25 Facts about 9/11 you probably didn't know.

On September 11, 2001, two planes hit the World Trade Center towers in New York City, another crashed into the Pentagon, and a fourth hijacked plane went down in a field in Pennsylvania en route to the White House. The world as we know it changed that day, as the horrible images of destruction and devastating losses of life will never be forgotten. Every year since 2001, September 11 is a day of remembrance, mourning, and national pride for the many people who lost their lives that day. 

To honor 9/11, we present 25 Facts about 9/11 you probably didn't know. It's important to distinguish that while there are many conspiracy theories and far-flung claims about the events that day, we stuck to verifiable facts from sites like CNN, Wikipedia, the UK Guardian, etc.

1. September 11, 2001 resulted in the largest loss of life from a foreign attack on American soil, far more than Pearl Harbor.

2. A total of 18 people were rescued alive from the rubble after the World Trade Center collapse.

3. After the first plane hit Building 1 of the World Trade Center, employees in building 2 were instructed to stay in the building – not evacuate. The New York City fire evacuation procedures called for evacuations only of those floors directly adjacent to a fire.

4. Video accounts of the World Trade Center attacks were aired on news stations all around the world almost instantly. However, video footage of the Pentagon attack wasn’t released to the public until 2006, 5 years later.

5. On the average day, about 50,000 people worked in the WTC towers and another 40,000 would come and go through the building complex.

6. Many people forget that the 9/11 wasn’t the first time terrorist target the World Trade Center. In 1993, a car bomb exploded, killing 6 people. 

7. Of the casualties resulting from the WTC attacks on9/11, 343 were New York City firefighters, 23 New York City police officers, and 37 officers at the Port Authority. As others ran away, these brave men and women ran into the buildings.

8. Few people realize that another World Trade Center collapsed that day, not just the Twin Towers. In fact, Building 7 of the WTC complex fell later that afternoon. It was not publicized and a lot of information was not shared with the public. It was concluded that the structure came down because of fire damage. Reportedly, never in the history of construction has steel melted to the point of collapse due to a fire.  The structural failure of construction-grade steel is 90% at 800° C (1432°F).

9. Every Tuesday morning, NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani had a recurring meeting on the 23^rd floor of the WTC building 7. His meeting the morning of 9/11 was cancelled just a few hours earlier.

10. Likewise, President Bush’s cousin, Jim Pierce, was slated to attend a conference that morning on the 105^th floor of the South Tower. But the group was too large so the conference was moved at the last minute to the Millennium Hotel across the street.

11. There were plenty of warnings about 9/11, including that received by San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, who is on record saying he received a warning late Monday evening from airport security, telling him not to fly.

12. The death toll for the 9/11 attacks rose for years, even after all of the rubble was cleared and all of the bodies exhumed. That’s because there were a handful of subsequent deaths due to dust exposure, smoke inhalation, lymphoma, and other lung diseases caused by the attacks, all ruled homicides.

13. As of this date, only 1,632 victims have been identified, leaving as many as 1,121 unidentified.

14. The Victims Compensation Fund was set up almost immediately after 9/11, operating from December 2001 to 2003. The VCF received 7,408 applications for personal injury and death claims, awarding funds in 5,560 of those cases.

15. Ten years after the attack, on January 2, 2011, President Obama signed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, empowering the scope and work of the original VCF to help more victims.

16. The economic loss due to the attacks is staggering. It’s estimated that the price tag comes to $123 billion, including lost wages and suspended commerce during the 2-4 weeks immediately after the attacks, decline in air travel over the next few years, etc. Other price tags from 9/11 include the $60 billion cost from WTC site damage, including damage to surrounding buildings, infrastructure and subway facilities, $40 billion to fund the emergency anti-terrorism package approved by Congress in 2001, $15 billion aid to the airlines, and $9.3 in insurance claim payouts.

17. To clean up the WTC site, it took 3.1 million man-hours and $750 million, clearing 1.8 million tons of wreckage.

18. The Homeland Security Advisory System was introduced on March 12, 2002 to monitor and caution the public to terrorism threats. The color-coded system includes (in ascending order) green, blue, yellow, orange, and red threat levels. It has never been below yellow since 2001 but it was raised to orange five times and red once, in 2006, when flights from the UK to the United States expected an imminent attack.

