December 10, 2009
Disaster tip of the month: Home hazard hunt
Editor’s note: The Emergency Management Division of the Washington Military Department is offering a tip a month to help people get prepared for a disaster. University Week will carry these monthly tips.
December’s tip has to do with identifying potential hazards in your home. Washington state is vulnerable to an earthquake, and earthquakes strike suddenly and often without warning. Therefore, the state Emergency Management Division recommends that you find and mitigate hazards in your home before disaster strikes.
Here are some of the things to check while inspecting your home:
- Is your water heater securely fastened to the wall studs with heavy-duty metal strapping, top and bottom?
- Does your water heater have flexible water and gas connectors?
- Are tall pieces of furniture in your home securely fastened?
- Have you moved heavy or breakable objects to lower shelves?
- Have you secured your computers, stereos, televisions, microwaves and other small appliances?
- Are hanging plants and lamps securely fastened?
- Have you secured mirrors, heavily-framed pictures and artwork to wall studs?
- Have you identified kitchen, bedroom and garage cabinets that need to be secured to keep their contents inside as the ground shakes?
- Is your home securely fastened to its foundations?
- Have you repaired loose bricks in your chimney?
- Have you moved poisons, toxics or solvents in breakable containers to an area where they will not spill during an earthquake?
Click here to download a PDF with this information.
You can find PDFs describing how to secure items in your home here.
Click here to go to the UW’s Emergency Management Web site.
