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 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. top of page   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 top of page Recent significant earthquakes in the California region click image for latest information top of page 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 top of page 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: Earthquake Preparedness Information Tip Sheets The Homeowner's Guide to Earthquake Safety - Publication #CSSC 02-04 The Commercial Property Owner’s Guide to Earthquake Safety – Publication #CSSC 98-01 Guidelines for Earthquake Bracing of Residential Water Heaters 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 top of page 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 top of page 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 sale. Earthquake Checklist battery-powered flashlights and lanterns battery-powered AM/FM radio or television spare batteries extra change of clothes sturdy shoes with thick soles extra prescription medicines complete first-aid kit matches (stored in waterproof container) fresh drinking water (three to five gallons per person per day) canned foods (up to five days' worth) dry or dehydrated foods (up to five days' worth) manual can opener paper plates plastic utensils, cups moist towelettes extra pet food pet leashes blankets and bedding toothbrushes, toothpaste stove or charcoal grill (with extra charcoal) toilet paper, sanitary napkins antibacterial soap extra glasses or contact lenses work gloves earthquake survival guide list of important phone numbers small amount of cash prepaid telephone calling card tent sleeping bags fire extinguisher rain gear top of page   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. top of page 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 top of page   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 top of page   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   top of page Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) provides extensive local information for homeowners on earthquakes, retrofitting your home, liquefaction, reports, etc.    top of page   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 top of page

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