Earthquake Precautions for the PNW

[jyl]

So I've decided to get serious about earthquake precautions. Here in Portland we're supposedly long overdue for a Beeeg One.

No city in the Pacific Northwest is remotely ready for it, almost all the bridges across the river will come down, thousands of unreinforced masonry buildings will come down, tens of thousands of houses will be damaged, the city's emergency equipment yard is located right underneath a freeway overpass . . .

The word is that after the Beeeg One, we should expect to receive no outside help for a month. Or more. Maybe this is overdramatic. I lived not too far from the Northridge 1994 quake, it wasn't a calamity thought my chimney was damaged. But still . . .

So far, I have
1. Hired a guy to bolt my house to the foundation. House is 1911, three story wood frame, detached garage, mudsills rest on foundation walls/no cripple wall, beams and joists rest on mudsills and basement posts, none of these connections are maintained by anything other than gravity. They are installing Simpson Strong Tie URFP retrofit foundation plates every 4 to 5 feet about the perimeter of the foundation. They say my foundation walls are in great condition.
2. I will install seismic/hurricane ties to connect beams and joists to their supports. Anyone done this and have pictures?
3. Water heater is strapped already. I will install water and gas shutoffs - recommendations?
4. Earthquake insurance. Any tips for shopping, coverage?
5. Food, water, emergency supplies. Any recommendations - what to store, how much?
6. Of course there will be some spoons and spoon food.

Looking for words of counsel - what else should I be doing?

[Jim Richards]

Jeff (look 171) installed one of these gas shut off valves by Little Firefighter on my house.

[Bill Douglas]

I live in a earthquake + tsunami zone too.

There are supermarkets just down the road and I'm very capable so no concerns in that respect.

It's just a case of getting the hell outa here if the big shake comes. The house is tied down to the foundations so it will (hopefully) just boggie about then end up back in it's original location with just cracked walls and other minor stuff

No gas and the electricity is someone else's problem.

[herr_oberst]

Lots of food and water. Dehydrated emergency food is a good bet, along with canned stuff that you can live with. Rice/Beans/Grains in sealed containers. Pet food, if necessary.

A bugout bag. Warm Clothes, gloves, shoes, cash (small bills) photocopies of all your credit cards, emergency phone numbers, power bars, spare car keys, pet food, flashlight, knife,
batteries, phone chargers and cords...(This is your fire emergency bag, too)

Emergency ladder (might as well take care of your fire emergency stuff while you're at it)

Somebody once mentioned a case of whiskey, for barter. I like that idea, but I haven't followed up on it....

Window signs for emergency workers. "Help" and "OK" .

Stash a crowbar and a hammer somewhere that you'll be able to get it if the SHTF and you need to pry heavy stuff off of other stuff.

Get all your camping gear in one place, so you don't have to spend time finding stuff.

Here's a link to Portland maps... Lots of great info when you plug your house number in....https://www.portlandmaps.com/#

As to insurance, can you even get it in Portland anymore? I talked with an agent not long ago, she told me to not waste my money. As long as the house is bolted to the foundation, the big risk in an earthquake is going to be the chimney falling on the roof, and in most cases the deductible is more than the cost of the repair. YMMV, because of the size of your house....

[vash]

flashlights. i keep a few that use the expensive CR123 batteries. they dont seem to fade away just sitting on the shelf.

water..i keep some, but i also bought a FirstNeed water purifier. i can pump water from the stream behind my house for a long time.

i have enough food to last us a month. i'll get cancer and gout..but the processed food is there. i like lanterns, and ways to cook my food. i have propane and the tools that it runs.

think camping.

and dont store everything in the house..it goes byebye, so do your supplies.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Reminded me of this thread: Have we discussed the Cascadia subduction zone yet?

Scary stuff, makes tornadoes look pretty benign. Not mentioned yet, but what about personal protection? Also simply having a plan with your family, particularly if you aren't all home.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by vash

and dont store everything in the house..it goes byebye, so do your supplies.

I think the best earthquake kit ever would be the camper, if you can store one on your property in a protected area. All your stuff could be inside, plus you can equip it with a generator.

Grab your bugout bag, your personal protection, whiskey for barter and camp out in your backyard for a month....

(God, my natural predilection to overdo things really goes into overdrive when I plan for surviving the natural or manmade disaster. I used to store a spare bicycle at work in case the bridges fell during an earthquake and I needed to travel a long ways to get home across the river.....)

[JavaBrewer]

I agree a motorhome/trailer with self contained water, propane, cooking, heating/ac, makes the most sense for something like this. I have a couple job site boxes on my property for essentials but would love to add a trailer.

[vash]

I do know one man that prepped to the max. He ran into a mild heath issues and had to sell his prep gear to pay bills. There are all types of emergencies, it helps to prioritize and think about the odds. I think financial emergencies are the most probable for most.

