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4 October, 2023

Asbestos? Lead? It Pays To Do Things Right

By |2023-10-17T20:31:09+00:00October 4th, 2023|AACSC, asbestos, lead|

Many older homes and apartment buildings contain lead and asbestos.  Owners sometimes downplay the health hazards these substances pose to humans and the environment alike, and feel tempted to bypass the rules by removing these contaminants undercover — hoping that no one finds out.

Failure to comply with the law on […]

3 October, 2023

San Diego Apartments Face Earthquake Risk

By |2023-10-17T20:25:44+00:00October 3rd, 2023|Apartment Buildings Earthquake Safety, apartments seismic retrofit, SDCAA, Soft Story Seismic Retrofit|

San Diego’s earthquake risk is significantly higher than previously thought, according to recent maps prepared by the California Geological Survey.

Recent information reveals the region’s fault zones are significantly larger and far-reaching than previously assumed – stretching along the Rose Canyon fault, an extension of the Los Angeles Newport-Inglewood fault, which […]

2 October, 2023

Are Your Building’s Balconies Safe?

By |2023-10-17T20:17:54+00:00October 2nd, 2023|AAOC, balcony Laws, Building Balcony Safety, Building Safety|

Coastal communities provide an abundance of breathtaking views, often enjoyed from rows of balconies facing west to the ocean and setting sun. These perches are iconic in seaside communities — a big draw for tenants entertaining friends, relaxing with a book, or enjoying their own piece of the outdoors.

Considered a […]

1 October, 2023

Will The Big One Increase Homelessness?

By |2023-10-17T19:59:59+00:00October 1st, 2023|AAGLA, Building Safety, Earthquake Threats|

How would a major earthquake impact California’s growing homeless population?

In 2019, the number of people in the state without homes grew by more than 21,300 people, or 16.4% — more than all other states in the nation combined — the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported.  It rose […]

4 September, 2023

Earthquakes And Tsunamis: A Double Threat For Coastal Communities

By |2023-09-18T22:04:31+00:00September 4th, 2023|AACSC, Earthquake Protection, Tsunamis|

Two significant earthquake threats face communities in the Apartment Association of California Southern Cities area. 

One is the well-known risk of buildings being damaged by strong seismic shaking. The second is more localized along low coastal areas — the danger of a tsunami triggered by an earthquake […]

3 September, 2023

Protecting Orange County Against Disaster

By |2023-09-18T21:55:15+00:00September 3rd, 2023|AAOC, Buildings Vulnerabilities, Businesses and disaster, earthquake preparedness|

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, standing at $288 billion in 2021, surpassed that of Oregon and New Zealand.

As one of the leading economic powerhouse counties in the nation, are we […]

2 September, 2023

Will Your Business Survive A Major Earthquake?

By |2023-09-18T21:40:00+00:00September 2nd, 2023|Businesses and disaster, earthquake damage, earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Protection, SDCAA|

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 underrepresented communities – small businesses are often least prepared to withstand disasters

The COVID-19 pandemic brought devastating loss […]

1 September, 2023

Will An Earthquake Red-Tag Your Building?

By |2023-09-18T21:24:35+00:00September 1st, 2023|AAGLA, Earthquake Risk, Earthquake Safety|

We don’t know exactly where or when the next major earthquake will strike, but we do know that quakes are inevitable in California and many other states.

It’s also clear what buildings will likely suffer the most severe damage from seismic shaking.

Beyond these facts, it’s wise to assess your apartment building’s […]

4 August, 2023

Upgrade Your Apartment Building’s Earthquake Safety To Protect Investment & Improve Marketability

By |2023-08-22T16:12:18+00:00August 4th, 2023|AAOC, Apartment Buildings Earthquake Safety, apartments seismic retrofit|

Most older apartment building fall short of today’s standards for earthquake safety and fail to offer the types of interior spaces tenants want.

If your apartment building was constructed before the mid-1970s, it could benefit from an upgrade of both its structural safety and functional design.

Many building owners in these circumstances […]

3 August, 2023

Earthquake Faults Threaten Both New And Old Buildings

By |2023-08-22T16:06:01+00:00August 3rd, 2023|AACSC, Commercial Buildings, earthquake preparedness, Earthquake Risk, Earthquake Threats|

Should new construction be allowed on top of active earthquake faults? And, what about the thousands of structures already perched upon these fearsome fissures?

These questions have played out in Hollywood and other parts of the Southland in recent years, where a worrisome weave of active faults snakes its way through […]

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