What are Mitigation Measures?

Earthquake mitigation is simple measures taken to secure non-structural elements and contents of
your home or business to the studs of interior walls to reduce the risk to lives and investments.

Self-mitigation techniques can be undertaken by homeowners or small business owners as they
are simple to explain and require no special expertise, materials or hardware tools to implement.

According to a study by the University of California in Los Angeles, only 1% of injuries during the
1994 Northridge earthquake were caused by building damage, while 55% of the injuries were
caused by hazards such as falling furniture or objects. Many of these injuries could have been
prevented through hazard mitigation before the earthquake.

Therefore, you should secure anything in your home or business that is heavy enough to hurt if it
falls on you, or fragile and expensive enough to be a significant loss if it falls. Make sure that exit
paths are clear of clutter. Also secure items in your garage to reduce damage to vehicles.

The following disaster mitigation techniques are simple actions you can do TODAY that will protect you
and your investments if an earthquake occurs TOMORROW.
Earthquake Awareness and Preparedness
Securing Furniture

Move tall and heavy furniture in your home or business (e.g. file
cabinets, bookcases, china cabinets, entertainment centers,
armoires, etc) away from couches, sofas, desks and other places
where people sit, sleep, and work; as they are very likely to fall when
the ground is rolling and shaking.

To prevent tall and heavy furniture from falling on someone you care
about and save their contents; secure both top corners to a wall stud,
not just to the drywall.

Flexible-mount fasteners such as earthquake straps or nylon straps,
shown in Figure 1, allow independent movement of tall furniture from
the wall and sway without falling over, reducing the strain on the
studs. Commercial kits utilizing nylon strapping are available in
hardware stores, home centers, or home improvement stores such
as Home Depot, Lowe’s, True Value, Ace Hardware, or Sears.

Another inexpensive option utilizing 4" L-shape brackets and lag
screws is also shown in Figure 2. In case of file cabinets, 2" clip
angles can be used.

Display cases shall also be secured to the floor using angle brackets,
in addition to the top mounting.

Loose shelves can be secured by applying earthquake putty on each
corner bracket. Install latches on drawers and cabinet doors to keep
contents from spilling. Place heavy and large items on lower shelves
to prevent them from flying around the room during an earthquake.

Securing Exercise Equipments and Pianos

Secure your exercise equipment by screwing a clip angle to each leg
and fastening the clip angle into concrete floors by drilling anchor
bolts or into wood floor joists using lag bolts.

Do not block doors or exit ways for evacuation during an emergency.
Store weights in a weight rack that is secured to the floor.

Wheel-mounted heavy furniture such as pianos shall be secured by
installing restraints to the floor and the wall studs using eye-screw,
and bungee cord or wire as shown in Figure 3.
Other Resources on Mitigation Measures

For more detailed information and recommendations about securing your stuff, necessary hardware tools
and materials; please visit the Earthquake Country Alliance web site or download the homeowner's
earthquake guide  at the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) web site.
Figure 1 – Securing
Furniture with Nylon Straps
Figure 2 – Securing
Furniture with L-Brackets
Figure 3
Securing Pianos
Securing Water Heaters and Natural Gas Appliances

About one in four fires after an earthquake is related to
natural gas leaks due to gas appliances (water heaters,
dryers, stoves, ovens, furnaces) that are not anchored to the
floor or walls, or do not have flexible pipe connections.

Experiences from past earthquakes demonstrate that water
heaters are of special concern. Unsecured water heaters
often fall over, rupturing rigid water and gas connections.

Water heaters should be braced to the wall studs or
masonry with two heavy-gauge metal straps (plumber’s tape
is no longer recommended) and lag screws near the top and
bottom of the tank as shown in Figure 9.

Bracing kits (including the strapping, lag screws, washers,
spacers, and tension bolts) are available at hardware stores,
home centers, or home improvement stores.

Ask a plumber to install flexible (corrugated) copper water
connectors.

Be sure to check the straps once a year as they may come
loose due to vibrations.

Bracing your water heater would cost $20 to $200.
Remember that replacing a water heater after an earthquake
can cost more than $500, while repairing fire damage or
flooding damage can cost several thousand dollars,
including the entire cost of your home!