19. Exactly nine months after 9/11, the birthrate at New York City hospitals was 20% higher than the same month in 2000. It’s reported that alcohol consumption in New York City rose 25% the week after 9/11 compared to the previous year. Church and synagogue attendance was up 20% as well.

20. There are many stories of bravery and humanity coming out of the attack that day, but one of the most touching is that of Michael Hingson and his dog, Roselle. Hingson, who is blind, was in the North Tower that day with his guide dog, a yellow lab. When the plane hit, Roselle led her owner down 78 stories of stars, out to the street, and down to a friend’s house to safety.

21. New York City fire fighters couldn’t extinguish all the fires caused by the 9/11attack for 100 days.

22. At Princeton University, a computer-generated algorithm program called the Random Event Generator predicted a “cataclysmic event was about to unfold.” That was three hours before the attack.

23. The week after the 9/11 attacks, the top searches on Google were: 1) Osama bin Laden; 2) The World Trade Center; 3) CNN; and 4) Nostradamus.

24. Cantor Fitzgerald is a financial services firm that operated out of WTC and lost 658 employees that day. Since then, they’ve dedicated the proceeds from their efforts every September 11 to world wide charities, raising upwards of $101 million for good causes and honoring their fallen comrades. 

25. There is a growing movement to make 9/11 a national holiday, serving as a day of remembrance and tribute the victims and honoring those who sacrificed their lives to save others. It is currently designated as a Day of Remembrance, not a national holiday, similar to Pearl Harbor Day on December 7.

12 Real estate investment tip for great renters and landlord-friendly leases.

Owning rental property is one of the best investments you can ever make. In fact, 94% of millionaires surveyed say they have significant real estate holdings in their portfolio. Yet many people with the means to buy rental homes are intimidated by the prospect of dealing with tenants. But with a little strategizing, you’ll attract great tenants who pay on time every month, putting plenty of money in your pocket as rents and home values go up. Many people chose to enlist a property management company to have them handle it all, like Vienna Property Management. But whether you outsource a property manager to eliminate all your renter headaches or chose to take it on yourself, you should understand these strategies to get the best renters and earn the highest rents.

1. Put a big sign in the front yard advertising the rental, listing the features (2 bedroom/2 bath, big garage, fireplace, new carpet, back patio, etc.) but not the price. You’d be surprised how many people find rentals through signage, and will be intrigued to find out how much you’re charging. You can even put a few directional signs at nearby busy cross streets to pull in traffic.

2. The phone number on the sign should ring to a voicemail that details all the specifics about the property – including price, credit requirements, whether you allow pets, the deposit amount, and when it will be available to show. The voice message can also offer your email address so they can contact you that way – which is far more efficient than phone calls.

3. Very soon, your phone will be ringing. But instead of driving out to the property every time someone says they’re interested (and hoping they show up,) host two scheduled open houses every week. That way, whenever a potential renter calls, you can tell them that there will be an open house on Wednesday night between 5-8pm, or Saturday between 10am and 2pm, etc. 

4. When you call these potential renters back, get their email address and send them plenty of photos of the inside of the home, a detailed “spec sheet” that lists the features, average utility costs, and rental requirements. Also, you can email them an application to be completed and brought to the open house – or emailed back to you ahead of time. 

5. Advise potential renters that there’s a fee for submitting an application – about $15 to cover the cost of pulling their credit history. This will weed out all the applicants who aren’t serious or motivated enough to put a little bit of “skin in the game. “

6. I suggest you avoid renting to friends or working out special deals, trades for work performed, etc. Those almost never work out! Keep it simple and clear and do not deviate from a smart business arrangement. 

7. Talk to your neighbors, letting them know the property is for rent and give them one of those spec sheets you emailed out. People love to get their friends, coworkers, or family members as neighbors instead of some random person, so they’ll be happy to spread the word.

8. Once you have your open houses and have a few great renters who are interested, you (or your property manager) will pull their credit. But don’t forget to do a criminal background check on them and call their employer and references to verify everything. If you’re ready to offer the property to someone, give them a small window (maybe 48 hours) to sign the lease and bring a significant good faith deposit toward the first month’s rent. That way, they won’t be able to waste your time or even worse, sign the lease but then walk on you when it’s time to move in.

9. You can generate interest for your rental and sweeten the pot for a renter by offering some fun bonuses they normally don’t expect. For instance, offering free cable television or Internet for six months or a gift card to a grocery store once they move in will garner interest and put you ahead of other rental options- your competition. Remember that you want as many serious, motivated, and realistic people to apply as possible so you can make a great choice – not settle.

