do What you need to before the next fire,flood RVIVE earthquake or HOW TO SU

Illustration by John Blanchard / The Chronicle W2 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

FROM THE EDITOR PREPARE FOR INEVITABLE

What makes California incomparably beautiful also makes it DOWNLOAD undeniably dangerous. Raging rivers sculpted our lush valleys, THE GUIDE This guide to preparing wildfires renew our dense forests and fault lines created our majes- for and surviving a major tic mountain ranges. regional disaster is also designed to be available Living in California requires accepting the good and the bad, and “offline” as a pdf, in the 2017 brought us several reminders of how bad that can get. Our event that you need to access it and are unable to crippling drought collapsed in weeks because of torrential winter get cell service. Make sure rains that flooded homes and washed away bridges, hillsides and to download it now at http://www.sfchronicle. Oroville Dam’s spillway. A deadly heat wave over Labor Day week- com/survival and follow end shattered records. And, most recently, terrible winds pushed these simple steps to find it devastating fires throughout Wine Country and beyond. when you need it. Reading the stories of families forced to flee their burning homes For iPhones: To store this guide on an iPhone, down- persuaded me to reconsider our family’s disaster preparedness. load the document and How complacent had we become in preparing for the inevitable open the Files app, which is included in iOS 11. If you earthquake or other disaster? Late one night, I found myself deep in don’t have the latest version an Office of Emergency Services website, trying to figure out what of the Apple operating system, you can store this more we should be doing. document in iCloud or Goo- That’s why The Chronicle decided to create this section. If better gle Drive. Instructions for the latter are below under planning increases your chances of surviving the next disaster, it “Another Option.” will be worthwhile. We’ve found the best tips, dug out the most For Android: To store this inventive ideas, and illustrated it with the most creative graphics we guide on an Android phone, could muster. you need to download a free file manager app such as ES In a disaster, we might not have power, cell phone service or other File Explorer File Manageror modes of communication. That’s why we’ve also made this informa- use Google Drive. If you’re using a file manager, the tion available in a document that you can download to your phone app will locate the guide (see right). Even if cell service is out, you’ll be able to pull up the once it’s been downloaded onto your phone. information in this section. Another option: If you We hope you find this information useful and that it helps your have Google Drive, you can family better prepare for the inevitable. store this document there and make it available for Audrey Cooper offline use. Once download- Editor in Chief ed, navigate to the settings on the document and make San Francisco Chronicle it available for offline use. Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W3 Check to see if youare

prepared VALVES

-OFF SWITCHyour electricity AND and gas at the SHUT wtoturn off wwhen and ho Kno valves. foran main switch and RS se them arn ho wtou FIRE EXTINGUISHEsand le efireextinguisher Locat needed. emergencyemergency heyare beforet RAGE DOORS y. GA your garage door manuall wtoopen Learn ho Help ensurethat SMOKE ALARMS your home. ealarms throughout your property and Install smok home areprepared for y. TORS working properl GENERAstandby generator is emergencies with hat your Ensuret these guidelines PANELS youuse SOLAR mergency phone number if taller’se Get your ins rooftop solar panels.

Find out howPG&E canhelp youbeprepared at pge.com/beprepared

“PG&E” refers to Pacific Gas and Electric Company,asubsidiary of PG&E Corporation. ©2017 Pacific Gas and Electric Company.All rightsreserved. Paid forbyPG&E shareholders. W4 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

Noah Berger / Special to The Chronicle

By Kevin Fagan

PLANNING When fires, earthquakes or other disasters hit us, they come with no warning, and they leave behind chaos and ruin. How ready you are and how well you react could mean the difference between life and death. FOR NATURAL So you need to plan, and this boils down to some core principles: Pre- pare your home for maximum safety, map out a plan of escape, store sup- DISASTERS plies to help you live as well as you can through the aftermath. Planning continues on W5 Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W5

American Stock Archive / Getty Images 1906

Reread this guide occasionally to refresh your Left: Firefighters work to save structures and they only realize they have to get ready once a memory, and try to lay in these preparations as soon on Soda Canyon Road in Napa on Oct. 9. disaster happens,” said Michael Skyler, who for Only 10 to 15 percent of people are as possible. Because whether it’s a wildfire or a quake, prepared for a natural disaster. more than two decades has run the Disaster Sup- all the warning you get may be a terse text message, a Above: A wooden cart lies in a giant ply Center in San Rafael, one of the few stores of its horn blast or a panicky shout from a neighbor. crack in a cobblestone street after the kind in Northern California. San Francisco earthquake in 1906. “The fact is that most people haven’t gotten pre- Planning for a disaster can mean the “But thinking about it afterward is too late.” pared for disaster — maybe 10 or 15 percent are — difference between life and death. W6 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

How to create a Remove dead branches that hang over your roof, and keep branches defensible space 10 feet away from your chimney. A defensible space is a buffer zone around the build- ings on your property that can increase the chanc- es of your home surviving a wildfire. The space is necessary to slow or stop the spread of wildfire, and it helps prevent your home from catching fire. It also protects the firefighters defending your home. Two zones make up the required 100 feet of defensible space. For more in- 3 2 formation on how to prepare your 10 feet home and yard against wildfires, go to the Cal Fire website www.readyforwildfire.org. 1

ZONE 1 4 Extends 30 feet from buildings, structures, decks, etc. Remove all 5 dead plants, weeds and leaves from this area, 30 feet including the roof and rain gutters. 6

You can create fire-safe ZONE 2 zones with stone walls, 100 feet Extends 100 feet from patios, decks and buildings, structures, roadways. Use rock, decks, etc. Mow grass Make sure your mulch, flowerbeds and to amaximum height of house address is gardens as ground cover 4inches. Create space clearly visible for bare space and as between trees and from the street. effective firebreaks. shrubs (see diagrams on facing page).

Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Graphic by Getty Images and The Chronicle

PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM WILDFIRE

The Center for Insurance Policy and Research estimates that 2 million DEFENSIBLE ZONE homes in California are at high risk for wildfire, or about 15 percent of all Create a 100-foot perimeter defensible zone around your house or apart- the state’s housing. That’s more than any other state. Taking a few pre- ment to minimize fuel danger. This doesn’t mean strip everything down to dirt. Step one: Clear dead leaves and plants from within 30 feet of the home; cautions is well worth your time. keeping tree branches 10 feet away from the chimney and other trees; and There are two main goals when preparing your home for a wildfire: trim limbs to at least 6 feet above the ground. Clear all dead limbs, leaves and Keep the flames as far away as possible, and fortify the house as much as other vegetation from the roof. Step two: As part of the defensible zone, cut grass to 4 inches or lower possible against embers and whatever fire licks up against the walls. from the 30-foot line out to the 100-foot line, and leave ample space be- Here are the steps you can take: tween trees and bush so flames won’t easily jump between them. Consult a landscape specialist to learn how wide that space should be — it varies from yard to yard. Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W7

1 Roof Plant and tree spacing The most vulnerable part of The distance between grass, shrubs and trees is critical in MINIMUM HORIZONTAL CLEARANCE your home, it should be made reducing the spread of wildfires. The spacing needed is de- of flame-retardant materials. Horizontal spacing depends on the slope of the land and the termined by the type and size of brush and trees, as well as Homes with wood or shingle height of the shrubs or trees. the slope of the land. A property on a steep slope with larger roofs are at higher risk of vegetation requires greater spacing between trees and being destroyed in a wildfire. shrubs than a level property that has sparse vegetation. 2 Chimney 10 feet Cover with noncombustible MINIMUM VERTICAL CLEARANCE screen. 2X X 3 Garage Remove tree Have a fire extinguisher and branches at least 6 feet from the ground. tools such as a shovel, rake, FLAT TO MILD SLOPE (LESS THAN 20%) bucket and hoe available for fire emergencies. Store com- bustible and flammable liquids away from ignition sources. 4 Deck Surfaces within 10 feet of the 20 feet building should be built with 4X ignition-resistant or non- Minimum combustible materials. Re- vertical move combustible items from clearance X underneath your deck. = 3times height 5 Windows of shrub Heat from a wildfire can break MILD TO MODERATE SLOPE (20% TO 40%) windows even before the Height house ignites. This allows of shrub burning embers to enter and start fires inside. Single-pane and large windows are partic- Allow extra ularly vulnerable. Install dual- vertical space pane windows with one pane between shrubs of tempered glass to reduce and the lowest 30 feet the chance of breakage in a branches of fire. Consider limiting the size trees near them. and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation. 6X 6 Driveway Without this extra Should be built according to vertical space, flames state and local codes to allow are more likely to emergency vehicles to reach spread upward from your home. Trim trees and the ground to brush to shrubs overhanging the road tree tops like aladder. to allow vehicles to pass. MODERATE TO STEEP SLOPE (GREATER THAN 40%)

