Preparing for the worst

Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma, as well as recent fires in Southern California, have heightened public consciousness about emergency preparedness. A look at some precautions:

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Wildfires

One of the most effective measures in protecting homes against fires is to clear brush and other flammable vegetation from within 200 feet of your home -- a requirement mandated by the city of Los Angeles. Other measures:

- Use fire-resistant building material such as metal and slate for your roof or shutters.

- Install a spark arrestor in your chimney.

- Clean roof and gutters regularly.

- Stack firewood away from the house.

- Safety radius: Clear all highly flammable vegetation within a 200-foot radius of the house.

- Avoid flammable landscaping including pines, palms, bougainvillea and pampas.

- Trim tree limbs near the house.

Preparing for escape

People usually have about five minutes to escape a burning house, so planning ahead is essential. Here are some steps to take in advance:

- Make sure all windows can open and close.

- Plan an escape route, with two ways out of every room.

- Pick a family meeting area outside.

- Homes with a second floor should have a chain-link escape ladder in each bedroom.

- Make sure you have working smoke detectors.

- Hold a fire drill in advance.

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Floods

Residents of flood-prone areas should be prepared to stack sandbags in strategic places to protect their homes.

Filling sand bags

Fire departments and garden supply stores are two good sources of sand. Fill each sandbag -- usually made of burlap or polypropylene -- about halfway.

Placing and stacking the bags

Place the folded or tied top of the bag uphill or upstream so the flowing water will not cause the bag to open and spill sand. Stack bags a maximum of three rows high, with the layers staggered.

Protecting your home or building

Place layers of bags against the building. At doorways, place a plastic sheet against the door before stacking sandbags.

Other measures

- Clear debris from rain gutters.

- Board up windows and doors.

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Earthquakes

The least predictable of natural disasters, earthquakes present a unique challenge to California homeowners.

Securing the home: Fastening the structure to the foundation can help prevent it from shifting during a quake. Two methods commonly used are anchor bolts and hold-down anchors.

Protecting your property: Keep careful, updated records of your belongings.

- Conduct a household inventory and update annually.

- Make a written or visual record of your possessions.

- Record models and serial numbers.

- Photograph or video the interior and exterior of your home, including landscaping.

- Photograph cars, boats and recreational vehicles.

- Get professional appraisals of jewelry, collectibles, artwork and other items that are difficult to value. Update appraisals every two to three years.

Recent regional explainer graphics are available at latimes.com/localgraphics

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Major earthquakes in California (Magnitude)

*--* 1906 Great 1906 earthquake (8.2) 1952 Kern County earthquake (7.7) 1989 Loma Prieta (7.1) 1994 Northridge (6.7) Hector Mine (7.1)

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Record rainfall in Los Angeles

(Average annual rainfall for Los Angeles County: 14.94”)

1940-41: 32.76”

1977-78: 33.44”

1982-83: 31.25”

1997-98: 31.01”

2004-05: 37.25”

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Major wildfires

1923 City of Berkeley fire, Alameda Co. (584 homes and 130 acres)

1932 Matilija fire (220,000 acres)

1987 Stanislaus Complex fire (1 killed, 28 homes and 145,980 acres)

1990 Paint fire, Santa Barbara Co. (1 killed, 641 homes and 4,900 acres)

1991 Tunnel fire, Alameda Co. (25 killed, 2,900 homes and 1,600 acres)

1993 Topanga fire, L.A. County (3 killed, 323 homes and 18,000 acres), Kinneloa fire, L.A. County (1 killed, 196 homes and 5,485 acres)

1999 Jones fire, Shasta Co. (1 killed, 954 homes and 26,200 acres)

2003 Cedar, Old and Paradise fires (23 killed, 6,073 homes and 421,227 acres)

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Sources: Southern California Earthquake Preparedness Project; Los Angeles city and county fire departments; Calif. Dept. of Forestry and Fire Protection; Los Angeles County Department of Public Works