A major earthquake is devastating. But even a minor one can cause significant damage, as I found after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake struck where I lived.
When the shaking starts, items can spill out of unlocked cabinets, and the refrigerator door can open by itself and dump food onto the floor. But that isn’t the worst of it. Bookshelves, tall cabinets and heavy items like microwaves can fall, posing a real danger to anyone who happens to be nearby.
That’s a good reason to make anchoring your furniture to the wall part of your earthquake preparedness priorities. Here’s an even better one: Child safety, according to Allen Baler, CEO and co-founder of 4Patriots.
“Nearly 75% of the over 5,000 annual injuries from furniture tip-overs involve children,” says Baler. “As a dad of three young daughters, I can’t stress enough how important it is to anchor your furniture to the wall.”
Daniel Kilburn, founder of Emergency Action Planning LLC and author of Family Urban Disaster Planning, agrees.
“When it comes to securing your home, it’s not just about being prepared for emergencies,” he says. “One important aspect that often gets overlooked is anchoring your furniture and wall hangings. It may seem simple, but it’s a crucial step in ensuring your home is as safe as it can be.”
What Are Furniture Anchors?
Straps or brackets that secure furniture to the wall. They prevent tall or heavy furniture, like bookshelves and dressers, from toppling over, whether from a natural disaster or an adventurous child climbing on it.
They also prevent heavy appliances like microwave ovens from “walking” along a countertop and falling to the floor during periods of heavy shaking.
Furniture anchors aren’t expensive. “For less than $20 and a quick trip to the hardware store, you can get everything you need to anchor your furniture,” Baler says.
Installing anchors is easy. But for earthquake protection, it’s important to attach them to wall studs and not the drywall, so there’s a bit of preparation involved.
Types of Furniture Anchors
When shopping for furniture anchors, you’ll come across these types.
Furniture cables
Furniture cables consist of two independent brackets with eyeholes that allow you to connect them with a strong, flexible nylon or braided steel connector. You screw one bracket to the wall and the other to the back of the furniture. Then you thread the connector through the eyeholes and fasten its ends to secure the furniture.
The connector usually has a turnbuckle, tab or similar quick-release mechanism so you can disengage the anchor to move the furniture.
No-drill anchors
Avoid making holes in your furniture and wall by choosing no-drill anchors with adhesive-backed brackets. Intended for baby-proofing lightweight furniture, they can’t hold as much weight as screw-on brackets. You’ll need something stronger for earthquake preparedness.
Furniture straps
Furniture straps are like furniture anchors, only with the brackets permanently connected to the ends of adjustable straps. To install one, you screw the brackets to the wall and the furniture, then adjust the length of the strap.
Corner brackets
In lieu of furniture cables, you can also use steel corner brackets to secure items like bookshelves that sit flush against a wall. They’re cheap, but you have to fasten them to the sides or top of the furniture, so they remain visible.