10. Keep the rent low to attract plenty of great tenants but you can make up for any perceived losses by negotiating utilities and extras. Write into the contract that the tenant pays for landscaping, water service, etc. to recover a few dollars. Prorate an early move in date before the first of the next month to gain a chunk of change. Write in the contract that they’re responsible for small fixes – perhaps, under $50 – so you won’t have to deal with changing every light bulb, fixing every clogged toilet etc. 

11. Keep rent low but have high penalties for late payments in the contract. If a tenant does what they’re supposed to do, they’ll benefit. But if they start paying late or miss payments, you’ll be well compensated for your time and inconvenience. 

12. Yearlong rental contracts have little benefit to the landlord (in certain markets) because if a tenant is going to move out, they’ll do so anyways. So consider a month-to-month lease with slight rental increases built in – like 5% every six months. Keep the increases small so they barely notice but explain this is how you can afford to charge lower rent from the start. It’s much easier – and cheaper – for them to stay put and not go through the hassle of moving all over again.

If you have any questions or just would like to know what rents are going for in a certain neighborhood, give Vienna Property Management in Rocklin, Ca a call – they’re great people and do a wonderful job turning rental properties into efficient cash-flowing investments!  

The fateful story of John Sutter defines Sacramento history.

The story of John Sutter and Sutter’s Fort are intertwined with the history of Sacramento, even well before California was a United States territory or the first nugget of gold was pulled from the ground.

The Sacramento Valley (well before it was named that) was home to Native Americans for at least 10,000 years. The Nisenan and Maidu tribes made huts from willow trees, fished the bountiful rivers, and lived in harmony with the land. But that all ended as a small number of European trappers and traders started coming to the area.

The first settlers, about 1,000 strong (compared to 700,00 natives) were actually not from the newly formed United States of America but colonizers from the Spanish Empire. The area of present-day Sacramento sat in the Alta California province of New Spain, formed when conquistadors overtook Central American and Southwest America. However, the area of Sacramento was judged unfit for colonization so was nearly undisturbed.  

Johann August Ausgustus Suter was born in Switzerland on February 15, 1803. He served in the Swiss Army as an artillery captain and at 23, married the daughter of a rich widow. He operated a store but was mostly adept at spending money – not much of it his own. Faced with criminal charges for his debts, he boarded a ship for France, fleeing to his eventual destination, the United States. To “Americanize” or perhaps flee any bounty hunters that may have been on his trail, he changed his name to Captain John Sutter. He traveled about the U.S. with a group of 35 German settlers – from St. Louis to Santa Fe, Oregon to Hawaii, and Alaska before heading to California.

Sacramento’s destiny changed when John Sutter arrived in the colonial provincial capital of Monterey. There, he petitioned Spanish governor Juan Bautista Alvarado for a land grant. Interestingly, Sutter represented Mexico when he got his grant, 50,000 acres in a valley where two nearby rivers (later named the American and Sacramento) converged. In exchange for the grant, he had to declare himself a citizen of Mexico within one year of settling.

Sutter and his group arrived at his new granted land on August 13, 1839. He called his new colony New Helvetia (New Switzerland) and considered placing it under French protection. They immediately set to work building Sutter’s Fort as protection from the elements, wild animals, and the Native Americans. Sutter’s Fort – now in downtown modern Sacramento – was an adobe compound built with walls eighteen foot high and three feet thick. He formed a private army for security and doling out justice to the new inhabitants. It was completed by 1841.

As more pioneers made their way west, Sutter’s colony grew. Unfortunately, that meant the demise of the Native American population, who were exposed to diseases they had no immunity to. That was to the chagrin of Sutter, who had befriended many of the Native Americans and employed them around the fort, envisioning an agricultural utopia.

The newly independent colony of Sutter’s Fort operated autonomously under the umbrella of the newly formed Mexican government – but not for long. In 1846, the U.S. defeated Mexico in the Mexican-American War and the California Republic was formed. U.S. troops seized Sutter’s Fort, though Sutter and the inhabitants didn’t even resist. With no apparent value, troops quickly left the fort and Sutter and his citizens were left to their own devices.

