November 30, 2018 - Alaskans were faced with one of the scariest days. An earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude shook our state causing severe damage to homes, roads, buildings and our environment. Now, stronger than ever, Alaskans know to be prepared for moments of natural disaster and we want this to be your reminder that it can strike at any time of the year.
It is so important to make sure your home and family are prepared in case of another earthquake. Since they are so unpredictable, here are some actions you can take to have control of as much of the situation as possible, regardless of the magnitude.
Make sure you have Earthquake Coverage as part of your insurance policy. You never know what could happen to your home because of an earthquake, so having this policy covered will help lighten the burden if there is any damage due to an earthquake on your home.
Home foundation inspection. Hire an expert to come and take a look at your home’s foundation. If your home is not properly fixed to the ground by anchor bolts or steel plates, tremors from an earthquake can cause it to wobble, crack or completely crumble. This, of course, is severely dangerous and should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Fix any cracks in your home. Whether it’s the roof, the walls or your foundation, an earthquake will break any weak spot in your home.
Shatterproof film your windows. By having this film over your windows, if they were to shatter during an earthquake, it will lessen the damage and won’t lead to a thousand pieces of sharp glass everywhere, which could cause serious injury.
Anchor down your furniture. Anything that is heavy enough to fall down and causes severe injury or worse, should be anchored either to your wall or to the floor. Dressers, wardrobes, standing shelves, entertainment centers, televisions or even heavy pieces of hanging art must be securely fastened to the wall.
Choose wisely in your furniture. Since Alaska is prone to things like earthquakes, you may want to think that through when picking our your interior decor. It may be wiser to stay away from expensive and delicate things like glass tables and lamps, avoid hanging any artwork above where people’s heads could be or even have some things that sit on your shelf fixated so that they won’t fall off if there are any rumblings. By ensuring that everything is secured into place or that the things that could fall, aren’t too hazardous, you can make sure you are doing your best to prepare your home and family in case of another earthquake.