How to prepare for an earthquake

Emergency officials and seismologists say it’s a matter of when, not if, a large earthquake will strike the area.

The region is threaded with a number of fault lines that have been building up considerable pressure and the U.S. Geological Survey forecasts about a 72% chance of a magnitude 6.7 quake or greater occurring somewhere in the Bay Area by 2043.

The most likely location? The Rodgers Creek Fault, which slices through Sonoma County, running beneath central Santa Rosa.

Given the chances of one striking and the unpredictable nature of such a disaster, experts say it’s critical that community members act now to prepare for what’s to come.

“The possibility is real that there will be a significant earthquake so it’s good for people to do what they can now to get ready,” said Suzanne Hecker, a retired USGS geologist who has studied the Rodgers Creek Fault.

Officials recommend having an emergency plan in place, knowing what to do when the ground starts shaking, and what steps to take in the immediate aftermath to ensure family, friends and neighbors are safe.

They also recommend residents take several steps to ensure their home is more resilient to shaking.

Prepare your home

Experts suggest residents walk around their home and look for any furniture, appliances or other items that could present a falling hazard.

Bookshelves, dressers and other large furniture should be secured to the wall or fastened to the floor.

Heavy, breakable objects, valuable heirlooms or other items that could potentially topple over should be moved to lower shelves to prevent them from crashing down and breaking or hurting someone.

Hardware stores sell putties and gels and special fasteners to secure items in place.

Gas appliances such as water heaters should be secured to reduce the risk of gas lines fracturing, which can cause a fire, or water pipes breaking, which can lead to water damage in the home.

Residents also should assess their home for potential structural vulnerabilities or consider hiring a licensed engineer to evaluate the home, if financially feasible.

The California Seismic Safety Commission recommends checking that the home is bolted to the foundation. Homes that aren’t properly fastened to the foundation can slide or shift during severe ground shaking, which can lead to structural damage or even collapse.

Crawl spaces beneath a home also can be hazardous if the walls aren’t braced to the foundation or reinforced, as are homes with living spaces built atop carports, garages and other open spaces, known as soft-story construction.

Several grant programs can help property owners retrofit their homes to reduce seismic hazards.

Under the Earthquake Bolt and Brace program, homeowners can receive up to $3,000 to bolt the frame of their home built before 1980 to the raised foundation or brace the crawl space walls so that they don’t buckle. Eligible homeowners whose annual household income is $94,480 or less may qualify for supplemental grants of up to $7,000 to aid with the retrofit costs.

The Earthquake Soft-Story retrofit program provides up to $13,000 to strengthen the lowest story of a home where a living space is built atop a garage or other open space. Homes built prior to 2000 are eligible for the pilot program, which is available in limited areas in the region.

The programs are offered through a joint effort launched by the California Earthquake Authority, a privately-funded but publicly-run agency that provides residential earthquake insurance and helps educate residents about earthquake preparedness, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

Grant funding has helped reinforce 1,200 properties across Sonoma County, including 800 in Santa Rosa, said Stephanie Stephens, the authority’s mitigation director.

“This is a major hot spot for interest,” Stephens said of the area.

The California Seismic Safety Commission also recommends checking unreinforced chimneys, which can shake loose during an earthquake and topple onto roofs, causing structural damage, or hurt someone walking below.

Have a plan and prepare an emergency kit

When an earthquake strikes, people should stay in place, cover and hold onto sturdy furniture until the shaking stops.

Those outdoors should find a clear spot away from buildings, trees and power lines, then drop and cover. Those on the road should stop when safe, turn on their hazard lights and remain in the vehicle.

Emergency officials encourage residents to sign up for the ShakeAlert early warning system, which can provide a few seconds’ heads up before the shaking starts.

Following an earthquake, residents may need to be prepared to stay in their homes for several days if damaged roads have cut access to their areas.

Residents should prepare an emergency kit with at least one gallon of water per person per day, nonperishable foods, a supply of necessary medications, a first aid kit, a flashlight, a portable battery charger, clothes and warm blankets to last at least seven days.

Residents should keep extra cash in the kit in case debit and credit card payment processing networks and ATMs are down.

Jeff DuVall, Sonoma County’s director of emergency management, suggests keeping a kit in an easily accessible part of the home as well as in the car.

He also recommends keeping closed-toed shoes in reach to prevent cuts or scrapes.

Residents should write down important phone numbers and designate a location where friends and family should meet in case they’re separated and unable to reach each other.

And he suggests having a crank- or battery-powered radio handy in case of a power or communications outage.

Consider insurance

Experts also recommend that homeowners and renters alike look into obtaining earthquake insurance.

Conventional homeowners and renters insurance does not include earthquake coverage. Just more than 10% of residents statewide are insured for earthquake losses, according to state insurance figures.

While many people acknowledge that there’s an earthquake risk, interest in coverage has been slower to pick up, said Benjamin Deci, a spokesperson for the California Earthquake Authority.

Deci said coverage for homeowners can be expensive and many haven’t lived through large earthquakes such as the 1989 Loma Prieta or 1994 Northridge shakers and are willing to take the risk.

Earthquake insurance can help homeowners cover some of the losses from damage as well as relocation costs if they need temporary shelter, which can start to add up during prolonged repairs, he said.

The agency, which is the largest provider of earthquake insurance in the state, also is trying to encourage more renters to get insurance to help cover damage to belongings and relocation costs.

“Most renters may not realize that while the building they live in is likely covered by earthquake insurance, everything that flies off the shelves and crashes onto the floor isn’t,” he said, adding that coverage is fairly affordable and can be tacked onto renters’ insurance.