Expert Contributor
Be a Boy Scout and Be Prepared! By Linda Kralik, Resident since 1984, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Drysdale Properties
W
hile “be prepared” is the boy scout motto, it is also a good reminder that living in California means we should be “prepared” for all that Mother Nature can throw our way. We Californians are unscathed by tornados or hurricanes of destruction, but we do have our very own natural disaster of potential devastation: earthquakes. In addition to the threat of earthquakes, there are also the yearly overflowing river banks and the ever-present fire dangers to our golden hills of parched dry grass. The past two years of crippling wild fire damage to multiple communities should be a wake-up call to ALL Californians to assess their homes and families and develop a plan to be prepared. Here are a few simple ideas and resources to help you and your family survive a nature disaster. ASSESS: Look at where you are most vulnerable. Is your home near an Open Space with dry grass near your fence line? Is your street a cul-de-sac or Court location making egress more difficult? Do you have two floors of bedrooms separating family members? What are your escape routes for either a fire or an earthquake (they may be different for each scenario)? PLAN: Have a plan for each type of catastrophe. A wild fire will require escape routes from the house from more than one exit. Know where the fire is coming from; inside lower floor, or maybe outside from the roof. Exiting safely will depend on the location of the fire and the direction the fire is taking. Have a plan for either one. Upstairs window escapes may need a rope ladder to get to the ground level. Have one or two available in the upstairs bedrooms for such. Lower level exits will depend on location of the fire. As an extra precaution, keep a spare pair of slippers close to your bed for emergencies during a fire or earthquake. These will be a blessing if you need to find your way through a minefield of broken glass trying to reach safety. For an earthquake while in your home, you need to seek shelter from shattered glass or large furniture that may shift or fall over in a big quake. Look for a strong desk or a sturdy door frame away from windows, etc. Wait for the shaking to stop then find a way to exit the home safely. Have the family agree on a “Meeting Point” that is clear from your home and away from trees and brick chimneys, which may crumble during a large shake. Included in your plan for an earthquake you should have several family members who will
be designated to shut off the gas valve from the street to the house. Know where this valve is located and have the necessary wrench right there by the valve to facilitate the shut-off. New building codes mandate having an automatic shut-off valve installed prior to a title transfer for homes located in the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. If you have owned your home for over 8 years, contact your friendly Realtor and ask for a recommendation for a contractor to install one in your home. This is a huge prevention of a gas leak and potential fire. In San Francisco, in 1906, what created the most damage was not the actual earthquake but the fires resulting from broken gas lines that decimated the city. Prevent what you can. There are many suggestions for maintaining an earthquake survival kit. LEARN: Contact your local fire department and learn about C.E.R.T. training in your area. CERT is a national recognized Certified Emergency Response Team program that instructs you in ways to handle many potentially hazardous situations within a community. Training and classes are usually run by certified trainers affiliated with the fire department. Contact them for more information or call your local police or sheriff’s office to find out more details. This is a way to keep up with new techniques and survival training. Assess, Plan, Learn and then communicate with your family. Have discussions, set scenarios and ask your family how they might respond. Give clear advice and most of all, make sure everyone understands the importance of keeping safe. Be safe out there and of course… HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!
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JANUARY 2020
