Of course, we all hope it never happens: The Big One. Seismologists have been warning Utah residents about the possibility of a major earthquake for so long that at this point that it’s easy to become complacent about preparing for it. But the warnings are legitimate: according to the Utah Geological Survey, chances of a magnitude 7.0 or higher temblor along the Wasatch Front stands at roughly 25%. The probability of smaller quakes that can still cause considerable damage is much higher. Statistics aside, preparing your home for such an occurrence just makes good common sense. Here are 7 tips.

1. Secure your water heater: You can do this by strapping the tank to a wall stud and bolting the bottom of the container to the floor.
2. Fasten book shelves to the wall: Heavy falling objects are a hazard to your family’s safety. You can prevent shelving systems from toppling by bolting them in a few places to wall studs.
3. Be conscious of how you store loose items: Placing heavy boxes on the tops of shelves is a dangerous practice, earthquake or no earthquake. Always put heavy items stored on shelves or in closets at the lowest possible level.
4. Know where your utility shut-offs are: The greatest safety hazard is not usually the quake itself– it’s what happens afterwards. To prevent fires or flooding, know where the main shut-offs are located for gas, electricity and water.
5. Keep home systems in good repair: Faulty electrical wiring or leaky connections in your gas line can cause a lot of trouble following a temblor. If you’ve been putting off these repairs, now is the time to take care of them once and for all.
6. Shore up your home’s foundation: A certain amount of settling is natural within a few years after a new home’s construction. However, if your foundation has deep cracks it may aggravate damage done to your structure during a quake. If you have concerns, bring in a professional to do an assessment.
7. Check your homeowners’ policy: Most standard insurance policies do not cover earthquake damage; such coverage must be purchased separately. Make sure you have all you bases covered BEFORE disaster strikes.

For more detailed information about earthquake damage prevention, visit the FEMA website or contact your Utah disaster cleanup specialists at UDK.