For apartment owners, protecting residents and preserving property value in the event of a major earthquake is essential. A properly designed and executed seismic retrofit improves building safety, reduces potential damage, and helps protect long-term rental income. However, not all retrofit projects deliver the same results. Choosing a qualified and […]
How would a massive earthquake impact California’s housing shortage?
The answer is obvious. A major earthquake that hits densely-populated urban areas would make California’s housing shortage much worse.
Such an earthquake could take a heavy toll on California’s affordable housing supply, particularly the older, soft-story apartment buildings that are most at-risk of […]
OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.
February 2026 NEWSLETTER
Turning Earthquake Data Into Safer Communities
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
The Berkeley Seismological Laboratory at UC Berkeley continues to advance earthquake safety through […]
In the morning of January 10, 2025, San Francisco Bay Area residents were reminded of California’s precarious geological reality. A preliminary magnitude 3.7 earthquake struck near the San Francisco Zoo, shaking the city awake. While light and weak shaking rippled across the region, no injuries or significant damage were reported. […]
OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.
January 2026 NEWSLETTER
1994 Northridge earthquake
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
On January 17, 1994, at 4:31 a.m., a 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck the San […]
Insurance carriers continue to closely monitor California’s earthquake liabilities, much like they track risks from wildfires, floods, and hurricanes. With seismologists warning that California is overdue for a major earthquake, property owners and insurance providers alike are growing increasingly concerned. As these risks escalate, so do the costs associated with […]
On January 17, 1994, Southern California awoke to devastation as the Northridge Earthquake shook the region. In just 20 seconds, a magnitude 6.7 tremor caused widespread destruction, altering lives and landscapes. Though Northridge was at the epicenter, the quake’s effects reverberated throughout Southern California, including nearby areas like Orange County. […]
The devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria in 2023 served as a stark reminder of the immense destruction that seismic events can bring. With over 50,000 lives lost, these disasters left many Californians wondering: Could a similar catastrophe strike closer to home?
Experts provide a clear answer: Yes, it’s not […]
OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.
December 2025 Newsletter
Thank You for a Wonderful Year — Happy Holidays from Optimum Seismic
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
As we close out 2025, Optimum Seismic, […]
City of San Diego officials are getting serious about resilience, and they’re turning to the community for feedback on what that means.
In 2020, the city completed a Climate Change Hazard Vulnerability Assessment, which has served as the foundation for a new plan – Climate Resilient SD – to ensure that […]
