Your Personal Handbook to Earthquake Safety

January 17, 1994. The magnitude 6.7 Northridge earthquake shook the lives of southern Californians. Occuring directly under a modern urban area, it spurred renewed examinations of the threat we face. You are about to read some of the results.

Earthquakes are inevitable, but the damage from earthquakes is not. We can construct buildings that will not fall down and bridges that will sway, not break. On a personal level, we can secure computers and water heaters to keep them from breaking, install safety glass, and keep heavy objects away from our beds. We can store water and practice family safety plans to overcome fear and better cope with the aftermath of earthquakes.

The purpose of this guide is to increase awareness of earthquakes, earthquake science, and earthquake preparedness. With the information provided you can make your home, your workplace, and your family safer.

These web pages are divided into a number of sections to help you find the information you want. Go to the "Next Page" or skip to any section by using the links below.

Next Page Introduction Confronting the Inevitable: Assessing the earthquake hazard in southern California The Master Fault The Other Faults of Southern California The Big Picture Taking Control: Earthquake damage is preventable. How to make your home and workplace safer. The Anatomy of a Safe Building Home Safe Home Your Personal Safety Life with Aftershocks Reviewing the Basics: Understanding the basics of earthquake science reduces fear. Measuring the Earthquake: Where was it? Measuring the Earthquake: How Big was it? Measuring the Shaking Common Earthquake Myths Afterword Bibliography Acknowledgements To order printed copies of this handbook, go to the SCEC Publications Catalog. Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country is a product of the Southern California Earthquake Center and the United States Geological Survey, with additional support of organizations listed on the acknowledgements page.