In 1847, less than ten years after founding Sutter’s Fort, John Sutter had flourished. Aside from his position as leader of Helvetia, he owned a ten-acre orchard and gigantic herd of thirteen thousand cattle. Fort Sutter had become a stop-off point for all sorts of explorers that trickled west - and some that never made it, like the Donnor Party - but still the area was largely unsettled. Sutter was intent on growing his slowly-burgeoning outpost so that same year, Sutter hired James Marshall to build a sawmill (Sutter’s Mill) so wood could be cut and sawed into usable timber to build more permanent structures.

It’s the understatement of the millennium to say that Sutter’s hiring of Marshall didn’t turn out as planned, because in 1848 he discovered gold in the eastern foothills of the soon-to-be-created City of Sacramento. Upon hearing news that “There’s gold in them there hills!” a San Francisco newspaperman, Samuel Brannan, rushed to open a store right near the banks of the Sacramento River. He knew that the vantage point to the water was key as commerce and transportation were sure to become the keystones of rapid expansion. The waterfront area became known as Sutter’s Embarcadero, the site of Old Sacramento now.

Another decision Sutter made that year took an unexpected turn. He’d previously written for his son, John Sutter Jr., to come over from Switzerland to help him manage the new colony. Junior arrived in 1848 but instead of aiding his father, teamed up with Samuel Brannan. Together, they conspired to grow their own new city – Sacramento, not New Helvetia, which was two-miles inland. Father and son had a falling out over the treachery and became estranged. John Jr. later fled to Mexico. But the city he laid out with Brannan came to fruition, in 1849 becoming the first incorporated California city.

As for John Sutter, the senior? When gold was first discovered, he pledged his employees to secrecy. But nothing would stop the rumor of gold fever as word quickly got out and country was crisscrossed with wagon trails of settlers, panners, and speculators.

“If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” as the old saying goes, so Sutter went into the gold mining business and staked several claims, enhancing his already impressive wealthy.

In a crazy twist of fate, since New Helvetia had been a Mexican land grant, the U.S. and California state governments denied his claims and rights to the land. By 1852, Sutter was a broken man – bankrupt, stripped of his wealth, and his colony discredited and broken up in favor of the City of Sacramento. He had to sell what was left of New Helvetia under his ownership to pay debts.

He spent the rest of his years feverishly trying to recover what was taken from him, applying to both the state and federal government for compensation for his former lands, even reaching the Supreme Court.

He was never successful, dying in Washington, D.C. in 1880 where he was awaiting a Congressional ruling that would have reimbursed him $50,000, if successful. He may have died without wealth, but John Sutter’s legacy is firmly intact. Today, Sacramento can credit him for its early origins. Sutter’s Fort still stands as a monument to the early settlers. Schools and even the Sutter Health Center are named after the colorful and mercurial pioneer who left his mark on California.

10 Water-saving ways to replace your lawn (and still have the nicest yard on the block.)

Take a nice Sunday drive in most California neighborhoods and you’ll notice something different. House after house, the front lawns are browning. They are still cut and landscaped neatly, and the homes are impeccably cared for, but the grass is so dry it almost looks scorched. And it’s not just our lawns – you’ll see it on the grassy median of highways, public parks, and even the vast grassy promenade in front of the state capitol in Sacramento.

The browning of California’s grass has become the new reality as we face the most serious draught in our history, with no end in sight. In fact, an alarming 63 trillion gallons of water has been lost in the west over just the last 18 months. Scientists are now alarmed that as the water deficit accelerates, relieving the ground of 240 billion tons of weight in H20, the ground is actually shifting and rising. Conservationists and municipalities have tried to sound the alarm, instituting no-watering days for lawns, washing cars, and trying to educate the public as to how cut back. But so far, our collective water bill hasn’t significantly shrunk – and we still insist on having putting greens in front of our homes.

So what can we do? The EPA estimates that the average American household uses 320 gallons of water a day, with about 30-60% of that in dry climates devoted to outdoor irrigation. Of that, more than half of it is dedicated to watering lawns, but up to 60% is wasted by over-watering, inefficient methods, and waste.

Point blank – we can install low-flow toilets, cut our shower time in half, and stop washing our cars, but the real and immediate impact into water usage will come from irrigation; our lawns. The good news is that many communities in arid climates like Arizona, New Mexico, or abroad, have already been through this and adjusted their landscaping accordingly. 

So here are 10 alternatives to front lawns that will vastly reduce our collective water usage – and save you a big chunk on your next water bill. Hopefully when we take a drive around the same California neighborhoods in a year or two, we’ll see beautiful natural landscaping that conserves water in front of most homes – not lawns.

