Top earthquake preparation tasks after last night’s quake

Like many of my neighbors, I was jolted awake at 2:56am by a 4.3 magnitude earthquake centered in Berkeley, CA. Thankfully, there were no major aftershocks—though a 2.6 hit at 8:01am. After checking on the kids, it still took me an hour to get back to sleep.

While it’s fresh in our minds, here are three things you can do this week to get ready for the next quake:

1. Secure what can fall: Free-standing bookshelves, cabinets, TVs, artwork—anything that could tip or shatter.
2. Know your shutoffs: Find your home’s water and gas shutoff valves. Strap your water heater and confirm gas appliances use flexible connections.
3. Stock essentials: Store at least 1 gallon of water per person per day, a few days of non-perishable food, and five days of medicine. Parents—tetrapak milk that doesn’t need refrigeration is a lifesaver. You can grab all this on your next grocery shopping trip.

Need help tackling any of these? Book a visit with your Honey Homes handyman—we’ll get you quake-ready.

‍