Know where your main water and gas valves are so that you,
your spouse, or teen(s) can shut them off in case of leakage.
Lock the rollers (if exist) of large appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, washing
machines, and dryers that may shift and/or tip over. Anchor large appliances using safety cables or
straps and minimum 3/8' screw eyes that are attached to the wall studs. Ensure that the restraint is
located in the upper mid-third of the appliance to provide the greatest resistance to overturning.

In case of refrigerators, secure an angle bracket to your wall with a lag bolt for wood wall, an
expansion bolt for concrete wall, or metal screw for metal stud walls as shown in Figure 5. Use a
metal screw to attach the angle bracket to the refrigerator. Align the angle of a pronged zee clip with
the leg of the refrigerator and anchor the clip to the floor.

Replace all rigid connections with flexible connectors and install automatic shut-off valves for both
the gas and water supply system to further reduce the possibility of a water or gas line break.
Securing Home Electronics and Large Appliances

Secure televisions, stereos, computers, microwave ovens, and other
electronics (that are costly to replace) as shown on Figure 4 with
flexible nylon straps and buckles for easy removal and relocation.
Other alternatives are to use Velcro™ that has adhesive on the back,
bungee cord, lock fasteners, leash locks, or earthquake pads.
Figure 4 – Securing Home Electronics
Figure 5 – Securing Refrigerators
Securing Kitchen Cabinets

Unsecured cabinet doors fly open during earthquakes, allowing  
glassware and dishes to crash to the floor. Many types of inexpensive
latches are available to prevent this: child-proof latches, hook and eye
latches shown on Figure 7, push latches, or positive catch latches
designed for boats.

To help prevent movement of the contents of cabinets, line them with
rubberized shelf mats, typically is sold in rolls at hardware stores. To
protect stacked china plates, place a square of this rubberized matting
between each plate in the stack.
Securing Objects on Open Shelves and Tabletops

Move heavy objects and breakables to lower shelves. Hold collectibles, pottery, lamps and other
loose valuable objects in place by using removable non-damaging adhesives such as Quake
Hold™ or Museum Wax™ that are available at hardware stores or home centers as shown on
Figure 6.
Securing Hanging Objects

Do not hang heavy objects above beds and sofas, only soft objects, such as unframed posters or  
rugs.

Hang mirrors, pictures, and other hanging objects on closed hooks so that they can't bounce off the
walls as shown in Figure 8. Their corners can also be secured with earthquake putty such as
Quake Hold™.

Secure ceiling lights, suspended ceilings, chandeliers and plants with closed hooks to the ceiling
stud which can be detected using a stud finder available at hardware stores and home centers.
Figure 8 – Securing Hanging Objects
Figure 6 – Securing Shelves Objects
Figure 7 – Securing
Kitchen Cabinet
Securing Windows and Glass doors

If you are considering a window replacement in the near future, look into replacing your windows
with tempered glass (similar to automobiles glass) which is less likely to be broken into sharp
pieces.

If your budget does not allow for window replacement, an inexpensive option is to install a protective
film with a minimum thickness of 4 mils on the inside of your windows, which can be purchased at
any home improvement store.

Securing Hazardous Chemicals in the Garage and Utility Room

Store paints, gasoline, and other flammable liquids away from natural gas water heater.

Move flammable or hazardous materials to low shelves that are secure, or put them on the floor.

Ensure that items stored above or beside vehicles cannot fall, damaging or blocking them.

Wrap fragile bottles of hazardous materials with foam rubber or rubber bands, or replace glass
containers with unbreakable containers.

Securing Water and Gas Pipes

Ask a plumber to evaluate, replace, and properly secure rusted or worn water and gas pipes and to
replace rigid gas connections to stoves, dryers, and other gas appliances with flexible (corrugated)
stainless-steel gas connectors.

Excess-flow gas-shutoff valves for individual appliances, which stop gas flow in case of a
catastrophic leak, are also available for use with flexible connectors.
Figure 9 – Bracing Water Heaters
Furniture Straps
TV Straps
Museum Putty/Wax
Velcro Pads
Cabinet Latches
Water Heater
Bracing Kits