MORE ABOUT LANDSCAPING AND YARD WORK ON AND AROUND THE HOUSE HAVE A WILDFIRE PLAN Avoid or pull out flammable plants, such as bamboo or the oily euca- Roofs should be made of flame-retardant In just two minutes, a house fire can lyptus — which lights like a matchhead — and opt instead for high-mois- materials, such as metal, asphalt composition become deadly, according to the Depart- ture succulents such as aloe or fire-resistant hardwood trees such as shingles or clay tiles. Make the overhangs as ment of Homeland Security. In five min- maple. wide as possible — in the Wine Country fires, utes, a house can become fully engulfed Don’t operate any power tools to trim vegetation when the weather is some homes fared better with flying embers in flames. Plan for the worst. hot and windy because sparks can light the yard in a twinkling. when they had fire-resistant overhangs of 4 feet Understand your risk. Cal Fire maintains Notify Pacific Gas and Electric Co. whenever you notice power lines or more to keep them from hitting the walls. maps of areas prone to wildfire, and cities brushing up against tree limbs, or close enough for a strong wind to slap Know where your gas shutoff valve is, and and counties are required to keep safety them together. Its crews can come trim the trees. Several big fires, in- keep a wrench next to it. If you see a wildfire plans that contain procedures for evacua- cluding the devastating 2015 Butte Fire, were sparked by power lines getting dangerously close, shut off the gas — tions and communications. hitting trees, and hitting against other power lines. and any propane tanks you might have around. — Kevin Fagan and Kurtis Alexander W8 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

TIPS TO PREPARE FOR A HOUSE FIRE CHIMNEY 1 Ensure your chimney has a spark arrester. In a house fire, experts Clean chimneys estimate you have a little as and flues at least once a year. two minutes to get out before HALLWAY being overtaken by smoke 1 Install smoke detec- tors between living and flames. The trick is to try and sleeping areas. to prevent flames from get- ting to that point. Here are things you can do to help with that:

1 Double-paned windows can slow the fire’s invasion, as can fire-resis- BEDROOM tant walls such as stucco. 1 If you sleep with the 1 Make sure your chimney has a door closed, install a spark arrester, and have it inspected smoke detector in the and cleaned annually. bedroom. 1 Check the batteries in your smoke 1 Turn off electric alarms once a month, and replace blankets and other them twice a year. A good rule of electrical appliances thumb is to replace them when you when not in use. change the clocks in the spring and 1 Do not smoke in bed. fall. 1 If you have security 1 Get rid of old paints and other bars on your windows flammable liquids you don’t need or doors, be sure they anymore, and store those you do in have an approved well-ventilated areas. quick-release mecha- 1 Cover all outside vents with tight nism so you and your mesh of one-eighth- to one-quar- family can get out in ter-inch openings to prevent em- the event of a fire. bers from floating inside and ignit- ing furniture or inner walls. 1 Keep a disaster kit within easy reach of the front door — see the survival kit section in this guide — and make sure valuable documents such as passports, insurance pol- GARAGE icies and deeds are in one handy place to grab quickly. 1 Mount a working fire extinguisher — Kevin Fagan in the garage. 1 Install a solid door with self-closing hinges between living areas and the garage. 1 Disconnect electrical tools and appli- ances when not in use. Replace cords that do not work properly, have loose connections or are frayed.

Source: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W9

HOME BATHROOM 1 Disconnect appliances such as curling irons and hair dryers FIRE when done and store them in a safe location until they are cool. 1 Keep items such as towels away from wall and floor heaters. DRILLS

KITCHEN 1 Keep a working fire extinguisher in the Preparing for a house fire, kitchen. including running fire drills, 1 Maintain electric and gas stoves in good can help families escape and operating condition. survive if such a disaster hits. 1 Don’t toss water on a stovetop grease Ye t few families — just 18 per- fire to extinguish it. Instead, use baking cent — have practiced home fire soda or put a lid on the pan to suffocate the flames. drills. Here’s what you can do: 1 Turn the handles of pots and pans away from the front of the stove. 1 Walk through your home, and identi- 1 Install curtains and towel holders away fy exits and escape routes, making sure from stove burners. doors and windows can be easily 1 Store matches and lighters out of reach opened. of children. 1 Install smoke alarms in every sleep- 1 Make sure that electrical outlets are ing room. designed to handle appliance loads. 1 Choose a meeting place outside — say the nearest stop sign or light post. 1 Assign someone to get the pets. 1 Practice escape routes twice a year, making the drill as realistic as possible, according to the Red Cross. The idea is to practice, not scare children, so it doesn’t need to be a surprise drill. Drills should include making sure children know not to go back for toys, not to hide and not to go near or touch the fire. 1 Teach children to “get low and go.” Have them practice escaping each room by crawling along the perimeter to an exit and to “stop, drop and roll” if their clothing catches fire. 1 If children are fearful about fire or fire drills at school or home make them anxious, try visiting a fire station or turning the drills into games, perhaps STORAGE AREAS Simon says, “Get low and go.” 1 Dispose of oily rags in 1 For those in multistory homes or metal containers. buildings, practice setting up and using 1 Store combustibles escape ladders from a first-floor win- away from ignition sourc- dow. es such as water heaters. 1 Instruct those who can’t get out to 1 Store flammable liq- insulate themselves in a room, closing uids in approved contain- doors and using towels or duct tape to ers and away from igni- seal cracks. Wave a flashlight or light- tion sources such as pilot colored clothing at the window so lights. firefighters know where you are. — Jill Tucker

Graphic by Getty Images and The Chronicle W10 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

< Water purification 3-DAY QUAKE SURVIVAL tablets in case you need to go beyond three days and clean water becomes There are earthquakes, and then there are earthquakes, the kind that throw an en- scarce.Basic household tire region off its axis, cause buildings to crumble and people to die, and — if you sur- bleach can be used in a vive — force you out of your home. pinch, six to eight drops per gallon. Also include a In the aftermath of one of those, you should be prepared to live self-sufficiently for foldable plastic water bag at least three days — and though most quakes will be quickly followed by shelters to mix the water in. and governmental aid to ease the survival struggle, you have to plan for the worst. Experts say thatunder the most dire scenario for a 7.0 Hayward Fault quake — nev- er mind the half-dozen other major faults that could rupture around here — thou- sands will be dead, tens of thousands of homes will be flattened, and hundreds of thousands will become refugees. Power will be out for days, and rescue efforts will be overwhelmed. So have your earthquake survival kits ready. Yo u’ll need one large can of supplies outside the home, and one much smaller “go bag” of supplies in your car in case that’s all youare left with. Check them every six = 1 change of clothes months to replace outdated food, water and batteries. per person: Shirt, un- These kits, by the way, are also useful in floods, fires or other disasters. derwear, pants, shoes, = First-aid kit — Kevin Fagan jacket, diapers if needed

Here’s the minimum you need in the can: _ Food for three days, about 1,000 calories per person. Canned food is best outside for not attracting rodents and bugs, but it’s also heavy. Some people prefer freeze- dried food, meat jerky or = 1 blanket per person = Sewing kit HOME EARTHQUAKE power bars. SURVIVAL CAN People most commonly store their major survival supplies outside the home in a basic outdoor < Feminine garbage can — either supplies 32-gallon or 55-gallon. and other Keep it far enough away necessary from the house or com- personal plex so that it won’t be hygiene items crushed if the building = Toilet paper falls down. Seal the lid with rubber window weather sealant tape to mitigate mildew, and put _ 1 gallon of anything that could get water per moldy or rusty in airtight person, for plastic bags before you three days put them in the can.

