Safety from the effects of natural disasters such as an earthquake is more than just knowing what to do when the time comes. Safety is about YOU anticipating the physical (and financial) risks and YOU taking steps to reduce or minimize them.
Here are 11 ways you can do ahead to reduce your risks when a natural disaster strikes:
1. Do a Home Hazard Hunt
.Are there too many figurines, knick knacks, or glass shelves in your living room? Does your bedroom have a flow of traffic (path between doorways)? Getting rid of clutter is a great way to not only clean your home, but to also protect you in case of an earthquake.
On a weekend or your free day, spend at least 30 minutes to determine what items or fixtures that could be of danger to you in case of an earthquake, for example.
2. Inspect your home to know if it is structurally sound. Otherwise, retrofit it.
Seismic retrofitting is a process of making your home resistant to the effects of a natural disaster such as an earthquake. This involves adding new fixtures or reinforcements to improve the structure of your home.
If your walls have some minor wall cracks, you can ask a carpenter to repair the cracks with epoxy. Otherwise, if the cracks are long, wide and are multiple, or if you have a bowed ceiling, talk to a professional immediately. If you live in a condo, it is best to report the problem ASAP to your property administration to determine their course of action and whether you can do something on your end.
3. Check gas and electric lines for any exposed or unsafe wirings or pipes.
Experts say that an earthquake does not kill you, but it could cause subsequent fires or explosions that could put your life in danger. Seek expert evaluation about your utility line from your service provider. If it’s something that an electrician or an inspector could do, then employ their services to get it done.
4. If you’re using an LPG cylinder for cooking, make sure you know how to store it safely.
LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) cylinders are a versatile means of powering cooking equipment like gas stoves, and can be effective bombs or can dispel poisonous gas when they are mishandled or are properly stored.
If you are not planning to switch to an electric stove at this point, make sure that the cylinder fittings and safety valve are secured in place. Make it a habit to close the cylinder when not in use. Store your LPG cylinder in an area with good ventilation and keep it away from excess heat and sources of fire.
5. Strap down large pieces of furniture and appliances.
Top-heavy furniture like bookcases and file cabinets could cause much damage in a home and to its homeowners if they are not anchored to the floor or wall. You can use nylon straps to allow furniture and heavy items to sway without toppling over.
6. Wall hangings should be secured into studs and hung in locations that don’t create risk.
When the ground shakes during an earthquake, the effects would be felt through the foundation of a single-floor or low-rise structure through the floors, and then the walls.
Your physical mementos, art pieces or decorative displays installed on the walls, especially those located in the pathways of your living space, could very well put you and your household members in danger from broken glass panels or bent frames. If you are the type of person who cannot resist displaying childhood memories (or adult artwork) on your walls, you can use some inexpensive security hangers that can be found in any local hardware store. If you will need to display large pieces of artwork or display, allocate more than one security hanger.
7. Buy some child locks for refrigerator, cabinets, and any storage that opens or slams shut.
When the shaking and rumbling starts, the items stored inside your cabinets, or any storage space that has a door could very well present an unexpected hazard to you and your family. Glass dishware, your mother’s pamana china, small appliances and other breakable items can also tumble off the shelves.
You can prevent this by either moving the heavier items in base cabinets, or securing the doors in place using child locks. If you don’t have one, plastic tie wraps would do.
8. Locate your home’s electric circuit breaker and practice how to shut it down fast.
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) has said that earthquake-related fires could add 18,000 more casualties who live in wood-based homes on top of the fatalities caused by a potential major earthquake in Manila.
Recently-built condo buildings are already equipped with an automatic electricity shut-off feature in case of emergency. If your home is powered by a manual electric panel or fuse box, shutting down the master switch is one measure you should learn to prevent your home from an earthquake-razed fire.
If your circuit panel has smaller breakers, shut them down first before the main one. If you have a fuse box at home, unscrew the individual fuses first before the main fuse.
You can also pick up some fire safety tips you can use in case of an earthquake.
9. Buy a fire extinguisher.
No matter how prepared your neighborhood’s local government is, public services may not be readily available to you if there’s a fire threatening your home. Also, the water source that they might need to put out the fire may be broken.
Your best friend at this point would be the fire extinguisher. A multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher can not only put out paper and wood fires, but can also put out fires from electrical equipment or wiring.
10. Make and practice implementing a disaster plan.
Make sure to take the following steps into consideration when you and your family needs to evacuate from your home:
- Ask your barangay hall or outpost where the nearest evacuation center or open space is, and identify potential, shortest routes to go there;
- Bring an emergency kit per survivor, including food provisions for your pet;
- Secure your home against looters. Here are some suggestions how.
11. Get home insurance.
The home is an important extension of a homeowner. As such, it makes sense to ensure that the home and everything that it houses in is covered from the effects of a natural disaster.
A typical home insurance policy pays in cash basis for the actual damage or loss incurred from a fire or lightning, including your personal belongings (except money and jewelry) less depreciation. If you prefer a more extensive coverage, some insurance companies offer to cover damage or loss due to flooding, earthquake, explosions, and many others.
Is your home near an active fault system? Check out our detailed map of the West Valley Fault system with landmarks here.
