SoCal Pelicans -- Quake Safety

[scottb]

After the little "shaker" the other day, I went out into the garage and realized that in a big quake, the shelves along the walls would empty their contents on to the cars. I don't care (as much) about the Lexis, but the Porsche is another story.

Has anyone given this problem any thought, and come up with a solution? I don't want to put doors on the front of all my shelving, so the only thing I could think of was some sort of netting.

I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

Thanks.

[jyl]

I was in LA during the Northridge and Whittier quakes several years ago. Where we lived (Glendale) wasn't an epicenter, but we got shaken pretty good, e.g. my chimney was damaged beyond repair. Nevertheless, nothing of any consequence fell off my garage shelves.

My conclusion is that you might try easier alternatives than doors or netting. I'd put cardboard boxes on the shelves, cut away the upper half of the outward-facing side of each box (so you can reach in), and load things into the boxes. That way the shaking has to be strong enough to overcome the friction of a loaded cardboard box on a shelf. Add a 1" lip on the shelf, and the boxes would be even more secure. And in the worst case, instead of your pipe wrench falling on your Porsche, a cardboard box that contains a pipe wrench falls - probably less damage.

Might not work if you are near the epicenter, but chances are you won't be.

By the way, I am a believer in having appropriate stocks of flashlights, water, food, medications, etc. Also think of things you will be able to sell to your unprepared neighbors for exorbitant sums when they are in extremis. Insulin, baby formula, heart medication, and suchlike can all be marked up 3000% post-quake or swapped for a baby grand piano. This assumes you don't like your neighbors and they aren't armed. :-)

[tiorio]

Oh thanks for this thread, mates! And here I've got my 930's butt 5 feet in the air on jack stands in a garage some 3/4 mile from the San Andreas whilst I wait for parts. Reassuring

Brings to mind an old cruisers axiom, suitable for us:

There are only two types of Porsche owners WFP's and TFS's

Waiting For Parts & Trying to Fix Something...

Praying the little one wasn't a precursor!

[n8marx]

It may be cold here but at the least the ground doesn't move.

[makaio]

Originally posted by n8marx
It may be cold here but at the least the ground doesn't move.

Not only does the ground shake here, but we get the raging wildfires every year too.

Scott, what we do at work to secure things on shelves, is put them in cardboard or other type of boxes like John said, and put eye bolts into the wall on either side. Then use long bungie cords or tie downs (motorcycle type or cargo straps) to keep them in place.

[Zeke]

I have a lot of stuff that, frankly, I should throw out. I hung a bicyle in front of a shelf that conatains such "stuff" that I rarely need. I have put most in cardboard boxes and shoved well back on each shelf. The bungee cord idea sounds terrific and the hardware store sells that in cut-to-order lengths. A little bump stop at the front of the shelf so you have to lift the box up would work too.

For you guys that don't live in earthquake country, Id take an earthquake over a tornado, hurricane or ice storm any day, but it can be a b**ch when it comes.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

I had a 944 at the time of the Northridge Quake, We were about a mile from the epicenter. I remember going out to the garage to see the how bad it was, And the only thing that happened was a piece of pipe got wedged between the corner of the garage and the rear fender. It wasn't to bad, So I put the car in the rear yard and covered it, A few days later we had an after shock and our 70 pound Springer got scared and climbed up on hood. She put a few scratches but they buffed out. Our Insurance covered the damage.
That quake was one wild ride
Cheers

[Emission]

I have doors on all of my cabinets for this very reason. Everything else is either screwed in, or has locking rings keeping it on the ceiling (such as the ladders). I am confident nothing will fall on my car in an earthquake.

On the other hand, I am worried my cars will 'walk' across the garage during the shaking and bounce into each other! It happened to a good friend in the '93 quake. Yikes!

[Adam]

Emission - great pic!

[mrizvi66]

Originally posted by n8marx
It may be cold here but at the least the ground doesn't move.

An earthquakes like a free roller coaster ride.

[Bob's Flat-Six]

Hey Emissions, No wonder you missed the SB Run, thats one cozy cave. Plenty of room for the wide fenders.
Cheers

[Rob McKibbon]

Never experienced an earthquake?
I'd make sure your shelf units were attached to the wall first. Wouldn't want an entire shelf falling over.
Then take some 1/4" X 2" running trim and fasten it to the front edge of the shelves. This will create over a 1" lip containing the items on the shelf. Anything that can jump 1", the cardboard box idea would work for.
You can paint the trim to match the shelves or a contrasting color to add the horizontal lines effect?
Just a thought? Hope you don't ever need to put it to test!