Optimum Seismic, Inc.
May 2022 Newsletter
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
Is renovation the key to building sustainability of our cities?
Is it economically and environmentally more viable to extend the life of an existing building through renovation — or to demolish, dispose, and rebuild?
Researchers found that 83% of building owners prefer to adapt, which supports the growing perception it is better to convert old buildings into new uses than to tear down the past. “Reusing the existing building stock… has an important impact on sustainability of the built environment,” one researcher explains.
California’s Northridge Earthquake of 1994 exposed the vulnerability of several of our popular building types – including older wood-framed, soft-story structures, which collapse under significant seismic shaking. The quake also underscored the interdependency of our built environment.
If you think your building may be at risk of damage in an earthquake, Optimum Seismic can help you get the information you need to find a solution that is right for you. Call 833 978-7664 or visit OptimumSeismic.com.
First-responders join in Sonoma earthquake drill
More than 650 first-responders joined in Sonoma Valley for a disaster training drill that simulated a masive 7.9 magnitude earthquake, (the same magnitude as the 1906 San Francisco temblor), and potential consequences such as the release of hazardous materials and biological threats. The drill was sponsored by the California National Guard and Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or CalOES.
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Film Shows San Francisco Before Big Quake
At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, just as San Francisco, California, was beginning to wake, an earthquake lasting less than a minute shook the city to its core.
Four days earlier, on April 14, 1906, moving picture photographers the Miles Brothers shot footage of the city as it would never be seen again, capturing the transportation, fashions, and bustling atmosphere of San Francisco.
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Earthquake, tsunami drill looks for cracks in the response plan
A three-day exercise in Othell, Washington sought to evaluate the federal government’s coordinated response with state and local agencies for a large-scale earthquake and tsunami in the Pacific Northwest. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) held the exercise for a (CSZ) Earthquake and Tsunami Response Plan.
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Fracking boom turns Texas into earthquake capital of the U.S.
Texas didn’t worry about earthquakes in the past, but fracking for oil has changed that with a dramatic increase in incidences. Just six quakes in 2015 has grown to 59 in the first three months of 2022. This puts the year on pace to set a record as the earthquake Capital of America, surpassing even California and Alaska.
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Global Navigation tech can help monitor quakes
When you hail an Uber or used Google Maps, your location is tracked using a Global Navigation Satellite System sending information to receivers around the globe. Scientists say this system can help better monitor active faults. The precision of this techology can increase the density of seismic tracking stations by 250%, say researchers at Tohoku University.
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Underwater volcano triggers record-breaking 85,000 quakes
A long-dormant volcano underwater in the vicinity of Antarctica has awoken, triggering a swarm of 85,000 earthquakes, scientists report. The swarm is the strongest earthquake activity ever recorded in the region. Research indicates the increased seismic activity was caused by a “finger” of hot magma poking into the Earth’s crust.
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Senators push for Golden Gate seismic repairs
While the administration has been saying for months its multi-billion bridge repair program would help create jobs and make travel safer, the Golden Gate’s needed seismic repairs may not qualify under existing quidelines that don’t account for sudden bridge failures caused by earthquakes. California’s Senators and bridge officials are seeking $870 million to complete the Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project.
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Renovation of the Blackstone Hotel in San Luis Obispo
Optimum Seismic has done many multifamily and commercial renovations and retrofits.
These actions enhance the resilience, sustainability and improve marketability.
Contact us today for a complimentary consultation on your building’s earthquake resilience.
