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During an earthquake, framed pictures and mirrors that are not securely attached to walls can easily fall. Large pictures and mirrors can cause injuries when they fall, and the broken glass that often results increases the potential for injury. Landlords, tenants, real estate owners and rental property owners can use this guide to secure their mirrors properly before an earthquake.

One way to mount framed pictures and mirrors securely is to use long-shanked, open eyehooks instead of traditional picture hangers. The eyehooks must be long enough to penetrate the wall stud as well as the drywall or plaster. Eyehooks used in this way are much less likely to pull out of the wall than picture hooks installed with nails that penetrate only the drywall or plaster. Also, an alternative to running wire across the back of the picture or mirror is to use closed eyehooks securely screwed into the back of the frame.

BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS MITIGATION STRATEGY

Helps to prevent injuries to occupants

Helps to prevent damage to the pictures or mirrors

TIPS

Keep these points in mind when you hang framed pictures or mirrors:

• The number of eyehooks you need for a picture or mirror will depend on its size and weight. Large pictures and mirrors will be more stable when mounted on two hooks rather than one.
• Make sure that eyehooks penetrate not just the wall but the studs behind it as well. Eyehooks embedded only in drywall or plasters are likely to pull out. To be embedded deeply enough, eyehooks should be at least 1 to 2 inches long.
• Regardless of whether you use picture wire or closed eye-hooks on the back of the picture or mirror, make sure the hooks, screws, or other types of mounting hardware are securely attached to the frame.
• If possible, don’t hang large pictures or mirrors in places where they are more likely to fall on someone, such as over beds, chairs, or couches.

Estimated Costs

The cost of mounting a picture or mirror with a hook-eye will depend on its size and weight. In general, for a picture or a mirror that requires eyehooks, the cost would be approximately $5. This amount covers only the hardware you buy, not any tools you use or the value of your time. If you hire a contractor or handyman to do the work, you will have to pay for time as well as the materials.

SOURCE: FEMA.gov

During an earthquake, drawers and cabinet doors can open and the stored materials can spill out and damage floors and floor coverings. Objects that fall from overhead cabinets can injure you or others. Landlords, tenants, real estate owners and rental property owners can use this guide to installing latches on cabinets and doors before an earthquake.

One way to prevent the accidental opening of drawers and cabinet doors is to install latches such as barrel bolts, safety hasps, and child-proof locks. Most hardware and home supply stores stock a variety of latches. Examples of mechanical drawer closures include child-proof or drawer latches. The strong mechanical cabinet catches can include safety clasps, touch-door cabinet catches, slide bolts, clip-rollers, or snap-action cabinet catches, etc.

Most types of permanent latches can be installed easily and will not interfere with opening and closing of drawers and doors. The slide bolt can be used on cabinets that do not need to be opened frequently; it is easily installed and removed.

BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS MITIGATION STRATEGY
• Helps to prevent damage to floors and floor coverings, as well as to the contents of the drawers and cabinets
• Helps to prevent injuries to occupants

TIPS
Keep these points in mind when you install latches on drawers and cabinet doors:
• When possible, do not store heavy, breakable, or dangerous items (such as insecticides, solvents, and bleach) in overhead cabinets.
• Do not rely on magnetic or pinch-grip catches to hold cabinet doors closed, especially on overhead cabinets and any cabinets that contain heavy, breakable, or dangerous items.
• Install latches according to the manufacturer’s directions. For example, use all of the hardware provided with the latch and do not substitute undersized screws or bolts for those provided.

ESTIMATED COST
• The cost of adding latches will depend on the type you decide to buy and the number of drawers and cabinet doors you want to secure. If you do the work yourself, the cost of adding latches to one cabinet could cost approximately $50. If you hire a contractor or handyman to install latches, you will have to pay for time as well as materials.

SOURCE: FEMA.gov

Because most gas and water lines are rigid, they can be torn from their connection points during an earthquake. The results could include not only serious damage to your property but also injury to landlords, rental property owners, real estate owners and tenants. A broken gas line is especially serious because of the potential for a fire or even an explosion.

One way to prevent broken gas and water lines is to have flexible connection pipes installed between appliances and their supply lines. A licensed contractor can usually do this for landlords, rental property owners, real estate owners and tenants easily.

BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS MITIGATION STRATEGY

• Helps to prevent tearing of gas and water lines from their connections
• Helps to prevent serious damage to a structure
• Helps to prevent fires or explosions
• Helps to prevent injuries to occupants

TIPS

Keep these points in mind when you have flexible connections installed:

• Changes to the gas lines and plumbing in your property must be done by a licensed contractor, who will ensure that the work is done correctly and according to all applicable codes. This is important for your safety.
• A flexible connection will help protect against a small amount of movement but is not designed to function when the appliance it is connected to moves extensively or falls. So you should also consider anchoring the appliance to the floor or wall.

ESTIMATED COST

Having a flexible connection installed on a furnace or another large appliance will cost approximately $75.

SOURCE: FEMA.gov

Some structures are built on cripple walls. Q a cripple wall is a short wall that rests on the foundation and supports the floor and exterior walls. If the cripple wall is not braced, it can shift during an earthquake. When this occurs, there is a greater likelihood that the structure will be severely damaged and that you and others will be injured. Therefore, landlords, real estate owners and rental property owners should brace the cripple walls to protect their families and their tenants or occupants. Also, tenants should inform their landlords, rental property owners about any cripple walls when they notice it as a precautionary measure.

