Your Desert Blog

Blogging, Palm Springs area Realtors, Judy and Nelson Horn provide sellers with these tips.

By Joe Cooke, RISMedia Columnist

Top 5 In Real Estate, May 4, 2009-Are you prepared for an earthquake?
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake rocked southern California on July 29, 2008.
Dr. Lucy Jones, of the U.S. Geological Survey, noted that the quake was “…a wake-up call – a reminder to us to make the important changes we need to survive the inevitable.”

Of course, southern California residents expect a quake or two each year.
In fact, that area has about 10,000 earthquakes per annum, but most of them are so small that they are not felt. Only several hundred are greater than magnitude 3.0, and only about 15-20 are greater than magnitude 4.0.
But California is not the only area subject to earthquakes.
In 2001, a major quake surprised Seattle residents, causing over $3.5 billion in damages and injuring over 400 people.

According to the United State Geological Survey, between 1975 and 1995, Florida, Iowa, North Dakota, and Wisconsin were the only states that did not have any earthquakes.
But quakes occur even in the central portion of the United States.
In fact, shaking from earthquakes there are felt at a much greater distance from the epicenters than similar size quakes in the Western states.

You can prepare your home to minimize earthquake damage by making sure your water heater is strapped to the wall studs.
You may also want to bolt large book cases, china cabinets and other tall and heavy furniture to wall studs.

You can also prepare your family: create a 72-hour kit that includes medications, clothing, a battery-powered radio, flashlights and three gallons of water for each person.

If you feel an earthquake, drop, cover and hold on.
Drop right where you are and then roll or crawl to protection, such as under a sturdy table.
If you are in bed, stay there, protecting your head with a pillow.
If you are outdoors, find a safe spot away from trees, power lines and buildings, and then drop to the ground.
If you are in a car, slow down, drive to a safe spot and stay in the vehicle.

Go to http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ for a map of current quake epicenters and more information on earthquake preparedness.