Photos by Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle = Flashlight = Battery-powered lamp Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W11

< Tools: < Enough batteries < Recharger Screwdriver to run every device for cell phones (with replace- you store in the can — and devices, able Phillips and place them all in powered by and flathead a separate bag, not in batteries, with ends), pliers, the devices, because cell phone Leatherman- you may forget to recharging cord replace them, and for automobile style multitool they will corrode or pocketknife, can opener = Portable radio

< At least $100 in small bills, with some coins. = Candles (Debit and credit card machines might not be working for days.) = Plastic sheeting, at least 6-by-8 feet, or = Gas meter valve = 100 feet of rope tube tent for emergen- shutoff wrench (3/16-inch or bigger) cy shelter = Waterproof matches

< Paper or plastic plates, bowls and = Small cooking pot. = Soap and = Duct tape = Work gloves cutlery Drinking cup = Whistle bath towel

THESE ALSO MIGHT BE GOOD TO ADD:

1 Extra eyeglasses 1 Local maps 1 Extra medications 1 1 sleeping bag per 1 Water filter to person drink from question- 1 Fire extinguisher able sources if you 1 Books and games have to 1 Copies of impor- 1 Assortment of tant documents plastic bags, from such as insurance sandwich to trash policies or house < Hatchet can sizes deeds for building 1 Solar-powered or 1 Paper and pencil = 1 smoke/dust or debris hand-crank recharg- mask per person clearing = Foldable shovel = Handy wipes er for devices W12 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

STOCKING A SURVIVAL KIT FOR YOUR CAR

Yo u may be in your car when a devastating quake hits the Bay Area, making a survival kit as valuable as the one you’ve left at home. A small Instant hand warmers backpack is recommended, filled with the items on the the following list (which is designed for one person): Gas meter valve shut-off wrench — Kevin Fagan 1 gallon of water for three days. (You’ll need to keep this outside the backpack in your vehicle’s trunk. Because 3 gallons of water can be bulky for the car, some peoplego Recharger for cell phones for as little as a quart a and devices, powered by day to be in bare survival batteries, with cell phone mode. Each quart can be charger cord for the car stored in the backpack in Tube tent small foil packets, avail- able at disaster-supply sites or stores.)

Flashlight

Portable radio

Batteries — enough to run every device you store in the bag Duct tape

1 blanket — emergency survival models are compact and light Water purification tablets in case you need to go beyond A smoke/dust mask three days; or a water filter Work gloves

Waterproof Toilet paper matches

Feminine supplies and Whistle Candle other necessary personal hygiene items

50 feet of Sewing kit rope (3/16 inch or bigger) Food for 3 days, about 1,000 calories — some- Poncho thing lightweight Lightstick like energy bars First aid kit

Leatherman-style multi-tool or pocketknife with can opener, screwdriver heads and knife blade.

Photos by Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W13

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MAKE SURE HOME IS

READY FORA QUAKE Attach plywood sheets to the attic ceiling near the chimney to help prevent falling bricks The most beautiful sight to greet your eyes after a devastating from plunging through earthquake will be that of your house still standing, and everyone the roof and into rooms below. who lives in it still safe. Here’s what you can do to have the best chance of that happening:

FORTIFY YOUR HOUSE

1 Bolting your house to its foundation with anchor bolts, if it hasn’t already been done, will help prevent the house from sliding off its foundation. Securely fasten or relocate 1 Installing extra wooden sheeting along the home’s heavy pictures cripple walls — those short walls in the crawl space and mirrors between the foundation and floor — will also help over beds and keep the house on its foundation. furniture. 1 Screw plywood sheets to the attic ceiling, close to the chimney. Chimneys commonly collapse in a big quake, and this will help stop falling bricks from plunging through the roof onto you. 1 If you live in a soft-story house, meaning the first floor is not well reinforced and will collapse in a big temblor, its recommended to spend the considerable Know how and amount of money it will take to have it retrofitted. Or when to shut if you don’t own the building, talk with the landlord off utilities. about this. In some cases, the retrofit is required by local law. 1 Install earthquake safety automatic shutoff valves for your gas lines. If you don’t have an automatic valve, keep a shutoff wrench by the valve so you can turn off the gas right after a big quake.

1 For a mobile home, install braces or a tie-down Strengthen system underneath to keep it from collapsing during garages that the shaking. have living space above ATTACH THINGS INSIDE them.

1 Heavy hanging objects like big pictures or mirrors should be attached to walls with screws driven into studs, not sheet rock. 1 Bookcases, china cabinets and other heavy furni- ture placed against a wall should be attached to that wall by L-shaped metal brackets. 1 The doors to all cupboards and cabinets should be fitted with child-proofing latches so they don’t pop Upgrade unbraced crawl-space walls open during the shaking and fling everything out at and other foundation problems. you. 1 Brace your water heater against the wall with metal straps screwed into studs. — Kevin Fagan

Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency N Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W15

Strap bookcases Secure cabi- and shelves to nets to wall How to turn off natural gas walls to prevent studs; use tipping. latches to The gas shut-off valve is parallel to the pipe, usually 6 to 8 inches keep cabinet above the ground. Use a 12-inch or larger adjustable wrench to doors from give the valve a quarter turn so that it is crosswise to the pipe. flying open during an OFF earthquake.

CUBIC ON FEET

Source: PG&E Todd Trumbull /The Chronicle

Ensure that gas appliances have flexible connections. PREPARE FAMILY FOR QUAKES Strap down computers and televisions. Earthquakes are scary. Suddenly the world shakes, the room rattles and things start to fall. To kids, it might feel like a monster has ahold of their house or school. The best way to ease the fear is to prepare. Talking to children and creating a plan can make such an emergency less scary and help calm nerves when a quake actually strikes. Here are practical tips on what to do:

1 Gather the family and create a 1 Identify a safe place outside to plan together. meet up after the shaking stops. 1 Pick safe places in each room Secure ceiling fans to take cover when the shaking 1 Designate an out-of-state and hanging light begins — under furniture or person for everyone to call to fixtures. against an interior wall away relay information. from windows, bookcases or tall furniture that could fall. Stay 1 Assign someone to turn off away from kitchens and garages, the gas and to gather pets. which tend to be the most dan- gerous because of the objects 1 Create an earthquake kit as a kept there. family, and include one comfort item per child, like a teddy bear 1 Practice “Drop, cover and hold or toy, as well as activities or on” in each safe place — and children’s books. schedule drills every six months. 1 Conduct a “hazard hunt,” 1 Talk about what to do if an looking for objects that could fall earthquake happens while family or fly through the air. members are at school or work 1 Put a working flashlight and — reassuring young children that Brace water heaters, and shoes next to each bed. they will be safe until picked up ensure that gas models while also creating a meeting 1 Teach everyone to knock on have flexible connections. place for adults and older chil- something three times repeated- dren. ly if trapped. Graphic by Getty Images and The Chronicle — Jill Tucker W16 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017 Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W17 OSN LOSSES HOUSING ore:Ascaino a raGvrmns ..Gooia Survey Geological U.S. Governments, Area Bay of Association Sources: sh ti gr of Fo se ho an As Me County TOTAL Sonoma Solano Clara Santa Mateo San Francisco San Napa Marin Costa Contra Alameda HO ve ve ou ak sh dt Th ra od th so a6 72 by 20 sy on so ea li Th 6. Pr larg so rca ke ma ri 7- ak nd eB ob st in me me ci dd he rt 43. eo pe is 20 in th .7 ty li ma lli er hq em at ga ho ps in ab at ma qu fo ay it rcen un 43. Ca wh ve wh by oc io In uak io ginap gnit rm od il cr fault ake by fo ra Area nofB WM de lif ps it ere cu na er te it oss re tf yofa ll eor is at or se ein ns ude rn rr ho le or a rgroFault Gregorio San io ac ing ni it ff ea th ar ws nf ay a ata figures) (actual ys hc ec aG reaquake Prieta th eB rt th 99Loma 1989 or ts Ar ca th ic ou 12 qu an 3, 9, eo a nra Fault Andreas San ay ular on ,9 al ee le ubro nnaial nt nByArea Bay in units uninhabitable of Number 408 284 ea 202 nt lo ak dh 72 76 ,w lf Ar A MATEO SAN 0 0 0 0 st 2 y, pe gi Go UC au eh a Andreas San SA COUNTY lo wf ow im hi ea ca go op ve lt ca az ch lS at ba sint NF to le rn ti ar ar ed SONOMA COUNTY ,o ur de on se re eeto 96quake 1906 of Repeat me nSnAdesFault Andreas San on di it RA ogr re Fault Creek Rodgers bj in ve sc donq si he 22% wi is HW nf ec nt li te ri y, Fault 15 NC (predicted) en reg fr ll or ns ts be 82 6% 29 s, 16 24 th 9, 2, 3, om de He ce ,0 ma th ,3 an ,5 it 1, se ua 870 IS ,4 530 495 em io 185 173 COUNTY 48 yofe 54 20 93 pe .a ald 72 eU n. MARIN db CO ar the ke ti ba a Rafael San nd ap sbu on, at Rosa Santa De 101 th .S sc ui g. Pe fa ar uses qu on .G rg ca en ve ld in ul IL ta No th ak .g in lo cl ar eo tt lu h ty the qu 101 va ov ud gs. pe ma th es io ha lo 101 to ak /e eM SFO awr Fault Hayward sa dbyt gi LT n in ing ha tr Th ar (predicted) 15 pe eg uk on Quake ca a Mateo San 88 nd up 37 ki 14 5, 10,102 th od ea 1,046 lS 2, 1, ro of ,2 ,6 8% ,273 692 ng 559 tu he 616 qu lik 125 Francisco te if 65 36 70 mo ur und City Redwood Be re ra ied a Pablo San a Pablo San San Bay ak el vey unt HE d. rk c- i- OAK es Sonoma el Pal P Pa acm Fault Maacama 12 ey /. 33% oA oA onanView Mountain lto lto Bay Bay 280 A LEGEND MAP Lvl9) (Level Violent 8) (Level strong Very 7) (Level Strong level) scale (MMI severity Shaking Fr Fre GR re e emont AACOUNTY NAPA mo m awr Fault Hayward AT CLARA SANTA onto Ha 4 COUNTY 24 yw Va a Jose San ognHill Morgan 29 OU ll 780 ard 101 ejo Napa Creek Walnut 680 ulig eani place. in remain buildings of contents anchored well very Only panic. General notice db is Shaking broken. or shifted is Furniture shelves. and walls from thrown things Many structures on walk. Effects or stand to Difficult objects and people on Effects teigo asaffected. cars of Steering overturned. Furniture walls. and cabinets shelves, from thrown everything Nearly 16% 26% ND Ple P 580 ALAMEDA

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n porches. and Underground N cornices, masonry /T eChronicle he unbraced Some pipes W18 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

WHEN THERE IS NO POWER ELECTRICITY Tesla Powerwall 2 with rooftop solar panel cells IT UP IF This device, sold by electric car maker Tesla, is a wall-sized lithi- um-ion battery that is charged and PRICE recharged with electricity generat- ed by solar panels. The device, which can be attached to an exte- IS NO rior wall, is also available through Tesla’s SolarCity subsidiary. Cost: $5,500 each for a Power- OBJECT wall 2, which would generate enough power to cover up to a 1,100-square-foot home; two would generate enough for up to a Power and communica- 4,600-square-foot home. Tesla tions are two elements of recommends adding more Power- walls if you want to run the air modern life that we take conditioner and are charging an for granted, but both can electric vehicle, which actually easily disappear in a disas- might come in handy if gasoline ter. If you are still able to supplies are cut off. live in your house after an The catch: You’ll still need roof- Tesla top solar panels for the device to Tesla's Powerwall 2 is a big house battery that stores energy from solar panels. earthquake or other major work. But look at it this way: You disaster, but you have no can use them to save on your power, here are some rela- electricity bill, even if there’s not a COMMUNICATIONS tively inexpensive steps disaster. Satellite phones you can take, like buying a POWER GENERATORS Satellite Most of us are reliant on our telephones, whether mobile or phones like flashlight-radio recharged You could choose between a por- landline, and computers to communicate with friends and the Iridium table gasoline-powered backup by a hand crank and solar loved ones, and we expect them to work to summon help in an Extreme generator or a permanently in- emergency. But if cell phone networks are incapacitated, land- could be an panels. It would give you stalled generator, powered by lines are down and Wi-Fi is not available, phones that connect expensive some light and a one-way natural gas, propane or diesel, that to orbiting satellites might be the only option. way to automatically kicks in if power is communications channel. prepare for cut. Cost: Iridium has the largest constellation with 66 satellites, But if money is no ob- enough to make a call from atop Mount Everest. The top-of- the loss of ject, here are some other Cost: It varies wildly depending on the line Iridium Extreme 9575 allows voice calls, SMS texting phone lines. what your electrical needs are. and email messages, and costs $1,295 on satellite phone sites options: Iridium Honda has a wattage calculatorto like BlueCosmo.com. Other phones start in the neighborhood Communications estimate what kind of power gen- of $700, but that doesn’t include your monthly service plan erator you might need. For ex- and the charges per minute, per call. ample, running a house full of appliances — including refriger- ator, microwave, furnace fan, flat-screen TV, washer, dryer, air conditioner, computer, monitor, garage door opener and DVD Your smartphone player — at one time requires a Turn it into a satellite phone with a device like the recommended wattage of nearly Iridium Go, which creates a Wi-Fi hotspot connecting 23,000. up to five smartphones to the satellites. The connec- Home Depot’s website lists tion allows only one call at a time. It also supports portables starting as low as $120, email and texts, but only basic web browsing. but none meet the 23,000-watt Cost: $799 for the unit, plus additional monthly ser- requirement. Permanent genera- vice or prepaid data plans, activation fees and per-call tors are available for anywhere charges. from $1,900 to $17,000, although Iridium Communications a $10,000 model might meet the The Iridium Go connects The catch: Satellite phone equipment requires some wattage you’ll need to make ev- smartphones to orbiting form of power to charge the batteries. erything work in your house. communications satellites. — Benny Evangelista Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W19

Disaster Alert: Available as both a free iOS or APPS CAN HELP Android app and for PC web browser, Disaster Alert from Pacific Disaster Center in Hawaii maps active warnings and advisories of the most haz- SAVE DAY WHEN ardous quakes, hurricanes, cyclones, floods, wildfires, medical epidemics and other problems around the world. For an extra subscription fee, DISASTER HITS alerts can be customized by geography or type of hazard. The app uses technology from Kaazing of Santa Clara. Several smartphone apps became extremely popular during recent disasters, according to San Francisco mo- 1 www.pdc.org/solutions/tools bile apps analytics firm App Annie. It’s best to download these free apps before you need them. Here they are:

Zello: This app turns your smartphone, tablet First Aid by the American Red Cross: This app or PC into a two-way radio walkie-talkie. It was lists first-aid techniques for a variety of medical credited with creating ad hoc communications issues, such as broken bones, burns and concus- networks that proved invaluable to emergency sions, and recommends what to do before, dur- workers and community volunteers trying to ing and after emergencies like quakes, fires, help stricken Houston-area residents when floods, landslides, heat waves and volcano erup- Hurricane Harvey hit. It can also be useful for tions. The app also locates the nearest hospitals. finding family members. The app, which The Red Cross also has other apps for specific topped the Apple store and Google Play down- disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, load charts in September, works on Wi-Fi or tornadoes and floods, plus an all-in-one emer- even older GPRS and EDGE mobile wireless gency app that monitors more than 35 severe technologies. weather conditions. 1 https://zello.com/app 1 www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare -for-emergencies/mobile-apps