1. Lay natural rocks and fill in groundcover in between for a “hardscape.” It will require almost no watering and naturally keep weeds out, bust still offer greenery.

2. In areas that remain shady most of the day, plant moss. Since it’s not a deeply rooted plant, it will transplant very easily and within as little as 4-6 weeks it will take hold and spread, but never take over.

3. Plant beds of creeping thyme. It looks delicate but it’s actually a very tough and resilient low-water plant that will remain green all year, while also providing great fragrance. You never got that with your lawn!

4. Construct a brick or flagstone zero-scape, placing potted plants or small “oasis” areas throughout. Fill between them with mortar to eliminate weeds sprouting up.

5. Or, you can lay flagstones or pavers and fill in with your beloved green grass, or natural grasses. You can make great symmetrical patterns with these that make your property look bigger, or mix it up to replicate the beautiful chaos of nature.

6. As a general rule, think about plating flora that occurs naturally in your climate and geography. For most of California, that is not green grass and big oak trees!

7. Speaking of trees, you can take out the grass but plant a host of low-water, hot-weather trees, including almond, olive, avocados, figs, almonds, and pears, among others. Not only will you be able to enjoy the fruits of your labor (and nuts) but these will attract native birds and butterflies and keep your home cooler with their shade.

8. A fantastic alternative to grass is to fill surface area with sand, native crushed pebbles, or and crushed stone. You can still fill in with rocks, flowers, and plant groupings to make your yard the envy of the neighborhood – but with very little watering.

9. Synthetic grass. We hate to mention an artificial alternative when there are so many other great ways to replace your lawn, but if you must have that perfect putting green front yard, they make amazing synthetics these days. They aren’t cheap but you’ll never have to water again.

10. A new trend in landscaping is to replicate the natural ecosystem, planting native species of draught-resistant grasses, flowers, shrubs, and trees but then letting them grow wild. By using native species you’ll ensure these plants require little water and thrive in our climates. After all, there is no better landscaper to emulate than Mother Nature!   

Common Neighbor Disputes, Part 2: Parking, trees, and fences!

In our last blog, we covered common neighbor disputes like excessive noise, bad pets, and water damage. We received great feedback that people found our discussion of these issues helpful, so we decided to roll up our sleeves and try to referee more neighbor disputes. Here are five more common problems between feuding neighbors:

Bad neighbor parking.

At condos or apartments, parking disputes usually only occur when a guest parks in a residents space, which is easy to document and file a complaint. However, with private homes on public streets, the issue becomes a little bit more complex. The nightmare scenario for a homeowner is that they purchase their dream home and then have bad neighbors and their guests park their cars directly out front, day and night! But the street is public so anyone can park anywhere they wish, for as long as they want – right? While homeowners or residents do not have legal and exclusive control over the street parking spots in front of their homes, there are usually civic guidelines based on reasonable standards.

For instance, if the neighbor or guest parks their car in front of your home for a period longer than the municipal ordinances allow (72 hours in Sacramento,) you’d have the right to proceed with a formal complaint. Additionally, if a vehicle is too loud, elicits some sort of harm (like leaking oil) or prevents you from enjoying and preserving the value of your property, there may be legal recourse.

RV living on a neighbor’s property.

It’s not legal for anyone to occupy or live in a recreational vehicle, even if it’s on a residential property. So if a neighbor is doing this –whether they live in there or have guests in the RV, on their property or on the street, then you can document it and file a complaint. In most places you are allowed to park a recreational vehicle on your own property, you just can’t live in it. Once again, your city or county will have specific ordinances and codes that outline permissible parking for a RV or any vehicle – but just like you can’t live in your car, you can’t live in your motor home.

Overhanging trees.

While some neighbor disputes are caused by very clear issues, other problems sit in a gray area. For instance, what if your neighbor has a tree that sits on his property, but with a branch that extends into the air space over your property line? That’s more common than you might think, and the problem usually comes to a head when one of four things happens: the tree starts shedding leaves, berries, or debris into your yard, the tree shades or obstructs your view, the tree limb breaks and falls into your yard and causes damage (or looks like it will soon,) and finally, if you take out your saw and cut down the tree limb.

Here’s the good news: If a neighbor’s tree causes a nuisance – like from falling debris – and encroaches into your land, you may abate the nuisance by trimming the overhanging foliage, branch or limbs, as long as you act reasonably as to not seriously injure or kill the tree. But in most states, like California, if you seriously damage a neighbor’s tree – even if it’s hanging over your property – your neighbor may be able to recover damages (usually what they paid for the tree or replacement cost.) There are even strict laws that persecute people who intentionally damage or kill trees with jail!

