Earthquakes are terrifying forces of nature that cause the earth to furiously tremor beneath our feet. Quakes can uproot trees, cause devastating tsunamis, and badly damage our beloved homes. Below, we cover ways that earthquakes can harm your home and offer advice on how to prevent this damage from occurring.
Damaged Foundations
Foundation damage is common during quakes. The shaking of the earth destabilizes the soil your foundation is sitting on, which can result in cracks, shifting, and settlement. During large quakes, or after sustaining damage from multiple smaller quakes, the foundation can fail entirely.
If you live in an area prone to earthquakes, you may want to look into seismic retrofitting for your home. Seismic retrofitting provides a home with extra reinforcement to help it resist movement from ground shaking.
Shattered Glass
Another way that earthquakes can harm your home is by shattering glass. This shattered glass often breaks off in large, jagged shards, which can cut skin and even sever extremities as they’re tossed forcefully around your home. Tempered glass generally holds up better than standard glass during earthquakes. It’s less likely to shatter, and if it does shatter, it breaks off into tiny, harmless pieces.
Cracked Masonry
If your home is constructed from unreinforced masonries, like brick, clay tile, concrete, and adobe, quakes can cause severe structural damage. The mortar holding the masonry together can crack, which causes the masonry to separate and peel from the framing. Floors supported by the masoned walls can then collapse. If your home is made from unreinforced masonry, consider reinforcing it with concrete filling.
Falling Chimneys
Chimneys—especially unreinforced brick chimneys—can topple during quakes. Often, they fall onto and damage the roof, but they can also plummet to the ground below and hurt someone in the process. Using plywood sheathing or bolted bracing can secure the chimney in place so it doesn’t fail.
Earthquake shaking can do a number on your home. But by taking steps to reinforce vulnerable areas, you can prevent the worst of the carnage.
