Small businesses, the lifeblood of the U.S. economy, are often the first to suffer from natural disasters such as earthquakes.
Although they create two-thirds of new jobs and stimulate economic growth – particularly in our region’s underrepresented communities – small businesses are often least prepared to withstand disasters
The COVID-19 pandemic brought […]
Optimum Seismic, Inc. February 2022 Newsletter
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
California’s new balcony inspection laws reflect young survivor’s courageous advocacy after collapse
Consider the story of Aoife Beary, an incredibly […]
Orange County’s economy is robust: leading most other U.S. counties, many states – even some countries – in terms of output.
The region’s gross domestic product, at $221 billion in 2020, surpasses that of Oregon and New Zealand, and nearly tops Google, the Orange County Register recently reported.
As the ninth largest […]
Two significant earthquake threats face communities in the Apartment Association of California Southern Cities area. The first is the risk of building damage associated with seismic shaking. The second is more localized along low coastal areas — the danger of a tsunami triggered by an earthquake that may occur thousands […]
About 15 million years ago, the Los Angeles Basin was underwater. Over the span of many millennia, surrounding mountain ranges rose, releasing molten rock into the underlying crust to create an immense geologic bowl that time filled with sand, silt, and clay from ancient rivers.
Today, the basin is home to […]
Optimum Seismic, Inc. January 2022 Newsletter
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
Successful partnerships in 2021 speak to a growing push for resilience in 2022
The new year sparks reflection on […]
Humans, in ancient times, believed earthquakes were caused by huge animals, angry gods and giants.
Current folklore attempts to find causal links between moon phases and earthquakes, but this theory has been debunked by science.
What we do know is that earthquakes are frequent in California, and that Southern California is long […]
We put a lot of trust into structural engineering. Every time we drive on an overpass, pass through a tunnel, or enter a building – we trust our lives to the knowledge and workmanship of the people who built them.
Structural engineers design the bones and muscles that form and define […]
A worry apartment owners may face when doing earthquake retrofits, major renovations or repairs is the impact that construction could have on their tenants — and whether their Tenant Habitability Plan will add significant expenses to their project.
Extra costs might include precautions to minimize impacts, such as establishing alternative parking […]