If your property is built on cripple walls, one way to increase its stability and reduce earthquake damage is to brace the cripple walls. In this method, horizontal sill blocking that consists of 2-inch by 4-inch boards is added between the vertical studs at the top and bottom of the cripple wall and, if necessary, at other locations between the studs. New vertical studs can also be added if necessary. Plywood or oriented strand board is then nailed to the interior face of the cripple wall. Also, nails are added through the existing blocking between floor joists to ensure that the
floor is securely attached to the cripple wall.

BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS MITIGATION STRATEGY
Helps to prevent a structure from shifting, which can result in severe damage
Helps to prevent injuries to occupants and tenants

TIPS
Landlords, real estate and rental property owners-Keep these points in mind when you brace cripple walls:
Check with your local building officials to see if you need a permit to do this work.
Before adding any bracing, check to see whether the sill plate below the cripple wall is bolted or otherwise anchored to the top of the foundation. If it is not, you should consider having bolts     or anchors added. Any anchoring of the sill plate should be done before you add bracing.

ESTIMATED COST
Bracing a 2-foot high cripple wall will cost approximately $1.50 per linear foot of wall. For example, a structure measuring 60 feet by 30 feet will have a perimeter of 180 feet. So the cost for that structure would be about $270. This figure covers only the materials you will have to buy and excludes the cost of any tools you use, building permit fees, and the value of your time. This figure also excludes the cost of having a contractor anchor your sill plates. Also, bracing higher cripple walls may require more lumber and therefore may be more expensive.

Source: FEMA.gov

The sill plate of a structure rests directly on top of the foundation. If the sill plate is not securely anchored, an earthquake can cause it to slide with respect to the foundation. When this occurs, there is a greater potential for severe damage as well as injury to you and others.Therefore, landlords, real estate owners and rental property owners should bolt sill plates to foundation to protect their families and their tenants or occupants.

One way to increase the stability of your property and reduce earthquake damage is to have the sill plate bolted or otherwise anchored to the foundation. Bolts should be long enough to pass through the sill plate and penetrate several inches into the foundation are installed every few feet along the base of the exterior walls. This method is not limited to cripple wall construction; it can also be used for a structure built on a basement or slab-on-grade foundation or on another type of crawl space foundation.Therefore, landlords, real estate owners and rental property owners should brace the cripple walls to protect their families and their tenants or occupants. Also, tenants should inform their landlords, rental property owners about bolting plates to foundation as a precautionary measure.

BENEFITS OF UTILIZING THIS MITIGATION STRATEGY

• Helps to prevent a structure from shifting, which can result in severe damage
• Helps to prevent injuries to occupants and tenants

TIPS
Landlords, real estate and rental property owners-Keep these points in mind when you have the sill plates bolted to the foundation:

• Modifications to the foundation must be done by a licensed contractor, who will ensure that the work is done correctly and according to all applicable codes. This is important for your safety.
• Anchor bolts are usually installed no more than 6 feet apart. The work involved is likely to be extensive and may require that portions of the walls or floor be cut away temporarily.
• Your contractor may be able to recommend an alternative anchoring method based on other approved fasteners or connectors that can be installed with fewer changes to your property and less work.
• If your property is built on cripple walls, you should consider bracing them after the sill plates are bolted. For more information, refer to the separate earthquake protection post titled
  

  https://apps.simplifyem.com/property-management/landlord-tenant/landlords-tenants-real-estate-and-rental-property-owners-guide-to-brace-cripple-walls-to-protect-from-earthquakes

ESTIMATED COST
Having a contractor bolt the sill plates to the foundation will cost approximately $50 to $75 per bolt, depending on the type of foundation you have. For example, a structure measuring 60 feet by 30 feet would have a perimeter of 180 feet and would therefore require a minimum of 30 bolts (if the bolts are placed no more than 6 feet apart). So the cost for that structure would be about $1,500 to $2,250.

Source: FEMA.gov

Your backyard—your piece of the environment—is an ideal place to practice the 3 Rs. It is also the place where the impact of your efforts can be most visible. Landlords, tenants and rental property owners should use the following ideas to incorporate the 3 Rs into their backyard activities.

• Greenscape your lawn. Greenscaping is a set of landscaping practices that maximize the health of lawns and plants while minimizing the environmental risks posed by some traditional practices. Greenscaping promotes the use of bio-based and organic products, native plants, and sustainable water management to prevent soil erosion, water runoff, and other negative consequences of traditional landscaping. Best of all, it’s easy to do.
• Buy recycled. Purchase lawn furniture, decking, and other outdoor products that contain recycled content. These items include welcome mats made from recycled flip-flops, birdhouses crafted from reclaimed wood, or patio furniture made from recycled plastic. Buying recycled-content products makes it economically viable to collect recyclables and conserve resources.
• Create a compost pile of your organic, biodegradable kitchen waste and apply finished compost to your lawn and garden. Composting does more than improve the quality of your soil: it keeps carbon from entering the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas, diverts waste from landfills, and eliminates the creation of new waste by reducing the need to purchase fertilizers and pesticides.

Source: epa.gov