The Japanese Earthquake today makes our blood run cold for the devastation… but what does this earthquake news teach us about our potential for a “situation” where we live? This article addresses a niche expertise that you will NOT FIND ANYWHERE ELSE and is of extreme importance. Keep in mind as you read this article that it focuses on protecting, preserving and saving property that is historically, financially and emotionally important to households and businesses. We do not write about health and safety issues, building structural problems, economic matters etc.
What do you cherish and fear losing in the next earthquake? Heirlooms, crystal, collectibles, family history, intellectual property? What items of value would impact your business continuity and how would these items, flying around in an earthquake, affect personal safety?!
The contents of the house still standing could be protected.
Here is an earthquake fact: Notice in the photos of the earthquake damage that you see on the news and/or the Internet that not all homes, building etc are completely destroyed. The fact is, yes, there is an epicenter that gets hit hard. But not all the buildings, even in the critical area, get hit hard. And there are millions of people in the surrounding areas that “just” get rattled. These are those whose building may not get knocked down but who may get hit by a flying cremation urn from the shelf! IT ALWAYS PAYS TO PREPARE in order to:
- Keep things from flying around in the air during the earthquake for personal safety
- Protect important historical items
- Save financially valuable items
- Protect and save emotionally valuable items
- Know ahead of time what will impact your business if you lose it.
Surprisingly, an easy, fast, do-it-yourself anchoring technique can save you in all of these five needs of being protected just mentioned. Here are two really short videos that will help you BIG TIME: http://www.FreeEarthquakeInfo.org/museum-wax-package
A recent news video on earthquakes stated that seismologist experts record over 27,000 earthquakes in the US each year! (most barely detectable but an indication of potential).
Even if you are personally safe after an earthquake, broken items like glassware, crystal, collectibles, ceramics can make it hazardous to move around and get things done. Not only will these broken items of value would impact your business continuity and personal safety… you will be anxious to talk to insurance adjuster later. So,
- Prepare ahead of time with an inventory of emotional, historical and financially valuable items
- Take photos
- Make copies of documents of ownership, authentication, appraisals etc.. and…
- Keep your copies in another city!
The reports from Japan about the massive earthquake once again remind us of the ever increasing activity that puts our homes and businesses at risk. You realize, of course, that with an earthquake you also have broken pipes, water damage, mold, smoke and fires. For those of you NOT in earthquake country, think again! A hurricane or tornado rattles and shakes you up in the same way.
Manage risk, prepare and feel more peace of mind by taking action with the following tips:
1. Earthquake insurance is cheap but an add on.
2. Strap down tall furniture that will topple over.
3. Anchor down collectibles in curio cabinets and on shelves that can fly around and cause damage, besides being broken.
4. Make copies of important documents, printed on a laser writer onto acid-free, buffered paper. Keep the copy in another location, out of your area…
Valuable possessions could be protected
A heartbreaking story was reported this morning on the news from Japan:
“With each passing day, more and more poignant stories of survivors and victims are emerging.
Immediately after the quake, Katsutaro Hamada, 79, fled to safety with his wife. But then he went back home to retrieve a photo album of his granddaughter, 14-year-old Saori, and grandson, 10-year-old Hikaru.
Just then the tsunami came and swept away his home. Rescuers found Hamada’s body, crushed by the first floor bathroom walls. He was holding the album to his chest, Kyodo news agency reported.
“He really loved the grandchildren. But it is stupid,” said his son, Hironobu Hamada. “He loved the grandchildren so dearly. He has no pictures of me!”
This heartbreaking story was completely avoidable if they had downloaded their family photos onto an online service or had copies with their relative in Tokyo.
Fires are an issue with earthquakes
I know first hand another less gut wrenching version of this story: dear friends lost their home to fire. Insurance allowed them to rebuild, redecorate, refurnish etc everything very nicely. Now, at a distance of 15 years, the wife still mourns the fact that she has no photos of her kids growing up.
Again… something that is completely avoidable.
Here’s a real life story you’ll like. A customer who collects Pre-Columbian artifacts took my advice and anchored down his collection out of his shelves with an anchor wax. He stored the rest of the collection in appropriate boxes with proper packing materials. His collection, back 15 years ago, was appraised at over $3 million. He lives in Northridge California.
Within a year of taking action, the Northridge Earthquake hit and he was at the epicenter. Not one of the items was broken! But then, take note of this! He went to his insurance company, Lloyds of London and told them how he took action to prevent damage. They lowered his premiums by 30 %.
Apply this example to your family’s collectibles and family history items at home or consider the value of items in the workplace and you can readily see that “value” can be defined as financial, historical or emotional. What would you regret loosing? If you lost key, creative and intellectual property, would your business survive?
http://www.FreeEarthquakeInfo.org/museum-wax-package Take note, Japanese ancestors are calling out to warn us all.
Scott M. Haskins has worked in both Europe and the U.S. as a professional conservator since 1975. He has years of experience planning for and responding after earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, mold, fire and everyday home accidents and is the author of “How to Save Your Stuff from a Disaster,” (http://www.saveyourstuffblog.com) a non-technical book with instructions on how to protect and save important documents, photos and other items not covered by insurance He wrote a booklet on “How To Respond After an Earthquake” of which the Bank of America Corporation distributed over 500,000 through their Human Resource Depts after the Northridge Earthquake.
Call for interview at 805 564 3438 or email scott@saveyourstuff.com
Facebook Pages at: “Save Your Stuff”
Twitter: “saveyourstuff”
YouTube: “preservation coach” and “bestartdoc”