So who owns the tree if it takes up space in both yards? In California, under Civil Code § 833, if the trunk of a tree stands wholly on the land of one landowner, that landowner owns the tree regardless of whether its roots, foliage, or branches have grown onto the land of another. If your neighbor ignores the problem of his tree’s branches growing into your property line and the tree causes damage, he will be financially responsible. However, if that damage comes from a storm or earthquake – an “act of God” – then the tree owner is not deemed responsible.

Tree roots

While you’re bickering over pesky tree branches with your neighbor, a bigger problem sometimes spreads beneath the soil – the tree’s roots. Roots encroaching onto and under your property can be a serious problem as they may crack sidewalks, damage pools, or even crack your home’s foundation. Once again, there is a legal reasonable standard for a homeowner to address a nuisance or something that causes damage to their property. You may sever the roots of a neighbor’s tree if they are causing damage or clearly threatening to do so. However, if you do this with negligence that harms the tree, the owner of the tree may sue you. That’s why it’s best to use a professional when cutting out roots – not only will they have a professional opinion what is necessary and document the whole process, but they’ll be able to do the job with the least harm to the tree. And what’s even better is that you can pass the bill for their professional services right over the fence to your neighbor – who is legally liable for expenses incurred as a direct result of roots from a tree on his property.

Fences

Ahhh, fences – the most polarizing of all neighbor disputes that’s caused more Hatfield v. McCoy feuds than any other issue! Typically, a single fence sits on the boundary line between two neighboring properties. But who is responsible if the fence needs to be repaired or replaced? We see this often as the fence deteriorates but confusion abounds over which neighbor needs to pay, and how much.

The answer is clear: California Civil Code § 841 requires adjacent landowners equally contribute to maintain walls and fences between them, unless one of the two landowners chooses to let the remaining sides of his property remain unfenced. However, if that landowner later fences in his property, he will be responsible for payment of his proportional share of the original value of the common fence.

However, in real life this can be a mess, as it’s next to impossible to force a neighbor to pay if they don’t have the financial means currently (or just don’t want to pay.) Some states allow you to sue your neighbor for not maintaining his or her duty to keep the fence in good condition. But even if you wanted to rip it down and put up a new one yourself you may not be within the law. Since both neighbors share ownership of the fence, you cannot remove it or destroy it without consent.

If you finally agree and start having your fence repaired or replaced, there are specific codes you need to adhere to. In many states and cities, like Sacramento, fences can only be six feet high in your front and side yards, unless you’re issued a specific variance and building permit. This includes lattice, barbed wire, or anything added to the top of the fence to try and extend it higher. If a neighbor builds a fence unnecessarily exceeding 10 feet in height just to annoy or impede their neighbor, it may be deemed a “spite fence,” opening them up to liability. Even hedges or trees planted in a row can be deemed a spite fence!

Every city, state, and municipality may have different codes and regulations when it comes to boundary fences between neighbors, so contact your local city hall or do a little digging on the web.

***

We hope this general information helps you understands your rights and duties as a neighbor so you can coexist happily. But we're not done yet - look for part 3 of this series of common neighbor disputes, where we cover issues like bad additions, loud paint and ugly fountains, and huge boats on your neighbor's property!

Everything you need to know to survive the next big earthquake.

Earthquake safety preparation:

-Consult a professional contractor or earthquake retrofit specialist for a review of your home or building.  They may suggest measures like bolting bookcases to wall studs, installing strong latches on cupboards, and strapping the water heater, refrigerator, and book cases or big furniture to wall studs.

-Store heavy items on lower shelves or broad, level surfaces so they won’t fall easily.  Make sure items that could potentially fall and cause injury are in latching cabinets. 

-It’s so important to know where your gas main and water main are located in your house as well as how to turn off electricity.  Clearly mark them so they’re easy to find in the fog and chaos of an emergency.  Make sure they are easily turned by hand and not hard to turn because of rust, corrosion, or debris.

-Prepare an earthquake readiness plan and go through it several times with your family.

-This should include two designated exits if you have to leave your home in the event of a fire, explosion, or collapse, and also a designated meeting area outside the home in a safe place.

