The Best is Yet to Come

After the recent Earthquake, I received this is from the internet.

Passing it along to my “Anthony Apprentices”  

What to Do During an Earthquake

Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If indoors

• DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, such as lighting fixtures or furniture.
• Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
• Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, loadbearing doorway.
• Stay inside until shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.
• Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.
• DO NOT use the elevators.

If outdoors

• Stay there.
• Move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
• Once in the open, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings, at exits, and alongside exterior walls. Many of the 120 fatalities from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake occurred when people ran outside of buildings only to be killed by falling debris from collapsing walls. Ground movement during an earthquake is seldom the direct cause of death or injury. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If in a moving vehicle

• Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.
• Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If trapped under debris

• Do not light a match.
• Do not move about or kick up dust.
• Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.
• Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/earthquake/eq_during.shtm

What to Do After an Earthquake

• Expect aftershocks. These secondary shockwaves are usually less violent than the main quake but can be strong enough to do additional damage to weakened structures and can occur in the first hours, days, weeks, or even months after the quake.
• Listen to a battery-operated radio or television. Listen for the latest emergency information.
• Use the telephone only for emergency calls.
• Open cabinets cautiously. Beware of objects that can fall off shelves. Stay away from damaged areas. Stay away unless your assistance has been specifically requested by police, fire, or relief organizations. Return home only when authorities say it is safe.
• Be aware of possible tsunamis if you live in coastal areas. These are also known as seismic sea waves (mistakenly called “tidal waves”). When local authorities issue a tsunami warning, assume that a series of dangerous waves is on the way. Stay away from the beach.
• Help injured or trapped persons. Remember to help your neighbors who may require special assistance such as infants, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger of further injury. Call for help.
• Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids immediately. Leave the area if you smell gas or fumes from other chemicals.
• Inspect the entire length of chimneys for damage. Unnoticed damage could lead to a fire.
• Inspect utilities.
  • Check for gas leaks. If you smell gas or hear blowing or hissing noise, open a window and quickly leave the building. Turn off the gas at the outside main valve if you can and call the gas company from a neighbor’s home. If you turn off the gas for any reason, it must be turned back on by a professional.
  • Look for electrical system damage. If you see sparks or broken or frayed wires, or if you smell hot insulation, turn off the electricity at the main fuse box or circuit breaker. If you have to step in water to get to the fuse box or circuit breaker, call an electrician first for advice.
  • Check for sewage and water lines damage. If you suspect sewage lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water by melting ice cubes.

Today Anthony Gilardi of HGTV’s Myles of Style gives advice about choosing the right wall anchors to secure your furniture and keep your family safe from furniture tip-overs.

Ask Anthony your home repair or home improvement questions right now in the comments below! Anthony is here on CafeMom every other week. 

With recent news of furniture tip-overs on the rise, today’s question and Anthony’s answer about wall anchors is quite timely.

Q: What is the best anchor to use for plaster walls? We want to put up some shelving units (the metal adjustable kinds) in our back hallway to utilize the tops of the walls for storage of stuff we don’t want in the attic, but we know we’re going to need anchors to put them up. We don’t know what kind of anchors we’ll need. There are just so many on the market. Actually while you are at it, could you give us an idea of what each anchor is good for? 

—jennmarie77

A: Very good question. I’d be happy to shed some light on this subject.

My personal favorite wall anchor brand is Hilti (no, they do not endorse me, LOL). They are the best in my opinion due to their strength and reliability. They are, however, a little more pricey than other anchors.

You may be able to find an inexpensive version of the anchors below, but if you’re hanging something heavy in a place where safety is an issue, you don’t want to cut corners:

• For hollow plaster walls, you want to use are toggle bolts. Hilti makes a great toggle bolt that is simple to use. This type of anchor should be used when you’re hanging something that could potentially get heavy: shelves, appliances, stereo equipment, etc.     
• For anchoring items on plaster walls that will be holding lightweight items (small pictures, signs, etc.), the best anchor to use is a self drilling, one-step metal anchor. Anthony tip: Don’t bother using the plastic versions of these anchors; get the metal ones.
• For anchoring onto concrete or masonry, you need to use a sleeve anchor. This will take a few extra steps but works very well for both heavy and lightweight items.    

Here are Hilti’s illustrations of the different kinds of wall anchors so you know how to identify them and can learn more about their usage.

Let me know if you need further advice. I could talk all day about wall anchors.

Thanks for writing in.

—Anthony Gilardi

Today Anthony gives guidance about stripping paint from a concrete porch and repainting or restaining it afterward.

Get FREE professional handyman repair advice from Anthony Gilardi of HGTV’sMyles of Style right here on Home & Garden Buzz every other week. Ask Anthonyyour home repair or home improvement questions right now in the comments below!

Q: My painted cement porch is scaling off. What will it take to get the rest of it off? Is there something I can buy to strip it?

—Nonmember irene sparks

A: Hey, Irene. Very funny thing, I recently had to strip and repaint an entire concrete porch. I used a very cool product called: Floor-PaintStrip_250. READ AND FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURER’S INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. SAFETY FIRST! Also, here is some info on paint strippers and removers you may find useful.

—Anthony Gilardi