emergency response agencies and hospitals could be overwhelmed and unable to provide you with immediate assistance. Providing first aid and having supplies will save lives, will make life more comfortable, and will help you cope after the next earthquake. 

In addition to your personal disaster supplies kits, store a household disaster supplies kit in an easily accessible location (in a large watertight container that can be easily moved), with a supply of the following items to last at least 3 days and ideally for 2 weeks: 

Water (minimum one gallon a day for each person) Wrenches to turn off gas and water supplies Work gloves and protective goggles Heavy duty plastic bags for waste, and to serve as tarps, rain ponchos, and other uses Portable radio with extra batteries (or hand crank for charging) Additional flashlights or light sticks

Canned and packaged foods Charcoal or gas grill for outdoor cooking and matches if needed Cooking utensils, including a manual can opener Pet food and pet restraints Comfortable, warm clothing including extra socks Blankets or sleeping bags, and perhaps even a tent Copies of vital documents such as insurance policies

Use and replace perishable items like water, food, medications and batteries on a yearly basis. 

A special note about children

If earthquakes scare us because we feel out of control, think how much more true this must be for children, who already must depend on adults for so much of their lives. It is important to spend time with children in your care before the next earthquake to explain why earthquakes occur. Involve them in developing your disaster plan, prepare disaster supplies kits, and practice "drop, cover, and hold on." Consider simulating post-earthquake conditions by going without electricity or tap water.

After the earthquake, remember that children will be under great stress. They may be frightened, their routine will probably be disrupted, and the aftershocks won't let them forget the experience. Adults tend to leave their children in order to deal with the many demands of the emergency, but this can be devastating to children. Extra contact and support from parents in the early days will pay off later. Whenever possible, include them in the recovery process.

Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance.

Earthquakes may last only seconds but they can shake up our lives for weeks and months to come. You can minimize your financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property and considering earthquake insurance.

Organize Important Documents in a "Grab and Go" Bag

You may need to leave your house quickly after an earthquake, if there's a fire, etc. To help you organize the most important information you will need, begin with designating a “grab-and-go” backpack or bag. Consider what documents you will need if you are away from home for an extended time (such as what you will need as identification, to reach loved ones, to file an insurance claim, etc.) Put all of these important documents in a sealed plastic bag, then place it into your "grab-and-go" bag. Leave your "grab-and-go" somewhere you can get to easily. 

Consider what important documents you will need:

• Copies of identification.
• Copies of insurance cards.
• List of emergency contact numbers.
• Photos of belongings in your home. (This will help you file an insurance claim)

Common building problems

Most houses, apartment buildings, or commercial buildings are not as safe as they could be, especially if they are more than 30 years old. While building codes have been improved over time, few building codes require issues with older buildings to be fixed. Still, there are things that you can do to improve the structural integrity of your home or other building. Below are some of the most common issues. Others are listed on the menus at right (residential or commercial). 

Inadequate foundations. Look under your house at your foundation. If the foundation is damaged or built in the "pier and post" style, consult a contractor or engineer about replacing it with a continuous perimeter foundation. Look for bolts, and square washers, in the mudsills (so you see a connection between the base of the home's wood frame and the poured concrete foundation). They should be no more than 1.8 meters (6 feet) apart in a single story and 1.2 meters (4 feet) apart in a multistory building. Adding bolts to unsecured houses is one of the most important steps toward earthquake safety. This can be done by a contractor or by someone skilled at home maintenance with proper earthquake retrofit training. 

Unbraced cripple walls. Homes with a crawl space should have panels of plywood connecting the studs of the short "cripple" walls (see figure). You or a contractor can strengthen the cripple walls relatively inexpensively.

Soft first stories. Look for larger openings in the lower floor, such as a garage door or a hillside house built on stilts. Consult a professional to determine if your building is adequately braced. 

Unreinforced masonry. All masonry (brick or block walls) should be reinforced. Some communities have a program for retrofitting buildings made of unreinforced masonry. If your house has masonry as a structural element consult a structural engineer to find what can be done. Inadequately braced chimneys are a more common problem. Consult a professional to determine if your chimney is safe. 

Advice for how to consult or a contractor or engineer. 

Do you own your home?

