Severe earthquakes can not only result in injuries and fatalities, they also cause considerable property damage to roads, buildings and other structures. Advance preparation is your best chance of avoiding the dangerous situations and consequences that can result from a quake.

If you are a homeowner, developing an earthquake plan will help ensure the safety of your family, and provide greater protection for your property. Persons that reside in your home should know the best place to go when a quake hits, such as interior walls, corners and door frames. They should also know which areas of the house to avoid, including walls with windows, or rooms with mirrors and heavy furniture.

Another vital component of an emergency plan is the purchasing and storing of emergency supplies, including water, food, first aid items, flashlights, battery operated or hand crank radio, extra batteries, tools, blankets, clothing, fire extinguishers, a camp stove and extra pet food. Your emergency kit should also contain any valuable documents, important phone numbers, and extra money.

After your plan has been prepared, have family members drill various earthquake scenarios.

In addition to creating an emergency plan, you will also need to physically prepare your home for a quake. Secure any furniture and appliances that can fall over with straps, such as bookcases, refrigerators and water heaters. Move beds that are near windows, bookshelves or other items that can fall to a different place in the room, or eliminate any potential hazards. Use earthquake putty to prevent vases, antiques, statutes and other objects sitting on shelves from moving. Install latches on your cupboards and store objects that can break on low shelves. Also secure hazardous and flammable liquids, and bolt or eye screw paintings and other hanging objects to the wall. Cover windows with film to prevent shattering, or install safety glass. Replace any weak or damaged plumbing, wiring and gas lines, and make sure each person in your house knows how to shut off the gas, water and electricity.

During an earthquake, a house can move from side to side, as well as up and down. To prevent structural damage, ask an experienced earthquake retrofitting company to inspect your house to determine the best way to prevent your home from slipping off of its foundation. This may include bolting, adding shear walls and installing additional supports such as connectors, anchors, straps and braces. When all of the parts of a house are secured together, they will be less likely to move. A knowledgeable retrofitter may also recommend the repair of any existing foundation damage to further strengthen the structure.

Here are some indicators that an earthquake retrofit is probably necessary for your home:

€ Homes built before the mid 1980's often lack features that could help to make them earthquake damage resistant.
€ Homes built before World War II may not even be bolted to the foundation at all, or the bolts may be too small and few. A major earthquake could slide such a house right off its foundation.
€ An unreinforced garage with living space above is another possibly dangerous problem. That big garage door opening needs to be reinforced either by a steel frame or by strengthening the walls on either side or it can collapse in an earthquake like a house of cards, along with the living space on top.
€ An unreinforced stone or masonry building definitely needs to be looked at, and is highly susceptible to earthquake damage.

The time you spend now on earthquake preparation can have a significant impact on your family's safety during a quake, and reduce damage to your home and personal property. It is added insurance that you will be ready when the big one hits.