This month’s focus is on the Big Turn-Off: knowing where your utility boxes are and how to shut them off in case of an emergency.

UTILITY SHUT-OFFS

LOCATE YOUR GAS AND WATER SHUTOFF VALVES AND THE ELECTRIC FUSE BOX. The gas and water shutoffs are usually outside and the fuse box will be in the garage or inside a closet.

KNOW HOW TO TURN OFF THE GAS AND WATER. In general, the water shutoff will be a round handle like the handle for the garden hose.. Turn it clockwise to turn the water supply for the house off. The gas valve will require a wrench. A quarter turn will close it off. Note that the water and/or gas valves may be housed in a cool dark place frequented by spiders and other nasties, so WEAR HEAVY GLOVES when working in those spaces.

IF YOU CANNOT LOCATE YOUR UTILITY SHUTOFFS OR DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TURN THEM OFF, contact your homeowner’s association if you have one.

DO NOT TURN OFF THE GAS UTILITY UNLESS YOU SMELL GAS OR HAVE REASONS TO SUSPECT A LINE IS BROKEN. Once the gas is turned off, you will need to contact PG&E to turn it back on and that could take several days.

KEEP A WRENCH ENCLOSED IN A PLASTIC BAG NEXT TO THE GAS VALVE. As the valve tends to freeze over time, a longer wrench will give you a better chance of closing it off.

TOOLS AND CLOTHING

KEEP A PAIR OF STURDY (heavy rubber soled) SHOES BESIDE YOUR BED. Quakes can occur at night and most of us sleep barefoot! Include a warm sweater/jacket, rain gear (vinyl parka), heavy gloves and a change or clothes for each household member in your quake supplies.

INCLUDE A CROWBAR, PICK, HAMMER, ROPE AND LOTS OF FLASHLIGHTS in your list of tools and hardware to have on hand. Keep flashlights everywhere – each room and vehicle. Also, have at least one battery operated radio near by. Check the batteries in flashlights and radios often. Keep extra batteries on hand at all times.

INVOLVE ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS IN QUAKE PREPARATION!

— Mike Mancusi

WATER: Following a disaster our water supply could be shut off. Are you prepared?

YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE GALLON PER PERSON PER DAY, MINIMUM. FEMA RECOMMENDS A THREE DAY SUPPLY.

Make sure water is stored in the proper containers, away from sunlight and contaminates, and in as spill-proof a location as possible. Use opaque, not clear, containers. Store on the floor, not on a shelf

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET WATER FROM THE TOILET TANK. (only if not treated chemically – blue tank water, “2000 Flushes”, etc.).

You may need to filter for glass particles or purify when water is obtained from those sources. DO NOT DEPEND ON THIS WATER SOURCE! Never use water from the toilet bowl and do not use from the tank if toilet has been flushed after the quake (broken sewer lines may have contaminated the water).

YOU MAY ALSO USE CANNED OR “BOXED” JUICES AND THE LIQUID FROM CANNED GOODS AS AN ALTERNATE SOURCE FOR VARIATION.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO GET WATER FROM YOUR WATER PIPES. Turn off the water supply to your house. Open the faucets of your second story bath. Then open a downstairs faucet with a collecting pail beneath it.

USE MELTED ICE FROM THE FREEZER. it’s another small but usable source..

COLLECT RAIN WATER IN CLEAN CONTAINERS AFTER A QUAKE. Dirty containers can be lined with clean plastic bags, when needed.

CONSERVE, CONSERVE, CONSERVE! Use water only for drinking, washing hands and cooking after the quake.

BUY A WATER FILTRATIONIPURIFYING SYSTEM AND/OR TABLETS. You can find out about these at most full-line camping supply retailers (REI, Redwood Trading Post…)

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• DON’T FORGET FOOD AND WATER FOR PETS. Pets may consume large quantities of water when under stress, so make sure you’ve included water supplies for them. Keeping an extra bag of dry food will take care of the pet’s short term nutritional needs and is easy to store for most pets.
• MORE IS ALWAYS BETTER!! There is a good chance that more than a three day supply will be needed if freeway overpasses collapse, blocking access roads, or if neighbors are not prepared or their supply is destroyed.
• KEEP BACKPACKS AROUND TO CARRY FOOD IN, should we need to hike out of the area.

—  Mike Mancusi