ICE (In Case of Emergency): The app lists GasBuddy: This crowdsourced app normally your emergency contacts and key medical helps drivers find the cheapest gasoline in information such as blood type, allergies and their area. Downloads of the app spiked in medication for doctors and first responders the weeks leading to Hurricane Irma as driv- to see on your smartphone’s lock screen. ers sought to find stations that still had both App Annie said this Android-only app is fuel and electricity to run the pumps. popular on the Google Play store, but there are similar ones available for Apple phones. 1 https://gasbuddy.com 1 http://bit.ly/2haPlSc

The Weather Channel: The app brings you Power Battery: Apps like this one from LionMo- the latest weather forecasts, but also pro- bi tell you what’s draining battery life, to help vides up-to-date tracking during severe reduce power consumption. Such apps could be weather events like hurricanes, tornadoes crucial if you need to stretch battery life if you and other storms. The Weather Channel has can’t recharge. App Annie said Power Battery is many versions available, including those for one of the most popular of its type, but only the Apple Watch, Apple TV, iMessage, An- works on Android. But there are similar ones droid phones and Windows PCs. available in the Apple store. 1 https://weather.com/apps 1 http://bit.ly/2aIjWBj — Benny Evangelista W20 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

TRAINING, TIPS TO KEEP PETS SAFE

Whether a home is TAGGING FIRST AID, FOOD AND shaking or burning, All pets should be identi- WATER man’s best friend fied with tags and, prefer- Keep a pet first aid kit, with (dogs) and man’s best ably, microchips. disinfectant, bandages, twee- zers and antibiotic ointment. friend’s occasional Keep a week’s worth of pet enemy (cats) need ten- food on hand, and periodically check its expira- TRANSPORTATION der loving care and tion date to make sure it’s usable. Canned food AND LODGING common sense from will keep longer than dry. Make sure to have Pets should be trained to BEHAVIOR: EXPECT plenty of extra water, more than you think you’ll their caretakers. Here THE UNEXPECTED ride in a car, perhaps even need. Pets (and people) drink more when under in a pet carrier. Remember, are tips for pet surviv- In an emergency, dogs stress. if you have to evacuate al in a disaster: tend to bolt and cats And, of course, have bowls, leash, can opener, your home, not all hotels tend to hide, as a general medicine, pet toys and plenty of cat litter, plastic and motels allow pets. rule. Be prepared for unusual behavior. If your bags or other cleanup gear on hand. In an emer- Make a list of those near dog behaves erratically when Fourth of July gency, with problems all around, no one wants your area that do. fireworks go off, expect much more of the to walk needlessly into another problem be- same during a quake or fire. cause of a thoughtless pet owner. — Steve Rubenstein

SHORE UP FINANCES BEFORE DISASTER HITS

Getting ready for a disaster doesn’t just mean keeping the weeds down, bracing your foun- dation and storing SAFEGUARD YOUR BREAK OUT THE KNOW YOUR COVERAGE QUAKE AND DOCUMENTS CAMERA Find out which perils are covered by your policy and how FLOOD extra food and wa- COVERAGE ter. It also means Keep a copy of your will, Your insurance will pay for much the company will pay to replace your home, con- trust, birth and marriage everything you lost as a tents and for additional living expenses if you can’t live in Your homeowners getting your finan- certificates, Social Secu- result of a covered “peril,” your home. Most policies will pay for losses from fire, or renters insur- cial house in order. rity cards, insurance down to aspirin in the smoke, wind, hail, water (excluding floods), vandalism and ance company For example, most papers, medical informa- medicine cabinet (up to theft. They do not cover losses caused by earthquakes and can provide a tion, most recent tax your policy limits of floods. Those perils require separate policies. National Flood people don’t think return, receipts for high- course). It’s easier to docu- Make sure you have replacement cost coverage. This will Insurance Policy much about their ticket items and other ment your losses if you pay to replace your building and contents — up to your and a quake pol- insurance policy important documents in take photos or videos of policy limits — with new ones of similar kind and quality. icy from the Cali- a safe deposit box. You everything in your home, Avoid actual cash-value policies, which pay only the de- fornia Earthquake until they need to can also scan and save garage and outbuildings. preciated value of what you lost. Authority or an- file a claim, and at them to a DVD or flash Shoot what’s inside your It’s good to have extended replacement cost coverage, other company. A that point it’s too drive, which you can give drawers, cabinets and which will pay a certain amount — 20 percent or more few companies late to wish you had to a trusted friend or closets, so it will be easy to depending on the insurer — above your policy limits. This sell stand-alone family member outside remember how many ties can help pay for the surge in local building costs that often earthquake (but more or better cov- the region. Another op- or wine glasses you had. follow a widespread disaster. Also opt for building code not flood) insur- erage. tion is to save them in Store photos/videos in the upgrades, which will pay an amount over your policy limit ance. Here are some the cloud. cloud for easy access from to comply with new code requirements. A guaranteed — Kathleen Pender anywhere. While you’re at replacement cost policy will pay to replace your house no For a list of vital docu- ways to shore up it, consider converting old matter what the cost, but these are not common and very ments: http://bit.ly/ your finances, and family photos and videos expensive. 2zqvZDy what to do after to a digital format that can Your insurer can tell you how much coverage you will be stored in the cloud. need to replace your home and structure, but for a second disaster hits. opinion, ask a local contractor how much it costs to build per square foot and multiply that by your home’s size. Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W21

LEARN HOW STAFF TO HELP YOUR Terry Robertson Editor NEIGHBORS Staff writers Kurtis Alexander Michael Cabanatuan Benny Evangelista In the event of a The Citizen Corps, which brings together local gov- Kevin Fagan

ernment, business and community leaders to prepare Kathleen Pender do disaster, trained vol- you need to Carolyn Said What for a disaster. before the next fire,flood unteers can make a IVE earthquake or More information on local chapters can be found on Steve Rubenstein TO SU RV big difference in Twitter @citizen_corps or online at www.citizen Jill Tucker HOW helping communities corps.fema.gov Danielle Mollette-Parks Art Director respond. Community Emergency Response Teams offer Two options to Designers training for individuals to respond to fires, earthquakes Anne Mellinger participate in these or other disasters. More than 6,000 individuals partici- Mike Massa types of volunteer pate in their communities. In San Francisco, the Fire Department organizes the free trainings for the city’s Graphic Artists Todd Trumbull ON THE COVER networks are: Neighborhood Emergency Response Team, or NERT. John Blanchard Illustration by John Blanchard For more information: www.ready.gov/community -emergency-response-team In San Francisco: http://sf-fire.org/neighborhood -emergency-response-team-nert — Jill Tucker

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Text ALERTSF to 888-777 to receive real time emergency alerts.

