How California Is Preparing for Future Earthquakes

OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.

November 2025 NEWSLETTER

How California Is Preparing for Future Earthquakes

Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.

California has not experienced a major earthquake in its largest cities in more than 30 years, but experts warn that a significant seismic event is inevitable. More than 70 percent of Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault, and earthquake risk overlaps with other hazards such as landslides and tsunamis. During this year’s statewide ShakeOut drill, officials reinforced the life saving instruction: Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Studies from past earthquakes show you are twice as likely to be injured if you try to move or run during shaking. The MyShake early warning app provides a few seconds of advance notice, allowing people to take cover or shut off equipment.

Preparedness includes more than individual safety. Buildings need to be ready as well. Officials are urging property owners to secure heavy items, strap water heaters, and evaluate whether their structures require a seismic retrofit, especially older soft story apartments and homes with weak foundation connections. Retrofits significantly reduce the risk of collapse, and grant programs are available to help offset costs for qualifying properties. The message from geologists and emergency responders is clear: earthquake risk cannot be avoided, but earthquake damage can be prevented through planning and structural strengthening.

How a major Bay Area earthquake could endanger health care access

No one knows when the next major earthquake will strike. In the meantime, researchers are working to understand how these events could disrupt access to health care in densely populated regions—and how best to prepare for them.
Read more

The Ridgecrest Earthquake Left Enduring Damage in Earth’s Deep Crust

New research shows the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquake caused deep-crust damage that still hasn’t healed. While the shallow crust recovered within months, layers more than 10 km below remain altered years later, revealing long-lasting structural change and challenging what scientists thought about how quickly the Earth rebounds after major quakes.
Read more

East Bay earthquake swarm: How long could it last, and what’s the risk of a big one?

Six earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or higher struck the East Bay on Sunday morning, part of a swarm of dozens of small earthquakes that could go on for hours or even days, according to seismology experts.

The largest so far was a 3.8 magnitude quake that struck around San Ramon at 9:38 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Read More >>

Could Your Building Be Red-Tagged After The Next Quake?

Apartment owners faced with any major renovation, repair or alteration of their building are often concerned with the impacts construction could have on their tenants and whether the work will require added expenses.

These extra costs can include paying for additional precautions to minimize impacts, establishing alternative parking when assigned spaces are unavailable, and, in very unusual cases, covering the costs for tenants to move to other living quarters until construction is done.
Read More >>

The Optimum Seismic, Inc. team with State Senator Ben Allen

The Optimum Seismic, Inc. team had the opportunity to meet with State Senator Ben Allen.

Earthquake Retrofitting Company in Southern California

The Optimum Seismic team has been one of the leading engineering and construction companies dealing with earthquake retrofits and renovations in California since 1984. We are available to help with analysis or construction of your project.
Watch Video