Is California Ready For The Big One?

Experts predict an 80% chance of a major earthquake (seven or higher on the Richter scale) in Los Angeles that would kill up to 18,000 people. California looks better-prepared that Louisiana, but is it?

1 minute read

September 27, 2005, 5:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"So how effectively have the planners planned? The verdict is mixed. Following the 1994 Northridge earthquake, which killed 57 people in the Los Angeles region, California's hospitals were required by law to retrofit their buildings by 2008 to withstand major tremors; yet some 78% of them have at least one building still at risk and many are getting an extended deadline of 2013. Similarly, some 7,500 school buildings built before 1978 have yet to be brought up to standard.

On the other hand, a lot has been done, especially in earthquake-proofing the freeway network. The Southern California Gas Company claims its system, which it has been upgrading for several years, can withstand strong tremors; the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power says it could double its groundwater pumping if pipeline supplies were disrupted."

FULL STORY: Getting ready for the Big One

Monday, October 3, 2005 in The Economist

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