SCEC Interactive Map – Significant Southern California Quakes
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Yesterday the Los Angeles Times ran an extensive report on an in-house analysis of a number of large, and extremely vulnerable-during-an-earthquake, concrete buildings in that city. The authors (Rong-Gong Lin II, Rosanna Xia and Doug Smith) state that the city has been aware of the dangers for decades, but has refused to require building owners to retrofit their properties for earthquake safety, despite the fact that the area is believed `overdue’ for a major earthquake.
It’s an informative report on seismic risks, earthquake resistant building techniques, and local politics. Well worth reading.
The city has rejected calls to make a list of concrete buildings at risk of collapsing in a major quake, but a Times analysis finds there could be more than 1,000 — many of them homes and offices.
By Rong-Gong Lin II, Rosanna Xia and Doug Smith
October 13, 2013
More than 1,000 old concrete buildings in Los Angeles and hundreds more throughout the county may be at risk of collapsing in a major earthquake, according to a Times analysis.
By the most conservative estimate, as many as 50 of these buildings in the city alone would be destroyed, exposing thousands to injury or death.
While admittedly a local story, Los Angeles isn’t the only major U.S. city with concrete buildings that lies in an active seismic zone; Memphis, St. Louis, Charleston, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City . . . even New York City, all have varying degrees of seismic risks.
Seismic Hazard Map – Credit USGS
But the West Coast, probably more than any other region of the United States, is viewed as being at particular risk.
In 2010 (see Revised Risk Of `The Big One’ Along San Andreas Fault) we looked at a study that suggested that Southern California may be more overdue for another major quake than previously thought, and in the following year (see Estimating The Economic Impact Of A San Andreas Quake) we looked at a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics that endeavored to gauge the crippling impact that a highly feasible (and long overdue) 7.8 magnitude Southern California earthquake would have on jobs and local businesses.
A quake of this magnitude, they estimate, could affect 430,000 businesses and 4.5 million workers and deliver a devastating – and prolonged – blow to the local (and national) economy.
For a comprehensive guide on how you can prepare for `the big one’ (even if you live someplace other than Los Angeles), I would recommend you download, read, and implement the advice provided by the The L. A. County Emergency Survival Guide.
Large earthquakes can also generate massive tsunamis, which can travel thousands of miles in a matter of a few hours. We’ve looked at the United State’s tsunami risks recently, in NPM13: The USGS West Coast Tsunami Scenario Report & East Coast Tsunami Threats.
It isn’t enough to have a kit, and a plan during an earthquake. You need to know what to do to protect life and limb while the shaking is going on. And for that, we have the ever-growing Great Shakeout Drill (see NPM13: A Whole Lotta Shakeouts Going On).
Later this week (Thurs, Oct 17 at 10:17am) , California, along with many other states, territories, and countries will hold their annual Great Shakeout Drill. Millions of residents, from the United States and Canada, to New Zealand, Italy, and Japan, will take part in this yearly Drop, Cover, & Hold On drill. A video, demonstrating the technique is available on the California Shakeout Youtube Channel.
For more information on emergency preparedness, I would invite you to visit:
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/
And for some earlier blogs on the seismic hazards in the United States, and around the world, you may wish to revisit:
Academics Debate Odds Of Tokyo Earthquake
