This month’s focus is on the Big Turn-Off: knowing where your utility boxes are and how to shut them off in case of an emergency.

UTILITY SHUT-OFFS

LOCATE YOUR GAS AND WATER SHUTOFF VALVES AND THE ELECTRIC FUSE BOX. The gas and water shutoffs are usually outside and the fuse box will be in the garage or inside a closet.

KNOW HOW TO TURN OFF THE GAS AND WATER. In general, the water shutoff will be a round handle like the handle for the garden hose.. Turn it clockwise to turn the water supply for the house off. The gas valve will require a wrench. A quarter turn will close it off. Note that the water and/or gas valves may be housed in a cool dark place frequented by spiders and other nasties, so WEAR HEAVY GLOVES when working in those spaces.

IF YOU CANNOT LOCATE YOUR UTILITY SHUTOFFS OR DO NOT KNOW HOW TO TURN THEM OFF, contact your homeowner’s association if you have one.

DO NOT TURN OFF THE GAS UTILITY UNLESS YOU SMELL GAS OR HAVE REASONS TO SUSPECT A LINE IS BROKEN. Once the gas is turned off, you will need to contact PG&E to turn it back on and that could take several days.

KEEP A WRENCH ENCLOSED IN A PLASTIC BAG NEXT TO THE GAS VALVE. As the valve tends to freeze over time, a longer wrench will give you a better chance of closing it off.

TOOLS AND CLOTHING

KEEP A PAIR OF STURDY (heavy rubber soled) SHOES BESIDE YOUR BED. Quakes can occur at night and most of us sleep barefoot! Include a warm sweater/jacket, rain gear (vinyl parka), heavy gloves and a change or clothes for each household member in your quake supplies.

INCLUDE A CROWBAR, PICK, HAMMER, ROPE AND LOTS OF FLASHLIGHTS in your list of tools and hardware to have on hand. Keep flashlights everywhere – each room and vehicle. Also, have at least one battery operated radio near by. Check the batteries in flashlights and radios often. Keep extra batteries on hand at all times.

INVOLVE ALL HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS IN QUAKE PREPARATION!

— Mike Mancusi