[2021] — Quakprep.
QuakPrep: Your Ultimate Earthquake Preparedness Companion
: Use text messages instead of voice calls to keep phone lines open for emergency services. customizable checklist based on these steps to print for your home or office? Survival-Earthquake Prep.100406 quakprep.
- Water Heaters: In a 7.0 quake, an unstrapped 50-gallon water heater becomes a 400-pound missile. Strap it to wall studs with heavy-duty plumber’s tape.
- Furniture Anchoring: The #1 cause of injury in modern quakes is falling furniture. Use L-brackets for bookcases. Use seismic putty for vases. Use Velcro straps for electronics.
- The Soft-Story Retrofit: If you live in a building with a garage or large windows on the first floor (common in older apartments), your building is a "soft story." Quakprep requires you to know if your landlord has retrofitted the foundation.
2. The 30% Rule: Your Home is a Tilted Wrecking Ball
Walk into your living room right now. Look at your bookshelf, your media console, your china cabinet. Ask yourself: If the floor moved 2 feet to the left, what hits my child's bed? Water Heaters: In a 7
- DROP: Get on your hands and knees immediately. This prevents the earthquake from knocking you down.
- COVER: Crawl under a sturdy table or desk. If none is available, crawl to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms. Stay away from windows, glass, and heavy furniture that could topple.
- HOLD ON: Grab the leg of the table (or your own neck) and hold on until the shaking stops.
Beyond the Shake: Why “Quakprep” is the Mindset That Could Save Your Life
When the ground beneath your feet suddenly turns to liquid, milliseconds feel like minutes. The roar of collapsing drywall, the shatter of glass, and the violent sway of overhead fixtures create a unique brand of primal terror. In that moment, there is no time to Google "what to do." There is no time to run to the store for bottled water. There is only the physics of disaster and the quality of your preparation. the shatter of glass
Why QuakPrep Matters
Stay prepared, stay safe!
Most people secure less than 10% of their heavy furniture. Quakeprep recommends the "30% Rule": Secure anything that is taller than it is wide or weighs more than 30 pounds.
