Print this page Residential Earthquake-Safety Guide
Mark P. Rossow, PhD, PE Retired
Course Outline
This three-hour online course begins with a discussion of the hazards and locations in the United states of likely earthquake damage. Specific weaknesses in private home construction--“home” includes single-family residences, duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes—are identified that could lead to severe property damage or loss of life: unsecured water heaters, homes not adequately tied to the foundation, weak craw-space walls and pier-and-post foundations, landslides affecting the foundation, failures of unreinforced masonry, lack of structural resistance resulting from a second-story room being built atop a garage, and possible rupture of natural gas lines. For every weakness, remedies are proposed and their cost estimated. The course concludes with advice on actions to take during and after an earthquake that will help avoid personal injury.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Be familiar with the extent and geography of earthquake hazards in the United States;
- Understand the need to secure water heaters and anchor homes securely to the foundation;
- Be aware of the potential problems arising from weak crawl-space walls and pier-and-post foundations;
- Understand the dangers associated with homes built on steep hillsides;
- Realize the hazards of unreinforced masonry walls and chimneys;
- Be familiar with the weakened structural rigidity arising from the presence of rooms over garages;
- Be aware of the risks associated with homes with unique designs;
- Understand how to ensure natural gas safety during a seismic event;
- Be aware of geologic hazards such as landslides; and
- Be informed about what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.
Intended Audience
This course is intended primarily for structural, civil, forensic and construction engineers, and would also be of particular interest to engineers serving as building officials in the military, working in government agencies concerned with residential construction practices, and practicing as consultants to insurance companies.
Benefit to Attendees
An attendee of this course will be able to identify and propose remedies for weaknesses and deficiencies in personal residences that otherwise might suffer significant damage in a major seismic event. Furthermore, an attendee will be well-equipped to educate the lay public about the need for earthquake preparedness.
Course Introduction
Earthquakes, especially major ones, are dangerous, inevitable, and a fact of life in some parts of the United States. Earthquakes occur without warning, can be deadly and extremely destructive, and can occur at any time. The major threats posed by earthquakes are bodily injuries and property damage that can be considerable and even catastrophic. Most of the property damage caused by earthquakes ends up being handled and paid for by individual homeowners. However, proper earthquake preparation of private residences can save lives, reduce injuries, and reduce property damage. This course describes what steps should be taken to ensure that private residences are properly prepared for a major seismic event.
Course Content
This course is based on the technical publication: Earthquake Safety Guide for Homeowners, FEMA 530, September, 2005.
Earthquake Safety Guide for Homeowners, FEMA 530
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Course Summary
Many parts of the United States are expected to experience significant earthquakes at some time. These earthquakes can cause significant property damage, personal injury, and even loss of life. But the severity of these unfortunate events can be greatly lessened by identifying vulnerabilities in the design and construction of private homes and then modifying the homes to remove or at least lessen the vulnerabilities. Also, the chance of being injured during and after a major seismic event can be decreased by following appropriate behavior guidelines.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:
http://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=2103
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
