Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Disaster Preparedness: What Renters Need to Know
Gradiva CouzinBerkeley CERT volunteer
Email: [email protected]: @berkeleyCERT
facebook.com/berkeleyCERT
Phot
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SGS
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Prepareness is for EVERYONE
Disaster preparedness is only for owners
Myth RealityThe majority of recommended preparedness actions can be done by renters
Preparedness is mostly about making your home structurally safer
Preparedness is mostly good planning and habits not related to your home structure
The biggest risk in an earthquake is the building falling down
Most injuries are from your own stuff falling; your well-being also depends on maintaining comfort and normalcy.
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Disaster Preparedness challenges faced by renters:
Disaster Preparedness Challenges Faced By Renters
Not as much control over your physical environment
After a disaster: risk of landlord taking advantage of damage to reclaim rent-controlled units
Limited space to store disaster supplies
More likely to live in soft-story structures
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Disaster Preparedness advantages for by renters:
Disaster Preparedness Advantages for Renters
No loss of equity in structural damage
Flexibility to move to an area not affected by disaster
Renter’s insurance is lower cost (though still pricey)
Multi-unit building creates natural community
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Renters: Improving Your Home Preparedness/Safety
Home Hazard Hunt for renters
But this doesn’t look like my place!
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Renters: Improving Your Home Preparedness/Safety
Home Hazard Hunt for renters
But this doesn’t look like my house!
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Renters: Improving Your Home Preparedness/Safety
Improving Home Hazards
Improve what you can without putting holes in walls
Use sample letters to request other changes from landlord
Do not make any changes that could give the landlord a legal cause to evict (especially important if you have rent control). Get written permission first.
Move heavy items away from bedsStrap TV to furniture
Strap water heaterPermission to brace shelves, cabinets, etc.Anything else you found in the hazard hunt
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Sample letters
Always get permission in writing!
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Renters: Improving Your Home Preparedness/Safety
Know how to turn off gas & waterOnly turn it off if there is a leak
Talk to your apartment manager about posting emergency procedures
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Renters: Improving Your Home Preparedness/Safety
Where to put a disaster kit You can fit a lot in a 5 gallon bucket!• in a locked storage bin in a shared
outdoor yard, courtyard, or parking area
• on your balcony• under your bed• in the trunk of your car• in a garage, if you’re sure you’ll be
able to access it
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
In a multi-story building:
Safety in an earthquake
Stay inside until the shaking stops. Do not use the elevator. If you are in an elevator during an
earthquake, hit the button for every floor and get out as soon as you can.
In a large apartment building the safest place in an earthquake is by the central reinforced core of the building, which is usually located by the elevator well.
If there is someone in your household who can’t use stairs, think now about an evacuation plan.
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
If your home is damaged:
After Disaster Strikes: Protect Your Rights
If the building is red-tagged, don’t enter it – the landlord or apartment manager doesn’t have the right to overrule a red tag.
If you need to move, CA price gouging laws apply to rental prices
Document every agreement with your landlord in writing. If you have to vacate temporarily for repairs, get a written relocation agreement.
Renters can seek financial assistance for relocation costs & property damage from FEMA or SBA (often these are loans, not grants).
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Do you live in a soft story structure?
Soft Story Structures
Open first floor – often parking or retail
At a higher risk in earthquakes
Oakland, Berkeley, and SF have retrofit requirements for some soft story structures
Structures covered by the law are listed online.
Did your landlord disclose to you? Photo: SF City & County
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Your Action Checklist
Home hazard hunt. Do what you can! Get written permission before making any holes/alterations.
Disaster supplies, even if it’s a compact version. Food, water, hygiene, light, entertainment, comfort.
Family communication plan
Financial preparedness; insurance?
Know your surroundings: emergency exits, gas shut-off
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
More Resources
http://resilience.abag.ca.gov/wp-content/documents/OaklandSoftStoryMap2013.pdf
http://www.cityofberkeley.info/prepare/activity-guides/
https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/3261
Oakland Soft Story Program
Berkeley Soft Story Program
Berkeley CERT Activity Guides(includes sample renter letters)
FEMA home hazard hunt
Earthquake Ins. For Rentershttp://www.earthquakeauthority.com/insurancepolicies/renters
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/softstory/
Oakland, California October 24, 2015
Your Questions!
Gradiva CouzinBerkeley CERT volunteer
Email: [email protected]: @berkeleyCERT
facebook.com/berkeleyCERT