Earthquake Property Protection: Practical How-To Guides for Securing Buildings, Equipment, and Utilities (FEMA)
This collection of practical guidance flyers, published by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides step-by-step instructions for homeowners, building managers, and facility staff on how to protect property and reduce earthquake-related damage through structural and non-structural mitigation measures. The series covers a wide range of actions that can be taken before an earthquake strikes, from securing everyday household items to reinforcing critical building components and utility connections. Each guide in the series is designed to be accessible to general audiences while noting where professional contractors or licensed maintenance staff should be engaged.
The collection includes nine individual how-to guides covering the following topics: restraining desktop computers and appliances; properly anchoring large equipment; bracing cripple walls; securely mounting framed pictures and mirrors; bolting sill plates to foundations; anchoring tall bookcases and file cabinets; installing flexible connections on gas and water lines; anchoring and bracing propane tanks and gas cylinders; and installing latches on drawers and cabinet doors. Each guide addresses a specific vulnerability commonly associated with earthquake damage, providing concise, actionable instructions that can meaningfully reduce injury risk and property loss when implemented prior to a seismic event.
Taken together, the guides reflect a non-structural mitigation approach to earthquake preparedness — recognizing that a significant share of earthquake-related injuries, deaths, and economic losses result not from building collapse but from falling objects, toppling furniture, ruptured utility lines, and secondary hazards such as fire from damaged gas connections. By addressing these risks through low-cost, preventive actions, the series supports community resilience and individual preparedness at the household and facility level.