What to Check In Your House After an Earthquake?

Any earthquake is shock and horror. Its consequences can often manifest themselves only after a while. You may already have forgotten about your recent terrible experience, but, suddenly, a new wave of destruction covers your home. What can be done to prevent negative consequences? We have come up with a short guide for you so that you understand what exactly must be checked in your house after an earthquake.

What Parts of Your Home Might Be Affected?

Of course, everything depends on a number of factors. An earthquake may not have any effect on some houses at all, but other ones may be seriously affected by its destructive power. You'd better consider the influencing factors right away, before an earthquake damages your property.

• The location of your home. In the US, the extent of earthquake damage to homes can vary depending on your location. If you live within a large earthquake ring (California, Colorado, Alaska), it is especially important for you to pre-strengthen your home so that it could withstand possible shocks. Yet, in other states, there are other factors to be taken into account.
• The strength of the earthquake. If your house is subject to shocks of magnitude 1 to 5, it is likely that you don't even have to think about what to check in your house afterwards. Quite another matter is the magnitude of more than 6 points, which can cause significant destruction. When the shocks are so strong, full check-up will certainly be required.
• Materials used in the construction of the house. You must admit that the size of destruction in light-frame houses with an unburied foundation will be greater than in those made of monolithic reinforced concrete or bricks. Likewise, the collapse of a flat roof with soft roofing will be less probable than that of pitched roofs with a shingle or slate roof.
• Geological features of the area. Besides the location of your home in a seismically active zone, the presence of shallow groundwater below the surface also plays a crucial role. If strong shocks happen, groundwater can flood homes.

All this should be taken into account when building or buying a house. And it is definitely worth considering pre-reinforcing your housing if earthquakes are not uncommon in your state or county.

Some words about what exactly is worth inspecting after an earthquake. It is important to understand here that your safety depends on several factors at once. One of them is the integrity of the foundation, walls, roof, etc. This is what must be checked first of all in your house after an earthquake. But there is more! Some other details are just as important. In the event of an earthquake these include:

• Basement damage, including flooding or destruction of supporting structures. If your basement is damaged, it may simply not support the weight of the walls, floors and possessions.
• The integrity of windows and doors. It's crucial for your personal safety, the safety of your property, and the thermal efficiency of your home.
• Safety of stairs, balconies, galleries, etc. You may not notice the damage, but, if something is wrong with these structures, you might be in serious danger.
• Damage to communication systems. Electrical wiring, gas pipes, water pipes, communications of central heating or autonomous boilers, water supply systems, and even Internet communications are often affected during an earthquake. It is better to check them before resuming their use after an earthquake to avoid running into problems.
• And it is imperative to check all pieces of furniture and interior design, household appliances and electronics in your house. If damaged, they can pose danger to life and health.

Who Should Be Trusted to Check the House After an Earthquake?

First of all, if you want to check your home after an earthquake, make sure it's safe to enter it. To do this, consult with the rescue services. Then you can try to independently check the main rooms and walls for cracks, displacement and other kinds of damage. We strongly recommend that you do not climb onto the roof yourself because it can be dangerous. Likewise, you should avoid basements, because your life is worth more than any house anyway. In addition to your own examination, during which you can use your smartphone to take photos/videos of the damage, you can also delegate this task to the following services:

• Repair teams for the maintenance and restoration of private houses. Roofing specialists, construction crews, plumbing and utilities servicemen will be able to accurately diagnose earthquake damage and draw up a work plan and cost estimate for you.
• A public adjuster for earthquake damage. Such a specialist will not only quickly contribute to fixing all the damage, but will also help to draw up an application for compensation to the insurance company if your policy covers damage caused by earthquakes.

Overall, it's important to remember to check your home after an earthquake to be sure that it's a safe and comfortable place to live.