Question for earthquake zone resisents

[tlgoblue]

I know this may be a stupid question, but how do you keep your treasured items from getting damaged by tremors. Is it an issue? Does it only happen on the big ones? I'm talking about crystal/glass items falling off shelves, china, etc, falling out of cupboards. Am I just being worried over nothing? I'm talking about stuff insurance can't replace.

Thanks for any information.

tracy

 

[raidermatt]

Not a stupid question at all.

We've only had issues in the larger quakes, and even then nothing major has fallen. But I think that's more luck than anything else. If you do live in earthquake country, you'll get a significant quake sooner or later.

Some things that we've done or seen suggested:

Attaching china closets, book cases, etc to the wall (water heater should be strapped in for safety reasons)

Latching cabinets so they won't open so easily.

Trying to place breakable items in areas over carpet, so that if they do fall they are less likely to break.

Put a strap or something in front of items on shelves. (though that does make it less appealing to look at)

Try to place items back from ledges.

 

[tlgoblue]

UGH! I was hoping for the "don't worry about it" reply. Well thanks for the heads up. I have heard that "you will have earthquakes." I initially thought "cool." Then I was assured it was most definately not cool. Well, at least there won't be as many tornados! Not much you can do with those either I guess! Thanks again!

Tracy

 

[HappyMommy2]

You've gotten some good ideas.

I will add that for items that were on display, like vases or figurines, we used some kind of putty that would stick them to the shelf. I think it's called "museum putty" or something like that (sorry I can't remember the name--we bought it at the Container Store). It worked very well in small earthquakes!

Hopefully you will never have to experience a big one.

 

[minniecarousel]

All good ideas. I have to admit, we've only had a few frames break in all the earthquakes we've been in. We have, however, taken a few of the precautions mentioned: museum putty, securing large bookcases to the wall studs. And the big no-no: never hang anything too heavy or breakable on the wall above any bed!

 

[tlgoblue]

I have a friend who decorated her house in what I considered to be ratther odd fashion. No Mantle over the fireplace, wreaths over the beds or better yet, cornered beds. Nothing over eye level. No book shelves, everything was in baskets. Very Mother Earth was what it was, but she mamaged to pull it off with the whole Pottery Barn look. Her house was always comfy and welcoming. She would come to my house and ask me about my stuff, and why I was so attached to it. I thought she was a bit odd, but I love her. She's from San Francisco. I get it now! She just moved back to CA (She's in Redlands, I'll be in Valencia! Not an easy go there every weekend trip, but it's a lot closer than Ft. Lame!) Her house is still decorated earthquake friendly. I may just have to re-think this whole midwestern mindset. Thanks for the light bulb!

tracy

 

[Imzadi]

What the others didn't mention is that in a biggish quake, like the size of the Northridge quake, the furniture JUMPS. Not just shakes & moves but literally jumps up in the air, before falling over. So even if you have cabinets with doors that stay closed, the contents may look like a crushed box of cereal when you finally open the cabinet, unless you can secure them down firmly.

 

[tonyswife]

I don't worry about it.

 

[TinkBoo&ElliesMum]

We were in a cruddy townhouse for the 6.8 Nisqually earthquake. We had one broken picture frame, a few dented cans, and a ketchup bottle that busted open and broke in the pantry. That was it!

Now everything is secured to walls, but thats more baby proofing than anything.

 

[arminnie]

I lived in the San Francisco area for many, many years. I was there for the big 1989 earthquake.

To me the MOST important thing is to live in a builidng that has been built to current code or has had a major retrofit. The . The other suggestions are very good, but the structural integrity of the building is crucial.

My apartment was about 6 months old in 1989, and I lived on land fill but I had absolutely no damage because of the way it was built. People a few blocks away in older buildings had major structural damage.

I was at my office during the earthquake, and they had just completed a major earthquake retrofit - fairly expensive but boy was it worth it. What was a MAJOR earthquake (remember the bridge collapsing,etc) did no damage. I didn't even have a pencil roll off of my desk.

I've been through earthquake, tornado, and a couple of hurricanes. I'd take the earthquake any day.