Know Your Risk - Introduction

Know Your Risks | Topics | To Do > Make A Plan

Think about the damage an earthquake might cause. If you can't recover from it, you need to reduce the chances of it happening at all. That's mitigation. This web site will help you take steps to reduce, or mitigate, your potential losses, to make your recovery faster and easier, and keep you in business.

What’s at risk? Earthquakes can threaten your safety, your investment, and the ongoing viability of your business.

Safety is paramount, so you should take steps to ensure that everyone – your staff, clients, and guests – can ride out an earthquake and exit your building safely. Standards and guidelines are available to help.

But safety during the earthquake does not ensure that your business will operate after the shaking stops. Repair costs, lost inventory, or disrupted operations can all affect your bottom line. Some safety measures will limit costly damage, but QuakeSmart looks beyond basic safety to focus also on the “dollars and downtime” risks.

Your building has three potential sources of risk: its structure, its nonstructural components, and your contents and furnishings. Damage to any of these can lead to earthquake losses. In addition, externalities -- conditions outside your building and largely outside your control -- can affect your business.

Which sources contribute most to your earthquake risk? In which areas might you be especially vulnerable? Every business is a little bit different. The following table might be helpful in thinking about your risks.

Potential losses	Sources of risk
Potential losses	Structure	Nonstructural components	Contents and furnishings	Externalities
Death or injury	· Collapse-prone structure types · Unreinforced brick parapets · Collapse induced by ground failure	· Brick chimneys · Exterior falling hazards: ornament, roofing, etc. · Interior falling hazards: Ceilings, light fixtures, equipment · Gas-fired equipment or hazardous materials	· Tall or heavy furniture · Storage racks · Trade furnishings and equipment · Contents that fall or slide to block exits	· Adjacent collapse-prone structures · Adjacent falling hazards · Adjacent or nearby hazmat release or fire hazard
Repair costs & direct losses	· Collapse or damage-prone structure types · Damage from ground failure	· Damageable finishes · Unbraced ceilings, lights, equipment, etc. · Sprinkler or piping leaks	· Unbraced office equipment or trade furnishings · Fragile or perishable inventory · Vulnerable electronic records and data	· Damage from adjacent fire, collapse, etc.
Business disruption	· Damage causing restricted use	· Loss of water, wastewater, power · Loss of data/telecom · Damage requiring extensive cleanup · Damage causing restricted use	· Damage requiring extensive cleanup · Damage causing restricted use · Damage interfering with business records or transactions	· Loss of customer or client base · Loss of vendor or supplier support · Loss of key staff · Loss of utilities, data/internet, infrastructure, or city services

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