Earthquake Preparedness Reminders and Resources

There are hundreds of faults running through the state of California, and the faults closest to Santa Rosa predicted to pack the greatest punch other than the infamous San Andreas are the Rogers Creek Fault and the Hayward Fault. Energy released and subsequent shaking of the earth from these faults can be catastrophic to the built environment within and around the City of Santa Rosa, potentially impacting water, transportation, and power in large portions of the City, likely for an extended period. Predicting earthquakes is difficult to do, and anticipating their impact is so variable, preparing for them is tantamount.

Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA) is a public-private-grassroots partnership of people and organizations that work together to improve earthquake and tsunami preparedness, mitigation and resiliency. ECA is administered by the Statewide California Earthquake Center (SCEC), based at the University of Southern California.

Before the next big earthquake, the ECA recommends these four steps that will make you, your family, or your workplace better prepared to survive and recover quickly:

Step 1:
Secure your space by identifying hazards and securing moveable items.

Step 2:
Plan to be safe by creating your emergency plan and deciding how you will communicate.

Step 3:
Organize emergency supplies in convenient locations.

Step 4:
Minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents, strengthening your property, and considering insurance coverage.

In 1995, the California Legislature came up with a workable solution it thought would help revitalize the insurance and housing markets. In 1996, the California Legislature created the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) -a not-for-profit, publicly managed, privately funded entity. Residential property insurers could offer their own earthquake insurance or become a CEA participating insurance company. Over the years, the CEA policy has added more options, including a retrofit discount for eligible homeowners.

The California Earthquake Authority recommends that homeowners consider the following when preparing for an earthquake:

Protect your home:

If your home was built before 1980, it may be more vulnerable to earthquake damage. Strengthen it against shake damage with a seismic retrofit to make it safer and more secure.

Protect your family:

Create a family plan and build an earthquake kit. Secure your belongings inside your home: strap heavy furniture that could topple, install cabinet latches so items don't fall out, and use museum putty to secure breakables. For additional safety, avoid hanging heavy frames or mirrors over a bed or couch. And for security, ensure your water heater is braced, anchored, or strapped to prevent it from falling during a quake.

Protect your finances:

Your homeowners insurance policy does not cover earthquake damage. Consider a separate homeowners earthquake insurance policy from CEA to protect you, your family, and your finances. For certain house types, a verified seismic retrofit can earn you a premium discount of up to 25% on your CEA insurance policy.

Additionally, sign up forShakeAlert®, an Earthquake Early Warning System managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), so you can be notified seconds before strong shaking arrives, allowing you to take protective action.

The City of Santa Rosa thanks you for your continued commitment to disaster preparedness.