QuakePrepare

Can You Trust PG&E?

Larry Guillot — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 23:55:08 +0000

It’s no secret: PG&E doesn’t like automatic gas shut-off valves, even though their “official” position is neutral. And no, I’m sure they don’t want your house to go up in flames. However, most PG&E employees tell people (almost always this exact verbiage): “Don’t get one of those, a garbage truck going down your street will set it off.”

Many years ago, the first automatic gas shut-off valves were calibrated too low, and would activate at around a 3.6 quake. So PG&E had a lot of nuisance calls from folks wanting their pilots re-lit after mild quakes.

They are not stupid folks at PG&E – they must know that the current valves are set to activate at around 5.2 (by state law). We invite them to start telling the truth and encourage people to make their homes safer with automatic gas shut-off valves.

Our automatic gas shut-off valves are still $199.

Til later, be safe.

-Larry

QuakePrepare
Larry Guillot
707-965-3299
http://www.quakeprepare.com

Youre Retrofit – How Good Is It?

Larry Guillot — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 15:57:36 +0000

Do you feel safer because your house has had a retrofit? Unfortunately, you may have a false sense of security: a highly respected east bay retrofitter says that fully 30% of his business is repairing retrofits that were incomplete or incorrectly done.

But yours is different because the work was inspected? This doesn’t mean much: no retrofit building code has been adopted by any city in the Bay Area.

Bottom line: get your retrofit inspected by a qualified contractor, engineer, or private inspection service (feel free to call me for recommendations: 707-965-3299).

Will your home survive?

Larry Guillot — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:26:50 +0000

How Good Is Your Retrofit?

Area governments say that 150,000 homes in the bay area are going to be uninhabitable after the Hayward Fault ruptures, the fault that USGS seismologist Tom Brocher says “Is locked and loaded and ready to fire.” The retrofitted houses are the ones that will survive.

Bottom line: get your retrofit inspected. Feel free to get in touch if you need recommendations.

Larry Guillot

707-965-3299
http://www.quakeprepare.com
larry@quakeprepare.com

What’s Under Your Bed?

Larry Guillot — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:22:47 +0000

If a major quake hits while you’re in bed, you’ll be thanking yourself if you have a:

flashlight – your power will almost assuredly be out
pair of shoes – many post-quake injuries are feet cut by walking on broken glass and mirrors
crow bar – if your house has sustained damage, some doors may not open and will have to be pried open

Still not secured? Don’t be scared, be prepared: if you know what furniture is ready to injure you:

SECURE IT! It’s cheap, whether you do it yourself, or hire someone.

Larry Guillot

707-965-3299
http://www.quakeprepare.com
larry@quakeprepare.com