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Earthquakes
If you live in
California you have experienced an earthquake . . . Are
you equipped for a big one?
My mom used to
say "if you prepare for the worst, it
usually won't happen . . . and if you don't
prepare for it, then you can count on it
happening." Her sage advice applies to everything
in life.
In this section
my goal is to help you prepare for a big earthquake . .
. to help you become a savvy earthquake
country resident.
I hope you
apply the information here to protect yourself, your
family and your home.
Joanne Your
San Francisco Bay Area Real Estate
Broker
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New
USGS Earthquake Maps
More
Earthquake Maps
Four Seismic Hazard Zone maps affecting
Oakland, Hayward, Union City, Fremont, Castro Valley,
San Lorenzo, Newark and other communities -- became
official Wednesday.
The maps,
issued by the Department of Conservation California Geological
Survey, impact planners,
developers, property sellers and real estate agents.
Color copies of
official maps can be purchased through DOC's California
Geological Survey (415) 904-7707 or (916) 445-5716. The
maps also can be viewed and downloaded on the Web at
http://gmw.consrv.ca.gov/shmp.
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How Earthquakes
Work
 A section of Interstate 880 in
Oakland, California, damaged by the magnitude 7.1
earthquake that shook the San Francisco area in
1989.
"How
Earthquakes Work" gives one a good understanding of
earthquakes. Click here
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Recent significant earthquakes in the
California region click image for latest
information
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 FEMA
Recommends Drop, Cover, and Hold
On
DURING THE QUAKE
Indoors
- Stay inside
- DROP, COVER,
AND HOLD ON! Move only a few steps to a nearby safe
place. Take cover under and hold onto a piece of heavy
furniture or stand against an inside wall. Stay
indoors until the shaking stops and you're sure it's
safe to exit. Stay away from windows and
doors.
- **Never take
an elevator
- If you are
in bed, hold on, stay there, protect your head with a
pillow.
Outdoors
- Find a clear
spot away from buildings, trees, and power lines.
- Drop to the
ground until the shaking stops.
In A
Car
- Slow down
and drive to a clear place (as described above).
- Turn on
emergency flashers on and slow to a stop. Do not stop
on overpasses, underpasses, or bridges. Be careful of
overhead hazards such as power lines or falling
building debris.
- Turn off the
ignition and set the parking brake.
- Stay inside
the car until the shaking stops.
PETS: During and after
- Don't try to
hold your pet during a quake. Animals instinctively
want to hide when their safety is threatened. If you
get in their way, even the nicest pets may hurt you.
- Watch
animals closely. Leash dogs and place them in a fenced
yard.
- Pets may not
be allowed into shelters for health and space reasons.
Prepare an emergency pen for pets in the home that
includes a 3-day supply of dry food and a large
container of water.
- If you can't
find your pet or must leave it at home after a quake,
leave fresh water in nonspill containers such as
bathtubs and sinks. Leave plenty of low-fat dry food,
which deteriorates more slowly and is less tasty so
pets won't try to eat it all at once. Leave a note
indicating that you have a pet, where you will be and
the date.
AFTER THE QUAKE
Personal
Safety
- Expect
aftershocks. Each time you feel one, DROP, COVER, AND
HOLD ON!
- Check
yourself for injuries. Protect yourself by wearing
long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sturdy shoes and
work gloves.
- Listen to a
battery-operated radio or television for the latest
emergency information.
- Check others
for injuries. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not
move seriously injured persons unless they are in
immediate danger of further injury.
- Remember to
help your neighbors who may require special
assistance--infants, the elderly, and people with
disabilities.
Home
- Inspect your
home for damage. Get everyone out if your home is
unsafe.
- Telephone:
Use the telephone only for emergencies. Check to make
sure the receiver has not been shaken off the hook and
is tying up the line.
- Fires: Look
for and extinguish small fires.
- Gas: Check
for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or
hissing noise, open a window and leave building.
Turn off the
gas at the outside main valve if you can and
call the gas company.
- **Remember,
only a professional can turn the gas back on.