Recommendations for what you can do to strengthen your home are also available from:

• FEMA - Earthquake Safety at Home
• ABAG Earthquake and Hazards Program
• Simpson Strong-Tie

For those who rent

As a renter, you have less control over the structural integrity of your building, but you do control which apartment or house you rent: 

• Structures made of unreinforced brick or block walls can collapse and cause great loss of life.
• Apartment buildings with "tuck-under" parking space openings can also collapse.
• Foundation and cripple wall failures can cause expensive damage but less loss of life.
• Objects attached to the sides of buildings, such as staircases, balconies, and decorations, can break off in earthquakes.

Ask your landlord these questions:

• What retrofitting has been done on this building?
• Have the water heaters been strapped to the wall studs?
• Can I secure furniture to the walls?

If you live in a mobile home...

Look under your home. If you only see a metal or wood "skirt" on the outside with concrete blocks or steel tripods or jacks supporting your home, you need to have an "engineered tie-down system" or an "earthquake-resistant bracing system" (ERBS) installed. An ERBS should have a label on the bracing that says, "Complies with the California Administrative Code, Title 25, Chapter 2, Article 7.5." 

---

More Ways to Protect Yourself Financially: Earthquake Insurance in California

If you own your home it is probably your biggest single asset. You have worked hard to secure your piece of the American Dream by becoming a homeowner. In seconds, your dream can become a nightmare when an earthquake strikes and damages your home and personal belongings. Even if you follow the steps in this website, it is likely your home will still have some level of damage, and you will need to repair or replace belongings. One option for managing these potential costs is to buy earthquake insurance. 

Renters and homeowners can protect themselves with earthquake insurance. Without earthquake insurance, you will be responsible for all costs to repair or rebuild your home and replace your personal property. Residential policies do not cover earthquake damage. For more information, contact your insurance agent or go toEarthquakeAuthority.com 

Earthquake insurance in California is typically not part of your homeowners insurance policy; it is generally a separate policy you can purchase when buying homeowners insurance. All insurance companies that sell residential property insurance in California are required by law to offer earthquake insurance to homeowners when the policy is first sold and then every two years thereafter. 

The cost of the earthquake policy you are offered is based on a number of factors, including your home's location, age, construction type, and value. It is up to each homeowner to consider their individual risk factors and then weigh the cost of earthquake coverage against the benefits that coverage may offer after a devastating earthquake. 

Many companies issue California Earthquake Authority (CEA) insurance policies, which are designed to rebuild your home if it suffers significant damage from an earthquake. 

You may purchase a CEA policy only through the CEA's participating insurers. A complete list is on the CEA web site at EarthquakeAuthority.com, which has an online premium calculator. 

Contact your homeowners insurance company or agent to help you evaluate your earthquake risk factors and then consider whether earthquake insurance is a good choice for you. 

Flood Insurance in U.S. Covers Tsunami

If you live in a tsunami zone, consider FEMA flood insurance. Homeowner’s policies do not cover damage caused by flood or tsunami. For more information, visit the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) website atwww.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/ 

Myth #2: Don't be fooled!

"WE HAVE GOOD BUILDING CODES SO WE MUST HAVE GOOD BUILDINGS"

The best building codes in the world do nothing for buildings built before a code was enacted. While the codes have been updated, the older buildings are still in place. Fixing problems in older buildings -- retrofitting -- is the responsibility of the building's owner.

Structural-Safety Quiz for Single-Family Home or Duplex

If you live in a single-family home or duplex, the strength of your home depends on when it was built, its style of construction, and its location. 

1. When was your home built? Before 1960 = 5 points 1961-1978 = 3 points After 1978 = 1 point 

2. How tall is your home? 2 or more stories with living area above a garage = 5 points Split level, on a hillside or gentle slope = 6 points 1 story, 3 or more steps up to the front door = 4 points 1 story, less than 3 steps up to the front door = 1 point 

3. How hard is the ground likely to shake under your home? Portions of southern California shown as yellow or green in color on the shaking hazard map (see Future Earthquakes) = 5 points Elsewhere in southern California = 7 points 

If your home scores 13 or more points on the quiz, you probably should have an engineer, architect, or contractor evaluate it unless it has been strengthened in the past few years. 

http://earthquakecountry.org/prepare/