Comparison of Earthquakes in Chile and Haiti Shows Value of Preparation

Julian Construction Points to Building Codes as a Key Factor that Minimized Tragedy in Chile and Devastated Haiti.

Founder of Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), Julian De La Torre, was stunned by the vastly different outcomes of the two natural disasters. “Chile’s earthquake was 500 times more powerful than Haiti’s, yet less than 1000 people died compared to more than 220,000 in Haiti.” De La Torre said. “Chile is used to earthquakes and has experienced huge events within the last 50 years, resulting in rigorous building codes that kept most buildings from collapse. Haiti’s last big earthquake was 250 years ago and it is reported there are no building codes there at all. Experience and preparation made an enormous difference.”

Chile’s quake was also centered deeper and further away from population areas, both favorable factors for survival of both people and architecture. Chile’s emergency services have been in place and were in evidence at once – this kind of natural disaster was not new to them. Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, had no planning in place.

“California also has good building codes designed to prevent building collapse and minimize damage from earthquakes.” Julian continued. “But much of our housing stock and a considerable number of commercial buildings predate these codes and so are at risk. The anchoring of the structure to the foundations of the building is a common area of vulnerability. It is also our area of expertise.”

Julian Construction is offering an inspection of your home’s foundation at no charge. For those who need to finance any needed repair or retrofit, Julian Construction offers 0% financing.

Julian De La Torre has been retrofitting since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Mr. De La Torre formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model - no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com.

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Pico Rivera 4.4. Magnitude Earthquake Prompts Offer of Free Foundation Inspection

Julian Construction Wants Southern California’s Homeowners to be Prepared for the Next One

 

LOS ANGELES: Founder of Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), Julian De La Torre, breathed a sigh of relief when this week’s earthquake, centered near Pico Rivera eleven miles east of Los Angeles civic center, turned out to be minor, resulting in little damage. “It is a wake-up call for home owners and property managers who are not certain of the strength of their foundations.” Julian said. “We live on top of an active seismic area and the time to prepare is before the earth starts shaking the next time.”

 

Areas of concern include the security of the attachment of a building to its foundations and how well the floors are tied down. Julian Construction will inspect at no charge. “Chile was so much better prepared than Haiti for earthquakes, resulting in far less damage and loss of life. The next earthquake may not be only a 4.4 so I urge you to get an inspection so that you can be prepared,” Julian stated.

 

Julian Construction also offers 0% financing for those who need to finance their any needed repair or retrofit. 

 

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting and foundation repair since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model - no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com.

 

Posted via web from julianconstruction's posterous

Pico Rivera 4.4. Magnitude Earthquake Prompts Offer of Free Foundation Inspection

Julian Construction Wants Southern California’s Homeowners to be Prepared for the Next One

 

LOS ANGELES: Founder of Julian Construction (www.julianconstruction.com), Julian De La Torre, breathed a sigh of relief when this week’s earthquake, centered near Pico Rivera eleven miles east of Los Angeles civic center, turned out to be minor, resulting in little damage. “It is a wake-up call for home owners and property managers who are not certain of the strength of their foundations.” Julian said. “We live on top of an active seismic area and the time to prepare is before the earth starts shaking the next time.”

 

Areas of concern include the security of the attachment of a building to its foundations and how well the floors are tied down. Julian Construction will inspect at no charge. “Chile was so much better prepared than Haiti for earthquakes, resulting in far less damage and loss of life. The next earthquake may not be only a 4.4 so I urge you to get an inspection so that you can be prepared,” Julian stated.

 

Julian Construction also offers 0% financing for those who need to finance their any needed repair or retrofit. 

 

Julian De La Torre has been doing earthquake retrofitting and foundation repair since the early 1990s and has personally worked on over 6,600 homes in Southern California. With this unmatched experience in the substructure areas of a home, Julian formed Julian Construction in 2001 with the goal of making safer homes, apartments and commercial properties throughout Southern California. His partner Shawn Kyles has inspected over 15,000 structures, working with both engineering firms and local departments of building and safety, and is an expert in foundation repair and house bolting. Julian Construction owns its own company and is built on a “no middlemen” model - no salesmen, no subcontractors. When you work with Julian Construction you get the principals of the company and workers of Julian Construction under your home. The result is the highest quality work at affordable prices. They can be contacted by phone at 323 733-3377, by fax at 323 733-4477 or via their website, www.julianconstruction.com.

 

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Surviving an Earthquake: Fallacy, Legends and the Actual Truth

By: Brittany Kyles

Securing the foundations of homes and buildings through retrofitting gives those who reside there have a much greater chance of survival during a large earthquake.

As children we were taught protective measures in school of what to do if an earthquake were to erupt. However, many of these so-called safety precautions prove detrimental and even life threatening during large earthquakes.

Doug Copp, the rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International provided necessary tips and measures to take during an earthquake. Copp has crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings and homes, and has worked on rescue teams in over 60 countries. He witnessed one of the worst earthquakes in Mexico City during 1985, where every child in a school was killed in a sudden earthquake.

In the U.S. and many other countries, students have been informed since childhood that during an earthquake one must crawl under a desk and cover their head. According to Copp, this is one of the least protective measures one can take and many times will result in death.

Copp states that in Mexico, “Every child was under their desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles.” Copp reveals that this devastation could have been avoided if the children were placed in what he calls is the “triangle of life,” yet, he later found out that the children were instructed to crawl under their desks.

The “triangle of life” reveals that during large disasters the space between large objects are the safest places to position oneself because the weight of the objects surrounding such as desks, chairs, beds etc. will hold the falling ceiling and bricks and create a small spot that will be protected from falling ruins.

Furthermore, Copp issued ten tips for earthquake safety, which if followed, can be life saving techniques during an earthquake.

1. “Most everyone who simply ‘ducks and covers’ when buildings collapse are crushed to death” and “people who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.”

2. Animals and babies, when in danger crawl into the fetal position. It is a natural instinct and by doing so during a disaster, you are more likely to survive in a smaller “void.” In the fetal position one should, “Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it” (Copp).

3. Wooden buildings have proved to be the safest during an earthquake because the wooden structures are flexible and can move with the force of the earthquake.

4. “If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed” (Copp).

5. If during an earthquake you cannot escape out of the structure lie in fetal position near a large object.

6. Standing under a doorway is not a safe place and “Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed” (Copp).

7. Never seek safety in a stairwell because, “people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads and horribly mutilated” (Copp).

8. During an earthquake one should stand near the outer walls of a building or outside the building itself. “The further inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater probability that your escape route will be blocked” (Copp).

9. During an earthquake get out of your vehicle and lie near its side, most people whom remain in their cars are crushed.

10. “Larger voids are found surrounding stacks of paper”(Copp).

By following these ten safety measures during a large earthquake one should be able to seek refuge and survive the disaster with minimal injuries.

Doug Copp, Rescue Chief wants to help spread the word of how to survive these unpredictable natural disasters that for many result in death, devastation or serious injury. By taking the right precautions such as securing one’s home and building foundations, and practicing the right safety measures during an earthquake, such as lying next to a large object, the chances of survival are optimal. It's also important to have your home foundation inspected, and to have any needed earthquake retrofitting or foundation repair done. With the recent devastation in Haiti, we as a society should use all the resources and knowledge we can in order to prevent loss, injury and even death.

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