Emergency Supplies Checklist

Preparing Your Family

Tips for
Preparing Children

Tips for the
Physically Challenged

Tips for the Elderly

Tips for Apartment and Mobile Home Managers

Organizing Your Neighborhood

Tips for Pet Owners

How To Secure
Your Furniture

How To Strap Your Water Heater

Secure Tabletop Objects

• TVs, stereos, computers, lamps and chinaware can be secured with buckles and safety straps attached to the tabletop (which allows for easy movement of the units when needed) or with hook and loop fasteners glued to both the table and the unit.
• Glass and pottery objects can be secured with nondrying putty or microcrystalline wax.

Secure Items in Your Kitchen

• Use child-proof latches, hook and eye latches or positive catch latches, designed for boats, to secure your cabinet doors.
• Make sure your gas appliances have flexible connectors to reduce the risk of fire.
• Secure your refrigerator to prevent movement.

Anchor Your Furniture

• Secure the tops of all top-heavy furniture such as bookcases and file cabinets to the wall. Be sure to anchor to the stud, not just to the plasterboard. Flexible fasteners such as nylon straps allow tall objects to sway without falling over, reducing the strain on the studs.

Protect Yourself from Broken Glass

• Replace your windows with ones made from safety glass or cover them with a strong shatter-resistant film. Be sure you use safety film and not just a solar filter.

Secure Overhead Objects

• Ceiling lights and fans should be additionally supported with a cable bolted to the ceiling joist. The cable should have enough slack to allow it to sway.
• Framed pictures, especially glass-covered, should be hung from closed hooks so that they can't bounce off. Only soft art such as tapestries should be placed over beds and sofas.