ALERTSF IS ASERVICE MANAGED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT W22 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle FLOODS A THREAT IN EVERY COUNTY

Last winter’s near-record rain underscored how much of 1 Seek high ground — with an 1 Do not walk or drive through flood- Lorin California is prone to flooding. emergency kit if you have one. water. Most flood-related drownings Doeleman uses a kayak 1 If time allows, secure your occur when someone drives into high While some spots expect it, such as along Sonoma County’s to check her home before leaving. Move water, according to the Centers for Dis- flooded home Russian River where residents buy canoes and build homes valuables upstairs or to higher ease Control and Prevention. The second in Guerneville on stilts, other places are far less prepared. High water came areas, disconnect electrical leading cause is walking into high water. in January appliances, tie down outside Turn around and go the other way. as a surprise to many of the 14,000 San Jose residents forced after heavy furniture and seal basement 1 Should your vehicle stall out, leave it. to evacuate near the city’s Coyote Creek in February. winter rains. vents. Don’t wait on the roof and become fod- Every California county has been declared a flood disaster 1 Consult a reliable weather der for the nightly news broadcast — or multiple times, according to the Public Policy Institute of source, such as a weather worse. However, if the water is rushing, California. And 1 in 5 Californians and more than $580 billion radio or www.weather.gov, and you have a sense that you’ll be swept away, stay put. of property remain vulnerable to flooding. about safe places to go and safe ways to get there. —Kurtis Alexander Should you get caught in a flood, here’s what to do: Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W23

John Storey / Special to The Chronicle 2012

1 Comply with emergen- 1 Await further in- A 2012 fire at WHEN TOXIC cy orders. Consult the fire struction before re- Chevron’s department, a reliable turning to your nor- Richmond media source or a public mal routine. refinery sent CHEMICALS safety alert system about The federal Emer- thousands to what to do. gency Planning and hospitals and Community Right-to- forced BART to 1 If you’re ordered to Know Act, passed in suspend ARE RELEASED evacuate, don’t panic. 1986, requires in- service. Let others in the building dustries to report Even amid California’s greening economy, the Bay Area know the situation, then what hazardous grab your wallet, phone materials they use. is still home to industrial plants, with the potential for a and keys, as well as your If you really want dangerous release of toxic chemicals. emergency kit if you have to be prepared, check Should a toxic material become airborne, authorities may one, and leave. out the inventory lists order evacuations of nearby homes, schools and businesses, 1 If you’re ordered to kept by county health agencies and local or they may ask people to shelter in place, depending on the shelter in place, close exterior doors and win- fire departments. substance and situation. Here’s what you should do: dows and move toward the center of the building. — Kurtis Alexander W24 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

FIRE OR QUAKE MEANS MOVING QUICKLY

Yo u’ve done all you can to retrofit the house, clear fire- safe space in your yard, jack the mobile home up above flood level. But that was just a start. The real test comes when the disaster actually hits. That’s when you have to wres- tle down the panic and act fast, whisking yourself and your loved ones to safety or hun- kering down the best way you can. And then — dig out and carry on. Which could mean everything from literally dig- ging yourself out of rubble and reconnecting with family to plotting how to get to work in a ravaged disaster zone. Navi- gating insurance agencies and construction bids to rebuild what you lost could become like a second job for you for Fred Larson / The Chronicle 1991 the next two years. Hosing down the roof, like this Oakland resident during the 1991 firestorm, should be tried only when there is adequate time and little wind.

So it’s down to this — IN THE EVENT OF FIRE IF YOU HAVE TIME AS THE EARTH the wildfire is rampaging AND WINDS AREN’T BEGINS TO SHAKE 1 Flee the minute calamity becomes imminent, and certain- toward your house or the HIGH, YOU MIGHT ly if you are told the evacuate. It takes only two minutes for TRY THIS: 1 “Drop, cover and hold on.” That earthquake is starting to fire to ignite a house and five minutes to engulf it. means, if you are inside, drop to the jerk furniture across the 1 Take your disaster kit — with important documents, first 1 Wet down the roof of floor, find cover under a heavy table, aid kit and survival supplies — with you. your house with a garden and hold on to that table until the room like ten pins. What hose. But emergency shaking ends. 1 Back your car into an open space to load it, leaving it now? officials say don’t try to be 1 If you are outside, dash away from pointed in the direction you plan to head. While you load, a hero. They don’t want to leave the doors unlocked and the key in the ignition. buildings or large trees to as open a waste time they could be space as you can find. 1 If the fire has hit your house before you’ve had time to using to fight the main fire 1 If you are driving, pull over to the escape, check the doorknob before you open it. If the knob to rescue you. side of the road. Avoid overpasses, is hot, the fire’s close on the other side of the door. Pick 1 Move combustible patio another exit. bridges, power lines and other things furniture inside, or at least that could tumble onto your car. 1 If you have to flee through a room on fire, crawl so you will on the other side of the 1 If it’s an epic quake, a tsunami might be below the smoke level. house from where the fire follow — so get to higher elevation is approaching, so flaming 1 Throw on a heavy coat to protect against burning embers. once the ground stops convulsing. embers have less to ignite. — Kevin Fagan Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W25

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle SURVIVING AFTERMATH OF A DISASTER

The wildfire, quake 1 If your house is livable, stay 1 If your home is unlivable and a hotel or 1 Take care of yourself. Evacuee Junior or flood has ravaged with it even if the utilities are out staying with relatives is not an option, go Consider counseling, Gomez, 11, rests because shelters might become to an emergency shelter quickly so you can stay healthy through with his your neighborhood, overcrowded. This is where your get situated, start reconnecting with family exercise and good diet, 2-month-old and you’re lucky to be survival kit will prove its worth, or work and begin applying for aid and get stay current with your puppy, Smoky, alive and intact. for food, water, first aid and the in contact with your home insurance agent. friends — in other at a Red Cross shelter after rest. 1 If you rent or decide not to replace your words, recognize you’ve That’s the most im- evacuating his 1 You may have turned off your house, prepare yourself for months of gone through an emo- portant thing. But the home with his gas, but if you smell or suspect a relocation arrangements — signing a new tional wringer, and let parents danger is not neces- leak don’t use matches, candles lease, getting new furniture or other be- yourself process the following the sarily over, and your or turn on any light switches longings, applying for insurance payments grief. Remember: To Tubbs Fire in (turning on any electric switch or governmental emergency assistance. If some extent, you will next steps will be Santa Rosa. can cause a spark) until you’re you are moving back into an apartment be rebuilding your life, trying. sure the gas danger is over. that was only partially damaged, the land- and that comes one slow step at a time. Here’s what experts 1 If you’re outside, never touch a lord is responsible for making it fit to live in — Kevin Fagan advise: downed power line. again — but not for the loss of your person- al property. W26 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

GETTING AROUND BAY AREA AFTER THE NEXT BIG ONE 10 MILES

The Bay Area’s next big earthquake will undoubtedly wreak havoc with the region’s transportation system. But where and how badly is a mystery. Point ReyesStation “There are so many variables,” said Jim Allison, a BART spokesman. “It’s not just the intensity of the quake but the location.” MARIN When Loma Prieta struck in 1989, the seismic forces snapped part of the east COUNTY span of the Bay Bridge, causing a section of the roadway to fall, killing one per- BART son and closing the bridge for more than a month. The upper level of a double- 1 BART will halt trains after a 1 deck section of Interstate 880 in Oakland, known as the Cypress Structure, col- major quake for an undetermined lapsed, leading to the deaths of 42 people. length of time to assess damage. BART shut down after the quake while crews inspected the system. But only If and when it seems safe, trains will proceed to the nearest station minor damage was discovered, and trains were running again by the next morn- and passengers will be let off. ing. 1 Trains in the Transbay Tube will Since then, all of the Bay Area’s major bridges have been bolstered, rebuilt or immediately proceed to the near- replaced; BART has strengthened its stations, above-ground tracks and the est station and passengers will be evacuated. Transbay Tube; and a regional ferry system — designed to play a major role in a 1 Downtown San Francisco sta- Golden Gate Bridge major earthquake — has been created. tions — Civic Center through Em- Here are some things to expect from the region’s transportation system after barcadero — will be evacuated, the next major earthquake: along with West Oakland Station.

