Inspection

The first thing to do after an earthquake or "seismic event" is to see if the chimney has been damaged. It may be not have been damaged at all.

Generally re-inforced masonry chimneys built to modern codes are able to withstand the forces imposed by earthquakes and are not usually damaged at all. Older chimneys or new chimneys that have not been built in accordance with modern codes and may not have the proper re-inforcing are much more likely to be damaged in a earthquake.

Look closely at the chimney. See if it has pulled away form the house. Look for exterior cracks or loose bricks. Look for jogs and incontinuities. Is the chimney straight?

After a brief visual inspection, if you have any reason to think the chimney may have been damaged, hire a professional chimney inspector to evaluate the chimney. Professional chimney inspectors are trained in the codes and the safety concerns and can tell a lot more about the condition of the chimney by running a cleaning brush or a small TV camera through the flues. FEMA will pay for this kind of professional inspection and evaluation.

If the chimney is used to vent a furnace or other appliance used for primary heating it's very important to evaluate and, if necessary, repair the chimney before you continue to use the chimney. The primary function of any chimney is to conduct the hot and poisonous flue gasses safely out of the house. A damaged chimney could fail to exhaust the gasses or protect the house from fire. Did you put a tarp over the chimney and forget your furnace was vented into it?

Flue gasses are hot. And wood-fired appliances can cause creosote build-up in the flue that can lead to an even hotter chimney fire. Chimneys are designed to keep the house from catching on fire even during a chimney fire, but to do its job your chimney must be in good condition without blockages or big gaps in the flues. A damaged chimney might not vent all the flue gasses AND it might lead to a house fire.

Even if the flues are intact and the chimney serves to vent all the flue gasses and protect the house from fire, it still might be structurally unsafe. Modern chimneys contain re-inforcing bars that help keep the masonry together but older chimneys can tumble down or shed bricks and could injure people or property below. A structurally damaged chimney should be rebuilt or repaired in accordance with current codes so that even if there is another earthquake it won't fall over and jeoprodize people and property.

Now go on to "Rebuild, Repair, Restore"