Is your stored property at risk for earthquake damage?

(ARA) - If you live in an area of the country affected by earthquakes, you probably have already assessed the potential damage that could be caused to your home or business. But did you think about the property you have in storage?

A group of scientists and technology experts have built a new Web site, called Open Hazards (www.openhazards.com), that can help you estimate the likelihood of an earthquake in your neighborhood. It can provide either a long-term or a short-term forecast for any zip code in the United States, and especially for California counties.

Open Hazards can also provide property owners with a sense of how much shaking their possessions are likely to be subjected to if an earthquake does occur. For Fresno County, Calif., for example, Open Hazards' Risk Assessment states that shaking from an earthquake is likely to be strong (level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale), but that property damage will probably be light. The assessment for Fresno County states, "Hanging objects swing. Vibration like passing of heavy trucks; or sensation of a jolt like a heavy ball striking the walls. Standing motor cars rock. Windows, dishes, doors rattle. Glasses clink. Crockery clashes. In the upper range of IV, wooden walls and frame creak."

California self storage users can use the data provided at Open Hazards to help them determine how carefully they need to pack items for storage.

In addition to providing tools for estimating the likelihood of an earthquake in a given area, Open Hazards also provides news, tips and facts about earthquakes. Some of the tips are especially relevant to people packing self storage units with fragile heirlooms or objects with great sentimental value. Here are a couple of packing tips:

* Choose a self-storage unit that is convenient and that has been designed for seismic resistance. Search www.storagecalifornia.com/search.php for many self-storage facilities.

* Arrange furniture and heavy objects with care, placing heavy objects closer to the ground. It may be advisable to lay bookcases that are in storage flat on the ground rather than standing them up against a wall.

* Empty dressers, and make sure that doors and drawers are shut securely, using tape, rope or strong ribbon to secure each item.

* If possible, remove the legs from items of furniture (this will save space as well as helping to avoid damage in an earthquake).

* When packing fragile items, such as glassware and dishes, put packing material in the bottom of each box. Wrap each piece individually in tissue paper. Place each item where it cannot bang or rub up against another item. Use plenty of packing material. Seal the boxes with tape. Mark them "fragile" and be careful not to place any heavy items on top of them.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

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