"EARTHQUAKE" Preparedness "DISPLACEMENT" Are You At Risk Of Being Forced Out Of Your Home?

“Earthquake” 

Prepardness

“DISPLACEMENT”

Are You At Risk of Being Forced Out of Your Home After An “Earthquake”?

Unlike wind, fire and flooding events that can and have wiped out entire communities “Earthquakes” can and usually do give you a second chance if proper proactive and preventative measures are implemented. Next to loss of life the biggest tragedy and challenge in the aftermath of any disaster is total loss of the use of your home aka, “DISPLACEMENT”.  

There are three classifications your home may be subjected to if it is damaged in an “Earthquake” as well as many other types of disasters but let’s focus on “Earthquakes” as April is EQ Preparedness and Awareness month. They are as follows:

GREENTAG: Ah! You will be in heaven compared to your less fortunate YELLOW AND REDTAGGED neighbors. Your life will not change much. After you pick up the broken glass, clean up the debris, negotiate (argue) with your insurance adjusters, make some minor repairs and tidy up a bit your life will go on pretty much as usual.  

You won’t be challenged by the same inconveniences that you’re YELLOW and RED tagged neighbors were but most importantly you won’t be having to look for temporary housing which in times like these can be a gigantic if not impossible task unto itself.

YELLOWTAG: Here the home is deemed somewhat structurally damaged but habitable. The homeowner is given a punch list with a certain window of time in which to make necessary repairs but may at least still occupy the home. Naturally this is better than being out on the street but get ready to start dealing with many of the same problems described for REDTAGGED homeowners.

REDTAG: Here the homeowner is dead in the water when they are given the news that their home was condemned by the health and safety and building departments and they are not allowed to re-occupy it and often not even allowed back in to gather personal belongings and keepsakes. 

Oh and by the way, these unfortunately displaced folks  will be looking for a relative or friend to bunk up with or a motel to check into, if they can find one, for an indefinite period of time while they figure out if, how and when they’ll be able to repair or replace their home.

After the 2001 magnitude 6.8 Nisqually earthquake, this school in the Puget Sound area of Washington was closed for repair (Earthquake Engineering Research Institute photo).

They might even have to get used to driving a distance to get to their favorite store, doctor, dentist, etc and getting their children to and from school could be a challenge unto itself.  That’s if the school was not too damaged and deemed unsafe.

Add to that the agonizing experience of dealing with insurance adjustors and claims, contractors, permits, and inspectors, utility companies, etc. and they’ll be in for a very disruptive if not horrific experience that could go on for months and regrettably in some cases for years.

You Don't Have To Become A Statistic. There are things you can and should do to protect you and your family from the inconvenience of becoming a "DISPLACED VICTIM". 

If you live in a circa 1940's or older home you need to have your crawl space inspected by a licensed, bonded and insured "FOUNDATION SPECIALIST"  to make sure your HOME is securely bolted to its foundation.

The number of foundation bolts, linear feet of plywood, and floor-to-wall connections (brackets) that are required to seismically retrofit your home varies depending on its size and weight. Remember, earthquakes will find the weak spots in your house. So, if you add bolts but not plywood, you will still have a problem when the ground shakes!

If you live in a "MOBILE" or "MANUFACTURED" HOME  make sure your home has a an approved“Earthquake” “Resistant Bracing System” (ERBS) under it. If it doesn't you need to have them installed ASAP.

The Tuf-1 Permanant Foundation is designed to be a retro-fit foundation.  This product is an engineered foundation, and can be stamped for any state.  The systems also has FHA, HCD & HUD approvals.  The Tuf-1 can also be modified into a Earthquake Resistant Bracing System or (ERBS).  This simple product can turn your Manufactured Home into "REAL PROPERTY" and ready for bank lending.