During earthquakes and other disasters, injuries and property damage often occur as a result of things around the home falling, breaking, moving, or starting a fire.
Reduce the risk by taking some time now to identify possible hazards around your home and fixing them.
Tips to make your home safer
Inside your home
- Anchor or secure appliances and heavy items so they can't topple over.
- Move beds away from windows.
- Move or anchor mirrors or heavy pictures over beds, couches, or chairs.
- Place heavy and breakable items on lower shelves.
- Secure electronics with velcro strips or non-slip pads.
- Store toxic materials in non-breakable containers, away from heat sources.
Outside your home
- Look for trees and power lines that could fall.
- Watch for stream banks that could become unstable.
Your home’s foundation
To reduce the risk of damage to your home:
- Consider reinforcing your home if it is on loose or clay soil. Stiff soil or bedrock is ideal.
- Brace slender posts and anchor them to solid ground.
- Ensure the house or garage is securely fastened to the foundation, particularly if it was built before 1950.
Take a closer look
Use the resources listed below to make your home safer:
- NSEM Hazard hunt checklist (coming soon)
- Earthquake Safety: Earthquake retrofitting
