Question

how can we protect our buildings against damage during an earthquake

Answer 1

Firstly we need to apply a strong foundation.

Answer 2

1.

Evaluate elements outside the home that are potential hazards. Trees that are old or leaning, electrical wires, and power lines can be detrimental to the infrastructure of your home during earthquakes. The way to counter potential damage is to reinforce structures.[1]For power lines and potential electric wires that might fall and cause damage, reinforce foundations and ceilings with concrete and plywood sheathing respectively to brace your house for falling objects.Consider removing or cutting down trees that could fall onto the home. Reinforcing your home with concrete for its foundation and plywood sheathing for your ceiling will help protect it, but so will ridding the surrounding area of things that could potentially fall and cause the damage you’re bracing it for.
2.

Make any necessary repairs to your home. Look at walls, your chimney, foundation, and roof tiles to inspect them for any potential weaknesses. If you find that they have some, make those repairs before disaster strikes to prepare yourself for potential earthquake damage.[2]Use additional plywood sheathing underneath chimneys to reinforce ceilings and prevent bricks and/or mortar from falling through the ceiling.Fix roof tiles that are loose and anchor heavy roofing material properly on a roof frame to ensure the roof is strongly braced.Add braces to chimneys to prevent it from falling over. Make sure that they are steel collar braces.
3.

Add support to cripple walls.Earthquakes can potentially shift cripple walls, so bracing them is necessary to support the floor and exterior walls of the home.[3] Add 2x4 boards between vertical studs at the top and bottom of a cripple wall to brace it securely against the foundation.