- Electricity:
Look for electrical system damage. Turn off the
electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker if
you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if smell
hot insulation. If you have to step in water to get to
the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician
first for advice.
- Sewage,
Water: Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you
suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the
toilets and contact a plumber. If water pipes are
damaged, contact the water company and avoid using
water from the tap.
SOURCE:
American Red Cross, FEMA, SF Fire Department, SF
Chronicle
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PG&E recommends the following
...
Several useful publications that contain
information regarding earthquake preparedness and
seismic safety for residential and commercial buildings
are available through the State of California Seismic
Safety Commission, Division of the State Architect (DSA)
and the Office of Emergency Services (OES) Internet web
sites. They include:
For more tips
on earthquake preparedness check the "First Aid and
Survival Guide" or “Earthquake Preparedness” sections in
your telephone book. General information regarding
earthquakes, emergency preparedness and safety can also
be found on the following Internet web sites:
California Safety Seismic
Commission California’s Office of Emergency
Services Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA) Association of Bay Area Governments
(ABAG) United States Geological
Survey California Geological
Survey (CGS)
Source:
PGE.com
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Make Your Home Safe
Maintaining
your home's structural integrity by retrofitting
and eliminating hazards inside the home may be a
life saver in the next quake. Here are some things to
look for:
BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES Check for
hazards in the home.
- Fasten
shelves securely to walls.
- Place large
or heavy objects on lower shelves.
- Store
breakable items such as bottled foods, glass, and
china in low, closed cabinets with latches.
- For the
kitchen: Use latches, such as those used for
baby-proofing, to secure cabinets and drawers. Secure
the refrigerator and microwave with heavy-duty
L-shaped brackets (L brackets are available in
hardware stores).
- Keep heavy
items such as pictures and mirrors away from beds,
couches, and anywhere people sit.
- Brace
overhead light fixtures.
- Repair
defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.
These are potential fire risks.
- Secure a
water heater by strapping it to the wall studs and
bolting it to the floor.
- Repair any
deep cracks in ceilings or foundations. Get expert
advice if there are signs of structural defects.
- Store weed
killers, pesticides, and flammable products securely
in closed cabinets with latches and on bottom shelves.
- Close blinds
or drapes each night to prevent broken glass from
flying into the room.
RETROFITTING YOUR HOME Examine your
home's structural integrity.
- Foundation: Check for cracks, crumbling
and evidence of standing water.
Brick
foundations are troublesome because they can break
apart. Poor foundations are fairly common in pre-1930
homes.
The first
step in retrofitting is bolting the foundation to the
mudsill at 4- to 6-foot intervals around the perimeter
with expansion bolts.
- Cripple Walls: Cripple walls are the
short walls between the foundation and the first
floor. During an earthquake, cripple walls can act
like hinges, allowing the house to shift off its
foundation. This can rupture utility lines and damage
the entire house.
Cripple walls
should be reinforced with plywood sheathing, also
known as shear walling. The cost of putting a house
back on its foundation is about 23 times the cost of
shear walling. Shear walling is also recommended at
the ground floor for two- and three-story homes.
- Garages: Living space above the garage
makes your home more vulnerable to damage. Steel
reinforcement or added shear walling along the sides
and above the garage door can help keep your home from
buckling, as many apartments in San Francisco's Marina
District did during the Loma Prieta quake.
- Chimneys: The Loma Prieta quake
destroyed more than 10,000 chimneys. Most of them were
built before 1960 or were in poor condition.
Falling
chimney bricks can cause serious damage and injury.
Brick chimneys can fall through the roof or onto
surrounding property during a quake. A chimney's
vulnerability depends on its age, location, height and
the condition of the mortar. The most dangerous are
chimneys extending 5 feet or more above the roof.
Consult a
qualified contractor or engineer about your chimney's
safety. Stay clear of the chimney during and after an
earthquake.
- Masonry Veneer: Stone, brick and adobe
are sometimes used around the fireplace or on the
exterior of the house. Older veneers are especially
vulnerable to earthquake damage, and there's not much
you can do to reinforce them.
