Earthquake guide available Posted: Monday, January 24, 2011 6:01 pm
The Institute for Business & Home Safety has announced the availability of new guidelines to protect property from the effects of earthquakes.
The new IBHS guide, “Earthquake Risk Around the U.S. — How to Protect Your Property,” provides information to help residents and business owners better understand the areas of a home or business most vulnerable to earthquake damage and offers solutions to minimize the risk of property losses.
The information and suggestions presented in the guide range from simple weekend tasks that require basic carpentry skills to more complex projects that may require professional assistance.
Key topics covered include:
• The relationship between your home or business and an earthquake;
• Key areas of your home or business that are especially susceptible to damage;
• Ways you can reduce damage to your home or business and belongings; and,
• What you can do to protect yourself and your family.
“In the U.S., we mainly associate earthquakes with California, but many other states also are at serious risk, such as South Carolina and those in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, including Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Between December 1811 and February 1812, the New Madrid Zone had four of the largest known earthquakes in North America. It was reported that the Mississippi River ran backwards and the ground motion from the last quake caused church bells to ring as far as away as Boston,” IBHS CEO and President Julie Rochman said.
The guidelines are available at www.DisasterSafety.org.For more information, contact IBHS at (813) 286-3400 or info@ibhs.org. , | 
