TAKING CONTROL

Earthquakes are inevitable, but the damage from earth quakes is not. Many people think the destruction caused by earthquakes is unavoidable, something you suffer through, then pick up the pieces afterward. No! An important lesson of the 1994 Northridge earthquake in California is that earthquake damage can be limited by preparation. Many also think that all the damage from earthquakes comes from collapsing buildings. Again, The dollars lost in the Northridge earthquake from nonstructural damage (damage to furniture, appliances, water heaters, stairs, etc.) is comparable to that lost in structural damage.

You, as an individual, can make your home, school, or workplace safer in the next earthquake by securing your building and its contents. Securing contents prevent injuries and save lives. These precautions can also save you a lot of money when your chimneys and foundations, TVs and stereos, china and artwork come through an earthquake unbroken. If we all take these precautions, we will save ourselves billions of dollars in the next large earthquake.

Much of the fear of earthquakes comes from the control we all feel when the Earth shakes our foundations. By learning more about earthquakes now and steps to reduce the damage from them, we can earthquakes less frightening, increase our safety, reduce our losses. In the next few pages we will show you how you can help save your property and your loved ones in the next earthquake.