Like brick,
falling stone can be extremely hazardous. Stay away
from masonry veneer during and after a quake until you
know it's safe.
Jim Winter,
owner of the Alameda retrofitting company California
Earthquake Protection, says he never discourages
anyone from working on their own home, but he cautions
people to know what they are getting into before
beginning a do-it-yourself retrofitting project. The
tools are expensive, even to rent, and working inside
a crawl space isn't pleasant. If you have someone else
do the work, expect to pay a licensed contractor from
$3,000 to $10,000 for a complete
retrofit.
- Shutting off the gas: Keep a crescent
wrench -- the kind with adjustable open ends -- near
the gas valve. Show everyone in your household how to
use it.
If you smell
gas or hear a hissing sound after a quake, you could
have a gas leak.
Turn off the
gas by moving the bolt on the gas line a quarter turn
in either direction so it runs crosswise on the pipe.
(Sometimes an old bolt is too corroded to move. Test
yours before a quake occurs. If you can't turn the
bolt one-eighth turn, call your utility company for an
inspection.)
If you
suspect a leak after a quake, turn off the gas and
open the windows. Don't light matches or turn on
electrical switches. Let the utility company turn the
gas back on because there may be damage, and
relighting pilot lights can be tricky.
Some
homeowners purchase an automatic gas shut-off valve,
which works when it senses an earthquake of magnitude
5.3 or greater. The drawback to such valves is they
also may shut off when a heavy truck passes.
Homer Nowell
of San Leandro, inventor of an automatic shut-off
valve called the Vanguard Valve, says the thought of a
fire after a quake on the Hayward fault drove him to
design his product.
"I don't want
to spend 30 years paying for a house and then lose it
in an earthquake fire,'' he says. ``How do I know I'll
even be at home to shut off the gas?''
Expect to pay
about $200 for an automatic gas shut-off valve and
another $150 to $250 for a permit and installation by
a qualified plumber. The valves are available through
most plumbers.
SOURCE:
Chronicle, FEMA, SF Gate
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I hope you have found this information
helpful. For information on buying or selling east
bay homes, please contact me at 510-429-4800 or
send me a note on the Contact Joanne form.
Thank you, Joanne
P.S. Be sure to add us to your
favorite places.
~ Joanne L. Gardiner, Broker,
e-PRO Realtor
Advantage
Realty 3205 Whipple Road - Union City, California
94587
(510) 429-4800
San Francisco Bay
Area ~ San Francisco East Bay Real
Estate

web site: http://www.joannegardiner.com
Our primary realty
service areas in the San
Francisco Bay Area: Hayward, Castro
Valley, Fremont, Newark, Niles, San
Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Ramon, Sunol,
Oakland, Foster City, Burlingame, and San
Mateo.
The
types of real estate in which we specialize
are: single family homes, detached homes, attached
homes, duets, condominiums, townhomes, garden
homes, PUDs, manufactured homes, mobile
homes, income property, investment property,
tri-plexes, four-plexes, apartment
property, and special use properties such as
churches for
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Earthquake
Checklist
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 Being prepared for next big
quake is no accident
By Laura Casey, STAFF
WRITER Inside Bay Area - 04/07/2007
EVERYONE KNOWS THAT when
you talk about the next big earthquake, it's a matter of
when — not if — it will happen.
When the big
shaker rattles the Bay Area, as it is expected to do in
the next 20 or so years, water and sewer pipelines are
going to break, says Jeanne Perkins, of the Association
of Bay Area Governments' earthquake and hazards program.
It may take
three days for trucks to bring water to quake-ravaged
areas and even longer for pipes to be repaired and
functioning. If the temblor happens along the Hayward
fault, she adds, 1,700 roads are likely to be closed.
That means
stores and pharmacies that rely on trucks to replenish
supplies of food and medication will go without.
Emergency
services are going to be overloaded; water, food and
medication are going to be scarce. Yet only 10 percent
of Californians have created emergency kits for their
homes.
"There's this
kind of denial about how bad it can possibly be,"
Perkins says. "It's not some alarmist thing. It's based
on real stuff. We're not going to have water."