BART stations

Major airports

Ferryterminals GETTING HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES FERRIES INFORMATION 1 Mare Island 1 The Bay Area’s two major ferry- then, it’s expected to suffer 1 Transportation offi- 1 All state-owned bridges have boat operators — Golden Gate 2 Vallejo some damage, though nothing cials will immediately been retrofitted to hold up Ferry and San Francisco Bay Ferry that would cause loss of lives. 3 Larkspur activate an emergency against an earthquake, though — will play a big role after a devas- operations center that they may still sustain damage 1 Highways and roads, espe- tating earthquake. 4 Tiburon will coordinate and requiring repairs. cially those nearest the bay — 1 San Francisco Bay Ferry is oper- 5 Sausalito communicate informa- including bridge approaches — 1 The new Bay Bridge is a life- ated by the Water Emergency tion. may be torn apart by the shak- line span considered strong Transportation Authority, which is 6 Pier 41 ing and barely usable. 1 Finding out which enough to withstand the largest also assigned the task of coordi- 7 Ferry Building roads and rail systems credible earthquake forces and 1 Immediately after an earth- nating how water transit responds are detoured, damaged, be usable by emergency work- quake, drivers should proceed to regional emergencies. 8 AT&T Park opened or closed will be ers within 48 hours of a quake if with caution and get off the 1 The authority will help people important, and the 511 not sooner. road as quickly as possible. 9 Jack London Square get to their homes across the bay service will be the best 1 Both ends of the Golden 1 On roadways that are signif- and work with the state Office of 10 Alameda source of information Gate Bridge have been retro- icantly damaged, Caltrans and Emergency Services on evacua- Main Street either by phone or web- fitted, but the suspension span the California Highway Patrol tions, transporting first responders site. 11 Harbor Bay in the center has not. Work is will set up barricades and de- and moving supplies. 1 If phone or Internet expected to begin within tours, and the information will 1 Golden Gate Ferry plans to run 12 South service is unavailable, months. be broadcast on local radio “load and go” service if necessary. San Francisco the best source of in- stations, and displayed, if 1 When retrofitting is complet- Boats will depart as soon as formation can be found they’re operable, on electronic ed, the Golden Gate will also be they’re full and return to pick up on old-fashioned, over- message signs and the 511 a lifeline span, quickly ready to more passengers. the-airwaves radio. website. carry emergency crews. Until — Michael Cabanatuan Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W27

SONOMA NAPA UBER, LYFT, 121 COUNTY COUNTUNTYY 80 12 SOLANO COUNTY 29 AIRBNB 680 37 Grizzly Bay TO SUPPLY Novato 1 oVallej 2 Antioch Bridge Mare San Pablo Bay Island 780 Suisun Bay HELP AFTER Carquinez Bridge Benicia 16016 Benicia-Martinez Bridge A DISASTER 101 Richmond- 4 Pittsburg/ PiPinP nonoolelee North Concord/ Anh tioc San Bay Point SanRafael Martinez Rafael Bridge 80 Uber, Lyft and Airbnb — the big three Concord on-demand services — all stand ready to BART help when widespread disaster strikes. 3 ClClaayytotonn ElE CerritoCerritCerrittood delelNoNorN Norteortrtet Pleasant HillHill Brentwood 580 HOW WILL RIDE-HAILING WORK Walnut Creek 4 AFTER A DISASTER? 24 Angel Uber and Lyft say they will offer free or dis- 4 Island NortNorthhB Berkelerkeleyrkelkelellleeyy Lafayette CONTRACOSTA counted rides to those in need during a disaster Orinda and its aftermath. Lyft specified those rides are 5 BayBridge AlAlaA amoammoo COUNTY Rockridge to shelters, hospitals and other designated emer- Embarcaderoadero MacArthur MoragaMorM agaa gency areas. The companies will suspend surge DaDanannvvililllele Los Vaqueros pricing, the higher rates they use to convince 6 7 13 Reservoir drivers to work when demand is high. Uber said it Montgomery Street West 9 Powell Street Oakland 10 will provide refunds to passengers who pay full 8 Upper SanSaanRRRaaammonoon Civic Center Fruitvale SanLeandro price (or surge prices before it was turned off) 16th Street ColiseumCo Reservoir immediately after a disaster. SANFRANCCICISSCOCO 680 24th Street San Leandro Glen Park 11 Lake Chabot WHAT IF BRIDGES OR FREEWAYS Balboa Park 580 Castro Valley ARE DOWN? Dublin/Pleasanton Oakland 580 Uber said it will alert its drivers and provide Daly City Bay Fair 101 International information from authorities about how they Colma Airport Livermore West Dublin/ Pleasanton might be affected. Hayward South SanFranciscissccoo 12 Pleasanton San Francisco Bay WHAT WILL MOTIVATE DRIVERS San Bruno South Hayward TO WORK IF THERE ISN’T SURGE ALAMEDACOUNTY Lake SanFrancisco PRICING? Pacifica 92 Del InternationalAirport Valle Uber said it will pick up the tab for a driver Millbrae Union City Sunol version of surge pricing. In other words, pas- sengers will pay standard, discounted or free Hillslsbsbboororourooughugghg SanMateo Bridge SanAntonio Reservoir rates, but drivers will make extra money by work- FoFFososststerteer CiC ty Fremont SanS n ing during disasters. Lyft did not respond. MMatMaatteoeo 84 Newarkwwark WHAT IF CELL SERVICE IS DOWN? 1 BeBelB llmmonmoontnt 880 Uber requires cell service to function and Warm Springs/South Fremont would be taken out of action. Lyft did not re- Redwood City spond. DumbartonBridge Half Moon Bay 280 Calaveras MenloParkark Reservoir HOW DOES AIRBNB RESPOND oPaloAlt TO DISASTERS? SANMATEO sMiMillppiittaas 101 SANTACLARA Through a program called Open Homes, COUNTUNTYY 82 237 COUNTY Airbnb offers its website and customer support Pacific Norman Mineta to folks who’d like to provide free short-term Ocean PortolaValley MountainView SanJoseInternational housing to people displaced by disasters and Airport Sunnyvale 680 relief workers. It contacts hosts in and near im- SantaClara pacted areas to ask if they have extra space to Sae nJos spare. New hosts can also sign up during disas- Cuo pertinino ters to provide free housing. Airbnb waives its 84 280 booking fees for both hosts and guests.

Todd Trumbull /The Chronicle — Carolyn Said W28 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017 HOW TO RECONNECT

1 Parents should ask child care 1 Try texting if calls aren’t 1 Call people your missing WITH LOVED providers or schools what their going through. loved ones are close to — other policy is for when a catastrophic friends or relatives who might disaster hits and whom they’ll need know where they are. ONES WHO to call if children need to be moved. GO MISSING

Disasters aren’t predictable. Fires don’t fol- low the rules. And earthquakes shake up the best-laid plans. 1 For tracking down missing loved 1 Check social media — 1 Check in with their neighbors, That can mean family members might not ones, persistence matters. There Facebook, Twitter, Instagram employer, school or church — any- may be several roadblocks before — to see if they are online. where they usually hang out or be able to meet at prearranged points or call one contact method pans out. spend time. that out-of-state relative for status updates. When that’s the case, the Red Cross encourag- es people in a disaster to use its national web- site or contact local chapters to check in as safe and well or to find someone who’s miss- ing.