-In this plan, account for who is responsible for trying to gather the family dog or pet, and parameters when it is safe to do so or better just to leave them.

-Designate a safe room in the house where everyone can automatically gather if an earthquake strikes.  It should be a room XY

-Store flammable liquids away from areas that may ignite or explode like stoves, furnaces, and water heaters.

-Keep a disaster relief kit easily accessible in the house or garage. This should include a first-aid kit, at least 3 gallons of water per person, dust or gas masks, a whistle, gardening gloves, blankets, sturdy boots or shoes, goggles, a battery powered flashlight, a battery powered radio, and a battery-powered or rechargeable cell phone power source.   It’s recommended you store enough rations for 24 hours with no food or water and 3 days without power or communications.

-Store all of your important financial and data records somewhere safe that you can access digitally – like a backup storage server, the Cloud, or via a web-based email.  This should include all of your insurance information.

When an earthquake begins:

-Generally, it’s advised that you Drop, Cover, and Hold On when an earthquake strikes. 

-But DO NOT get under a doorway.  For some reason, this is perceived as a safe place in event of an earthquake but it’s actually one of the worst places to be.

Try to find a strong desk or very sturdy table to get under and cover up.

-If you cannot get to one of those, at least stay along an interior wall, which is free of potentially falling objects and structurally sound. 

-If you are cooking or have an open flame source, hot iron, etc. then try to turn that off immediately before you take cover.

-Expect debris or objects to fall from above so take shelter in a safe position with hands overhead.

Avoid going near windows (glass or debris from the outside may injure you,) large mirrors, under chandeliers or hanging objects, near bookcases, tall heavy furniture that could tip over, or near fireplaces.

-Do not move or exit your home until the shaking stops.

-Expect fire alarms and sprinklers going off in apartment buildings, condos, or commercial buildings.

If you’re outside during an earthquake:

-Find an open area and stop, get to the ground, and cover up your head and neck until the shaking stops.

-Avoid being under trees or too close to houses, buildings, billboards, or other structures.

-Look up to see where you are in relation to power lines and poles. 

-If power lines do fall on your car, DO NOT get out or try to move.  Use your phone or horn to signal for help.

-If you are driving, pull over in an open location and stop and brace yourself.  Of course try to avoid (or get off of) bridges or highway ramps or overpasses.

-If you are on the beach or in a low coastal area when a bad earthquake hits, get to higher ground immediately after the shakings stops – tsunamis are at risk of following a strong earthquake.

After the shaking stops:

-Collect yourself and remain calm.  Thinking clearly and acting definitively is crucial to staying safe because the danger is by no means over just because the earthquake ceased. 

-Check yourself for injuries and then call out to others in the house to find them and make sure they are not inured. 

-If someone is seriously injured, it’s recommended you don’t move them unless they are in harms way.

-Go over your earthquake emergency plan in your head and even vocalize it.

-When it’s safe, turn off the electricity, gas main (SO important!) and water main.

-Expect aftershocks or tremors after a large earthquake.

-If it’s safe, proceed to the designated gathering area and locate your emergency supply kit.  Be conscious that there may be plenty of items that fell or were displaced during the quake in your path, or even items that could still fall, so make your way cautiously.

-If your home appears badly damage or you hear noises or see any continued shifting in the structure, exit immediately.

-If you smell gas, get everyone outside and open windows or doors if possible.  Do not use electrical appliances as even a little spark can trigger an explosion. 

-Once you are in a safe place, check your cell phone and send a group text to your emergency contact list that you and your family are safe.

-Expect cell phone communications to be interrupted or overloaded.  Keep trying, and possibly send a text as well as trying to call.

-Once it’s safe to do so, unplug all major appliances inside your home – when the power comes back on, it could cause fires or short circuits.  Turn off the electrical main or turn off the breakers, but never do so if you see frayed or damaged wiring or have to stand in water to do so.

-Try to bring your wallet and house and car keys with you, but only if you are 100% sure it’s safe to collect them.

-Be aware of debris that might possibly fall like tree limbs, roofing, gutters, and damaged chimneys.

-Make sure everyone puts on heavy footwear, goggles, and heavy gloves if you have to make your way across badly damaged areas.  Nails, glass, and other broken debris cause just as many injuries as earthquakes. 

-Exercise caution when opening any closet doors, attic hatches, cabinets, etc. because items probably shifted during the quake and will fall out.

-Call 911 to report injuries or gas leaks but try to reserve calling for emergencies.