The recent earthquake just south of the border from San Diego county serves as a reminder that “the big one” could happen at any time. The United States is in much better shape than some other countries, because our building standards are so stringent, especially in California. Of course no one can build a home that would survive the worst quakes, but there is a lot you can do to improve the odds.

Imagine the absolute worst-case scenario: the big one strikes in a densely populated area and does a lot of damage. There are still many more buildings 50, 100 or 500 miles from the epicenter. It matters a lot how well they withstand the shaking.

Of course the first consideration in a disaster is human life, and safer buildings will help with that. But less than deadly earthquakes can cialis cheap cause major financial hardship too, especially if your home is damaged.

So what can you do to stack the odds in your favor?

Take earthquakes into consideration when buying a home. Buy a newer home if you can. Building standards have improved steadily over the last several years. A home built today is going to stand up to an earthquake much better than an older home.

That isn’t possible for everyone, though. If the area you want to live has been built out for years, the only homes available may be older. If this is the case, get a structural inspection before you buy a home. Have the engineer tell you not just whether the home has any structural damage already, but how well it is likely to fare in an earthquake. Ask what can be done to improve its stability. Although it’s probably too expensive to bring it up to current code, make the improvements that are financially feasible. And take the non-feasible factors into consideration in your price. All other things being equal, a newer home is worth more than an older one.

If you are not planning to move any time soon, get an inspection anyway. There are a lot of inexpensive measures that you can take. Strapping down the water heater is very inexpensive and can prevent a lot of damage. Many homes built prior to the 1960’s and 1970’s weren’t bolted to their foundations. Having them bolted now can prevent your home sliding off the slab in an earthquake. Even if your home has been bolted, you might choose to add more bolts or strengthen the existing bolts. If your home has a crawl space, reinforcing the cripple wall – the wall that extends vertically from the foundation to the bottom of the main floor – can save a lot of damage at a relatively low cost. Each home is different. Have a professional look it over and make recommendations.

Buy earthquake insurance. Surprisingly, it’s not that pricey. It’ actually offered by the state of California through yous homeowner’s insurance company. Just like any other insurance, think about what you would need should the worst happen. Your home would need to be repaired or possibly demolished and rebuilt. You would need a place to stay during that time. The government offers assistance when disaster strikes, but the amount per family is not nearly enough to cover all the expenses a homeowner would face.

Living in California, you will experience earthquakes. Fortunately the vast majority will be smaller than “the big one”. Any measures you can take to protect your home from those less than catastrophic earthquakes will be well worth it.

Author Bio: Written by Hannah Valez Chula Vista New Homes San Diego New Homes Carlsbad New Homes

Category: Home Management
Keywords: earthquake preparedness, seismic retrofit, earthquake insurance