But finding missing or displaced family and 1 Try calling the people you’re 1 Email. Even if a phone is 1 For those in distant locations, try friends after a devastating event can be over- searching forduring off-peak gone, those who are miss- sending a snail-mail letter that has whelming and confusing. hours, when the working lines are ing might still be able to a good chance of getting forwarded less clogged. log on to a computer. if the person missing has relocated. Here are a few tips that may help: — Jill Tucker

DON’T DELAY PLACES TO TURN Contact your insurance agent as soon as possible to start a claim. If you have to move out of your house, most policies will pay for living expenses up to a certain amount of money and time. You can usually get an advance to cover temporary FOR ASSISTANCE housing, food and other immediate needs. If you believe your insurance company is not treating you fairly, file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance and consider hiring a public adjuster So your life has been upended by a disaster. There are to represent you. If the treatment is egregious, consider hiring an attorney. plenty of places you can turn for help, but it pays to act as soon as you can. Here are some avenues you can take: TAX RELIEF If your home is damaged or destroyed, you may be eligible for property tax relief. FEDERAL ASSISTANCE File a claim with your county assessor’s office within 12 months. The assessor See if you qualify for individual assistance from the can reappraise the property in its current condition and potentially refund some Federal Emergency Management Agency. You could be taxes. When you rebuild, the value of your property before it was damaged will be eligible if your loss is part of a presidentially declared restored. Also check with the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board to see if disaster. FEMA can provide grants and low-interest they have extended tax-filing deadlines for disaster victims. loans to cover uninsured losses, up to certain limits. For more information: www.fema.gov/individual-disaster -assistance UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS If you lose your job as a direct result of a presidentially declared disaster area MORTGAGE RELIEF and are not eligible for regular state unemployment benefits, you could qualify for up to six months of unemployment benefits from a federally funded program If you have a mortgage, contact your loan servicer. You called Disaster Unemployment Assistance. For more information: http://bit.ly/ can usually get at least a 90-day moratorium on pay- 2A73NCO ments, temporary relief from foreclosure activity and other possible assistance. — Kathleen Pender Sunday, November 19,2017 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | W29

For those who want to dig further, here’s where to find VITAL RESOURCES supplemental disaster preparation and safety information:

WILDFIRES EARTHQUAKES DURING AND AFTER A FIRE, QUAKE OTHER USEFUL 1 www.readyforwildfire.org/Prepare Living in earthquake country OR OTHER DISASTER TECHNOLOGY -Your-Family 1 https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/ Wildfires 1 www.amazon.com/dp/ 1 http://bit.ly/2yWc3Ek 2005/15/gip-15.pdf 1 www.readyforwildfire.org/Evacuation-Steps B06XCY92JV 1 www.readyforwildfire.org/Defensible 1 www.readyforwildfire.org/What 1 www.tesla.com/ -Space Survival kits -To-Do-If-Trapped powerwall 1 Understand your risk. Cal Fire main- 1 www.sf72.org/supplies 1 www.tesla.com/solar Fire recovery tains maps of areas prone to wildfire, 1 www.ready.gov/build-a-kit panels 1 http://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8386.pdf and cities and counties are required to 1 http://bit.ly/2lYtJxJ 1 http://powerequipment 1 www.usfa.fema.gov/down keep safety plans that contain proce- .honda.com/generators/ Preparing your home loads/pdf/publications/fa_46.pdf dures for evacuations and communica- wattage-calculator 1 http://resilience.abag.ca.gov/ 1 www.apa.org/helpcenter/residential-fire.aspx tions. 1 http://powerequipment. housing/homeowners/steps 1 www.fire.ca.gov/fire_prevention/ honda.com/generators/ 1 www.earthquakebracebolt.com/ Quakes fire_prevention_wildland_zones_maps wattage-calculator HomeownerRegistration 1 www.earthquakecountry.org/ dropcoverholdon 1 www.bluecosmo.com Family resources 1 www.ready.gov/earthquakes FAMILY FIRE SAFETY 1 “Trinka and Sam: The Day the 1 www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare Earth Shook,” a children’s book: -for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/ Preparation www.nctsnet.org/products/ earthquake#Before 1 www.redcross.org/get-help/how trinka-and-sam-day-earth-shook 1 www.conservation.ca.gov/index/ -to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of 1 Sesame Street Emergency Pre- Earthquakes/Pages/qh_earthquakes_what.aspx -emergencies/fire paredness Toolkit: 1 http://sparkyschoolhouse.org/ www.sesamestreet.org/toolkits/ Regrouping app/uploads/2017/07/FPW17 ready 1 Check in as safe and well with the Red Cross: ParentLetter1.pdf 1 Family Earthquake Preparedness https://safeandwell.communityos.org/ Checklist: zf/safe/add Information for children, parents and www.uclahealth.org/workfiles/ 1 Search for a family member via the Red teachers emergency/eq_familyprep.pdf Cross: 1 www.firefacts.org https://safeandwell.communityos.org/ Pet safety zf/safesearch/search Preschooler fire safety 1 www.aspca.org/pet-care/general- 1 Family finder phone apps: 1 www.naeyc.org/tyc/article/fire pet-care/disaster-preparedness www.life360.com/family-locator -safety http://mamabearapp.com

HOW TO STAY INFORMED

A major disaster may knock out power, and Internet and phone If you’ve managed to maintain Internet service along with it, leaving you with little access to the outside service, a few websites may be helpful: world. That was the case for much of Sonoma County during U.S. Geological Service for earthquakes: the recent wildfires. In these situations a battery-powered radio 1 https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ is your best way to get information on what’s going on. earthquakes/map/ Cal Fire for wildfires: 1 www.fire.ca.gov/current_incidents Tune in to AM radio. In the Bay Consider buying an emergency Area, KGO 810, KCBS 740 and KNBR radio. The radio includes channels Nixle for local public safety details: 680 carry regular news updates, and that regular AM-FM radios don’t 1 www.nixle.com/ each is set up to run emergency in- get, including essential weather Social media sites for information on formation broadcasts from local and disaster broadcasts from the friends and family. authorities. During a disaster, the city National Oceanic and Atmospher- of San Francisco will sound its warn- ic Administration. To find your And reliable news sources, such as ing sirens, which is a cue to listen in local NOAA station, visit: 1 www.sfchronicle.com and to the emergency info. (The sirens http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/ 1 www.sfgate.com Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle are tested at noon every Tuesday.) coverage/stations.php?State=CA — Kurtis Alexander W30 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017

NUMBERS TELL STORY OF DEATH, SURVIVAL

FIRES QUAKES 9.2

The magnitude of the largest record- ed earthquake in U.S. history. It The number of times The number of people struck Prince William Sound, Alaska, per year a family who die in house fires in on March 28, 1964. 2 should practice a fire 7 the U.S. every day. 2 to 3 escape plan. The average number of earthquakes in California per year large enough to cause some property damage. 72%

The probability, or likelihood, of at least one earthquake of magnitude 6.7 or greater striking somewhere in the Bay Area before 2043. Earth- quakes of this magnitude are capa- The number of min- The frequency ble of causing widespread damage. utes it can take for a in years that 5 house to become fully 10 your smoke The number of significant engulfed once a fire detectors need earthquake-producing has broken out. to be replaced. 8 faults in the Bay Area: the Hayward, Calaveras, Con- 3 cord-Green Valley, Green- ville, Rodgers Creek, San The number of days of food, Andreas, Mount Diablo, water and medical supplies you The percentage of and San Gregorio. should have stored to survive U.S. wildfires started after a major quake. 90 by humans.

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DISASTER CHECKLIST Things you should do before and after a disaster strikes

BEFORE B Download this guide as a PDF (see page 2 for instructions) B Download apps that will be useful during an emergency (page 19) B Research where to find emergency information, including radio stations, social networks, websites and public safety alerts B Microchip your pets B Take photos of your belongings B Review and update your insurance coverages B Make copies of your important documents and store them in a safe place or on the cloud B Replace the batteries in your smoke detectors at least twice a year B Replace your smoke detectors at least once every 10 years B Check your fire extinguishers and make sure they and other firefighting tools are easily accessible B Pack emergency survival kits for your home and car — don’t forget items for your pets (pages 10 and 12) B Plan and practice family escape routes from your home, including a meeting place (page 9) B Have family discussions about safe places in the home in case of an earthquake B Assign family members responsibilities during an emergency, such as contacting other family members, turning off the gas and gathering pets B Know where your gas shutoff valve is and have necessary tools easily accessible B Maintain a defensible zone around your home (page 6) B Notify PG&E if you notice unsafe power lines B Identify combustible building materials and avoid or replace them if possible B Prepare your home to survive a massive quake (page 14) B Consider buying alternate power and communication devices

AFTER B Contact your insurance provider and start a claim as soon as possible B Seek federal assistance, mortgage relief, tax relief and unemployment benefits B Never touch downed power lines B Consider counseling as you rebuild your life B Reach out to family — for your sake and theirs W32 | SanFrancisco Chronicle and SFChronicle.com | Sunday, November 19,2017