Earthquake! 3 Disaster Response Steps You Can Take in 30 Minutes or Less.

4/8/2021 (Permalink)

An earthquake doesn't have to be this big to be a disaster. Check your property for damage and call SERVPRO 24/7 for recovery assistance.

"Did you feel that?" Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter light up in the aftermath of an earthquake of any size near Los Angeles. Most of the time, we tweet, roll over and go back to sleep. But the key to an effective disaster response is quick action. So the next step you feel your property shaking, here are a few things you might want to do before tucking in.

Check on Loved Ones

Earthquakes are scary! Even a small tremble can be distressing, especially for children and pets. Check on your loved ones and make sure they're snoring, or otherwise unaffected by the rumble. If not, they may need a little reassurance.

Do you have an evacuation plan? Given the frequency of wildfires in California, you should. Make sure everyone knows what to do if you must leave your home. A little shake may not seem like a big deal. But the time to prepare your disaster response is before, not during, the event.

Inspect Your Property

Depending on the size of the earthquake, property damage may be obvious. But the shaking can cause also hidden damage to gas and water lines. A quick inspection will help ensure you don't wake up to bigger problem:

• Look: inspect for leaks, puddles or damp spots that are clear indications of water damage. Check basements and crawl spaces, under sinks and around sewer lines.
• Smell: a foul odor may indicate a problem with your sewer line. That "rotten egg" smell? You may have gas leak. Gas leaks are dangerous and can spark a fire. Call a plumber ASAP if you suspect one.
• Listen: can't see or smell a leak? In a quiet house, you may be able to hear one. Listen closely and for the soft hiss of a gas leak, or the drip, drip, drip of a water leak.

Call For Help

If you do spot damage following a disaster, the sooner you call for help, the better. For water damage, fire, smoke and soot cleanup or mold remediation, SERVPRO of North Hollywood is available, 24/7. No job is too big and our Disaster Recovery Team can be deployed to handle large losses. We're faster to any size disaster and we're here to help!