In recognition
of April being National Earthquake Preparedness Month,
we compiled lists of items experts say you should have
to survive the next big quake, along with an estimate of
what each kit would cost for a family of four.
The basic
kit
- Water — at
least one gallon of water per person per day for at
least three days for drinking and sanitation. A
2.5-gallon container of water sells for about $2.50 at
local grocery stores.
- Food — at
least a three-day supply of non-perishable food. This
can include canned and dried foods or Meals
Ready-to-Eat (MRE). A family of four would need 36
meals for three days. MREs cost, on average, about $60
for 12 meals.
- Prescription
medications — about a month's worth of daily
medicines, stored where you can get to them during an
emergency.
- Hand-crank
radio — to hear the latest news on the emergency,
including evacuation instructions. Costs about $50 and
can be found at many retail outlets such as online at
shop.npr.org.
- Flashlights
and batteries
- First aid
kit — The Department of Homeland Security recommends a
kit include: Two pairs of sterile gloves, sterile
dressings, antibiotic towelettes, antibiotic ointment,
burn ointment, adhesive bandages in a variety of
sizes, eye wash solution, thermometer.
- Whistle — to
signal for help.
- Dust masks —
to filter contaminated air.
- Heavy duty
plastic bags, moist towelettes and plastic ties — for
toiletting in case the sewer system does not work.
- Wrench — to
turn off utilities.
- Can opener
Cost: About
$370
The survivor
kit
A
survivor kit would include everything in the basic kit
and the following:
- Infant
formula and diapers.
- Pet food and
extra water for a pet
- Important
family documents — copies of insurance policies,
identification and bank account records in a
waterproof container.
- Cash or
travelers checks and change. Experts say $50 is a
start for a emergency kit.
- Sleeping
bags or warm blankets for each person. You may be
camping outside for a while.
- Family-size
tent — If you are sleeping outdoors for a while, a
tent would come in handy. A basic tent costs $79.99 at
Target.
- Change of
clothing — Complete change of clothing and a pair of
sturdy shoes for each family member.
- Fire
extinguisher
- Matches in a
waterproof container
- Feminine
supplies and personal hygiene items.
- Paper cups,
paper plates, plastic utensils, paper towels.
- Paper and
pencil
- Entertainment — Books, games, teddy bears,
toys and other items will help comfort children during
an emergency.
Cost: about
$650 and up.
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The car kit
- Battery
powered radio and extra batteries.
- Flashlight
and extra batteries
- Blanket
- Booster
cables
- Fire
extinguisher
- First aid
kit
- Bottled
water and non-perishable high energy foods — Granola
bars, raisins and peanut butter.
- Local maps
such as a "Thomas Guide" — for finding alternate
routes if roads are closed.
- Tire repair
kit and pump
- Flares
Cost: about
$150
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Putting Down
Roots in Earthquake Country
 Click image to printout a copy of this
informative book.
This handbook provides
information about the threat posed by earthquakes in the
San Francisco Bay region and explains how you can
prepare for, survive, and recover from these inevitable
events. If you live or work in the region, you need to
know why you should be concerned with earthquakes, what
you can expect during and after a quake, and what you
need to do beforehand to be safe and reduce damage.
View this handbook
online as a 31-page PDF
file (gip-15.pdf; 5.8 MB)
Request a hard copy of this
handbook
Delivery is only available in the
conterminous United States. Delivery time is 2-3 weeks.
You can also request a copy by telephoning the American
Red Cross Bay Area Chapter at 1-510-595-4459
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Quake-proof
...
What S.F. homeowners
need to do to be ready for a 7.2 San Andreas
shaker:
Click here
Source:
http://www.SFGate.com
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Association of Bay Area
Governments (ABAG) provides extensive local
information for homeowners on earthquakes, retrofitting
your home, liquefaction, reports,
etc.
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Southern California

If you live in
Southern California you will find this
guide helpful. It was prepared by the Los Angeles Fire
Department. Click
the image for the latest
information.
Southern
California Earthquake Data
Center
Another source
of good information on earthquakes is the Southern
California Earthquake Data Center Click
here
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