[LWJ]

On the EQ insurance question. We just picked up an appointment with Nationwide Private Client. They are cutting killer deals with quake coverage if your home is worth over 500-750k- not including dirt cost. My cousin got quake and an umbrella added for the same cost as his prior coverage.

Yes. It is obtainable.

If you have a one story frame house how big is the risk? Low I think.

Great topic, as we are sitting ducks!

Larry

[jyl]

Over 500-750K value for improvements only - wow, that doesn't admit many houses. I doubt mine qualifies.

How much does one have to worry about insurer solvency for earthquake coverage?

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

I agree a motorhome/trailer with self contained water, propane, cooking, heating/ac, makes the most sense for something like this. I have a couple job site boxes on my property for essentials but would love to add a trailer.

My retired friend who lives in Summerland key does just that. Has his motorhome ready to bug out...he's used it twice.

[jyl]

Herroberst mentioned having stuff for barter.

Hmm . . .

How about
- Insulin
- Baby formula & diapers
- Painkillers (opiods)
- Broad spectrum antibiotic

[Wetwork]

I was stationed on the coast for 16 years with the CG so I worried about the big wave. Here's my favorite tip.

Two months worth of MRE entree's for each family member. Don't buy the whole meal deal, its bulky and heavy, just get entree's. And only entree's you'd like to eat. It's so much cheaper and you just put them in a few plastic tote boxes. Spread out the purchase also so it won't expire at the same time. I kept mine in the garage so at a moments notice anybody in my family could start throwing the totes in the car. In our case it was to run to high ground.

Remember this, after 72 hours with no food for a human baby, people will do ANYTHING to feed it. ANYTHING. As you put stuff together always keep that in mind. Not for you but what other folks with kids might do. -WW

[GH85Carrera]

I know one full blown "prepper" and it is interesting to see the mentality. Zero argument, having some preparation is a intelligent logical thing. It is so easy to go overboard and spend a fortune.

We for sure don't worry even a little about a tsunami. Mega earthquakes are pretty unlikely. We don't have to worry about a flood. We had 11 inches of rain in a day and all it did was flush out out gutters. Forest fires are not a worry with just a few trees around.
In the end, a tornado is all that I really figure can damage the house. We have a tornado shelter. Even the worst meanest 300+ MPH tornado that hit Moore, OK only damages a very small part of the city. Just a few blocks from total devastation is civilization and help.

I figure in a mega disaster bullets will be the real currency. Food and water or any resource will be hard to keep safe from the bad guys.

[vash]

that's just it. i want to retire and live somewhere disaster free.

being 70 and on a fixed income is the wrong time to lose everything...insured or not.

prepping. i again, just approach it as camping. with guns.

[Seahawk]

Interesting thread and some excellent recommendations.

Crowbob's posts about his Scamp (I think that is the brand - don't hold me to it!) have got me thinking trailers and dual use.

I have spent over 100 days in hotels this year and while I have no overarching compliant, I specifically hate 90% of hotel beds. At the Hampton I stay at in Morganton, NC I always request a specific room because the bed is excellent. Room 411.

I get room 411 about 1/3 of the time but they are renovating the 4th floor so I am sneakers up on my favorite bed from here on out. I am in agony because of my back.

So I have started looking at small trailers (I do not need much space, nor does my wife) for business and emergency purposes. I like the idea of having off grid capability for extended periods of time and having a single point of assembly and a rack that is comfortable and doesn't f'up my back.

I have looked at Scamps, small Airstreams and this thing: ADAK Adventure Trailers - First Look | Busted Wallet

We'll see. I am not a prepper by any means but I do like a certain level of contingency planning - probably why I have three generators, years of fire wood, and an array of spoonage, etc. It comes with the reality of hurricanes and no power for over a week numerous times.

[pwd72s]

1. The TV news folks and those politicians wanting disaster money love to scare you...

2. I've lived in Oregon for 7 decades.

3. In all that time I've felt exactly ONE very minor quake. No damage at all.

[COLOR="DarkGreen"][/So this makes me sure that a big one will hit any moment now.COLOR]

[scottmandue]

Living earthquake land I would echo what others have said, 2-4 week supply of:
Food water meds (including pets).
Flashlights, camping gear.
Keep a good pair of shoes or boots next to your bed (lots of broken glass + no light = most injuries in an earthquake are foot injuries).
The gas cutoff thing is a good idea (pretty sure they are mandatory in SoCal).
Make sure everyone knows how to shut off gas/water/electricity.
Some people around here have a generator, best to have an electrician hook it up to your main.
I don't bother with earthquake insurance.

Barter? Toilet paper!

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

1. The TV news folks and those politicians wanting disaster money love to scare you...

2. I've lived in Oregon for 7 decades.

3. In all that time I've felt exactly ONE very minor quake. No damage at all.

Shhhh... they are trying to scare all those stupid Californians away!