QUAKETIPS
INDEX OF TOPICS
in chronological order
During and after a quake:
3/31/11
Important information about the recurring "Triangle of Life" e-mail spam
7/9/11
Should I stay or should I go?...the inevitable dilemma about staying in the building during an earthquake
2/8/12
Double feature Part II: Can I get a fire hose to use after a quake if my house is burning down and the fire department is not coming?
5/7/13
Should I turn my gas off after an earthquake? Don't guess about gas...
4/25/15
Do the collapsed buildings in Nepal mean that you should run out of a building during an earthquake?
6/1/15
Did the movie San Andreas suggest the ÒTriangle of LifeÓ myth? Just kind of.
11/7/16
Some updates to standard earthquake preparedness and response advice
1/7/18
So how did Matt react to the largest jolt in 10 years? (1/4/2018 Hayward fault quake)
Emergency lighting and batteries:
2/2/14
DonÕt be left in the dark: which kinds of power failure back-up lights work best in an earthquake?
6/28/14
Choosing the right kinds of batteries for your emergency supplies in the 21st Century
11/11/14
A simple way to keep your flashlight within reach if your bedroom is shaking
5/13/19
Back to back-up lights: An update on currently available power failure back-up lights
Emergency food and water:
5/24/11
Your MREs (emergency rations) are good for up to 10 years--or are they?? An update...
7/1/13
Does bottled water really expire? The FDA says no!
10/7/13
MRE shelf-life follow-up: Ever wonder what a 14-year-old MRE tastes like?
11/29/13
The ethical dilemma of being prepared when other people aren't
8/19/14
Most people donÕt know about San FranciscoÕs emergency drinking water hydrants, but itÕs probably just as well...
10/16/14
Can you use a portable camping water filter to safely drink tap water after an earthquake in case your emergency water is gone? (Spoiler alert: the answer is no.)
3/22/16
Further adventures with expiration dates for food and water: Emergency water envelopes and S.O.S. Food Packets
1/16/19
More fun with expiration dates: some things really DO expire!
1/13/21
MRE shelf life follow-up follow-up: Ever wonder what a 21-year-old MRE tastes like?
Emergency kits:
12/22/11
Where should I keep that emergency kit?
1/8/13
Big emergency kit for home, little emergency kits for work and car
1/2/17
New YearÕs resolution: put some cash in your emergency kit
1/16/19
More fun with expiration dates: some things really DO expire!
7/23/20
Hmm, your plumbing might be out for a while (or, ÒQuaketips descends into bathroom humorÓ)
Tips for bracing and fastening:
4/18/11
An amazing story from the past, AND more about hanging pictures that wonÕt come crashing down (the wired and non-wired varieties)
9/7/11
ÒBe sure to bolt your furniture bracing straps to a wall studÓÉok, now for the other 95% of the population who doesnÕt know how to find a wall stud:
2/8/12
Double feature Part I: If you install a closet organizer system, donÕt skimp on that last screw.
4/15/12
Do I really have to stick down EVERYTHING? What about my TV remote?
8/2/12
At last, helpful hints on installing push-latches for cabinets!
4/27/14
20 things you can do with quake putty Ð and helpful hints for Quakehold Gel
9/24/15
For objects that you need to move occasionally, an idea for how to stop them from sliding (or, Silicone: the Anti-Banana Peel)
2/27/16
Special challenges: Can you seismically brace floor lamps and house plants? Should you?
8/9/16
Are Command Picture Hanging Strips as good as maze picture hooks for quake-proof picture hanging?
2/3/17
The earthquake precaution step nobody told you about: tell visitors about your preparations or else you could have problems!
3/1/17
Do you have a ticking time bomb in your cupboard? Better check what is supporting your shelves!
6/28/17
Special bulletin: potential evidence that push latches can fail during shaking
7/24/17
Simple ideas for making sure your phone and eyeglasses stay on your nightstand
2/9/18
Command Picture Hanging strips for earthquake resistant picture hanging: A follow-up
3/31/18
How to protect fine wine glasses from themselves and their brutish cousins
5/29/18
No Gripes about Gripeez: A way to use clear gripper pads to stick down display objects resting in stands
8/3/18
Earthquake-resistant cabinet latches revisited: an alternative to push-latches that is worth considering
12/21/18
How I braced a monster wardrobe and protected Narnia
9/7/19
A novel solution: bracing floor lamps with plants
10/6/19
Earthquake Safety: What about Hanging Art from Picture Moldings?
11/2/20
Command Strips for picture hanging, 3 years later: A couple of failures to report
Product evaluations and recommendations:
2/2/14
DonÕt be left in the dark: which kinds of power failure back-up lights work best in an earthquake?
6/28/14
Choosing the right kinds of batteries for your emergency supplies in the 21st Century
10/16/14
Can you use a portable camping water filter to safely drink tap water after an earthquake in case your emergency water is gone? (Spoiler alert: the answer is no.)
8/9/16
Are Command Picture Hanging Strips as good as maze picture hooks for quake-proof picture hanging?
2/9/17
Command Picture Hanging strips for earthquake resistant picture hanging: A follow-up
5/13/19
Back to back-up lights: An update on currently available power failure back-up lights
4/18/20
Masks for fires and earthquakes aren't necessarily good for pandemics
General earthquake safety considerations:
4/2/11
Special considerations for pets
10/23/11
Small quakes: Good or bad for geology and psychology?
6/17/12
Experience an earthquake! And then go see the ostrich chicks and have lunch.
11/10/12
Earthquake safety at work is good medicine
8/24/14
Reflections on the San Francisco Bay AreaÕs largest earthquake since 1989
12/19/14
A burning question: what happens to unattended holiday/memorial candles in an earthquake?
8/22/15
Know any students moving to the West Coast? Send them this!
11/7/16
Some updates to standard earthquake preparedness and response advice
2/3/17
The earthquake precaution step nobody told you about: tell visitors about your preparations or else you could have problems!
10/23/17
Moving for reasons other than seismic events: A diary of undoing quake precautions before moving out of a home
9/3/21
People who live in glass houses shouldn't have earthquakes: How well do modern glass-covered buildings hold up?
7/22/23
Murphy eats procrastination for breakfast, and a personal note to my readers
Earthquake history:
3/31/11
"Why the heck do you live in that place with earthquakes??"
4/18/11
An amazing story from the past, AND more about hanging pictures that wonÕt come crashing down (the wired and non-wired varieties)
5/14/12
A personal account from the aftermath of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
9/2/13
The new Bay Bridge opened today: A Loma Prieta earthquake repair 24 years in the making
Other ways to be prepared:
5/25/14
The Honey Quake story: Back up your recipes!
5/7/16
Situational awareness: The step BEFORE the first reaction to an earthquake
Earthquake warnings and predictions:
3/31/11
Thoughts about the much-publicized North American earthquake prediction for late March 2011
6/1/15
Did the movie San Andreas suggest the ÒTriangle of LifeÓ myth? Just kind of.
12/25/19
The Western United States finally has an earthquake early warning system, but you have to order your own milkshake
12/27/22
The western US ShakeAlert system is loudly proclaiming its arrival (A Story of Three Alerts)