After an earthquake or any other happening that damages houses, the inhabitants:

... feel insecure and anxious because of the danger, the cracks, doors that will no longer shut, etc.

... suddenly rediscover signs of damage, even those that existed before,

... always have the feeling that the damage, the cracks and the subsidences are getting worse day after day.

It is essential to be ready to reply to such questions as:

Is there a risk of my house collapsing?

What if there is another earthquake shock?

What can be done to strengthen the house?

Structures of cob, masonry or lean concrete become engorged with water and may collapse even if there is no subsidence of the foundations.

The cracks indicate the point which has given way.
The longer the flooding lasts, the greater the risks: check the cracks!

Because of the drop in atmospheric pressure that precedes a hurricane, a building may “burst” and cracks may appear in the walls.

Vertical cracks in load-bearing walls or horizontal cracks in the floors near to and parallel with the facade.

Vertical cracks in the internal walls, running along the same axis on all storeys.

The facade is as if separated from the building frame and may therefore collapse.

The building is as if cut open vertically. The various parts may come away in the event of another shock.

Cracks in the comers, growing larger from the bottom upwards.

Cracks on vaulting, parallel with the outer walls.

In this case there are horizontal thrusts on the tops of the walls that tend to burst the building open.

In this case there are horizontal thrusts on the walls that are not counterbalanced and tend to burst the building open.

Cracks that are transverse in relation to the orientation of the floors or the beams.

Cracks at the base of stair treads supported on the walls. Cracks all along the balcony floor.

In this case the bearing elements are broken. The floor may cave in.

The stairs and balconies are now left with only a single point of support. If it gives way, they will collapse.

Cracks on both sides of light partitions and the length of the ceiling.

Cracks in reinforced-concrete structures, exposing the reinforcement rods.

In this case the partition is not anchored and may fall.

In this case the shock has been considerable and the rods are no longer doing their job. The structure may collapse.

Slanting cracks.

Cracks in the floors parallel with the girders and joists.

There is no loosening of the vertical load-bearing elements (walls, pillars, etc.) or the horizontal ones (floors, etc.).

Girders and joists are separated from each other but each of them remains firm.

Irregular cracks in the walls on various storeys.

Cracks in arches or vaulting which are not supported on the outer walls.

The loadbearing elements are weakened but on the whole the building is holding.

If the support perimeter cannot sag outwards, the arches and vaulting are very unlikely to give way.

Protect the building from later damage by rain or infiltration:
· replace the broken tiles or protect the roof with plastic sheeting, corrugated iron, etc.
· repair the damage to piping.

Demolish elements that are not holding firm and which are not necessary to make the house inhabitable: false ceilings, balconies, chimneys, etc.

Shore up elements that are not holding firm but are needed to make the building inhabitable: stairs, lintels, floors, load-bearing walls.

Counter the horizontal thrusts which were counter-balanced before but are not any longer because of the collapse of an element.