Insurance carriers closely monitor California’s earthquake liabilities, similar to how they track trends in fire, flood, hurricanes, and other hazards that lead to property damage, injury, or death claims. Seismologists’ warnings that California is overdue for a major earthquake have raised concerns among property owners and insurance actuaries. As the […]
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 […]
Balconies are a significant draw for apartment renters, particularly in places with great weather like Los Angeles – considered one of the best climates on Earth. Balconies, decks and elevated walkways are a valuable amenity in Southern California’s multifamily real estate market — popular with renters for providing easy access […]
Earthquakes are a constant threat in California. “The Big One” can hit anytime, and cause severe damage to vulnerable apartment buildings, along with death and injuries.
Apartment buildings with a “soft-story” are particularly at-risk of earthquake damage. Soft-story buildings usually have a large, open ground floor space like a parking area, […]
The ABCs Of Earthquakes And Seismic Engineering
Most Californians have experienced earthquakes. There are the large ones – sudden, jarring jolts followed by more strong shaking that can last from a few seconds to a couple of minutes. Farther away, these feel like a gentle “bump,” often followed by more rolling […]
Let’s talk business. When the Anheuser-Busch brewery in Van Nuys suffered significant damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the company invested $11 million in retrofitting structures on site to withstand the next major temblor – which came in 1994 with the Northridge earthquake. Even though the brewery was located just […]
There has been a steady influx of startup companies sprouting up to capitalize on Southern California’s growing seismic retrofit industry. This has led to concern that some of these new companies may not have the professional expertise required of such a specialized industry.
It can be confusing when you’ve got several […]
Does your apartment building meet today’s standards for seismic safety and interior layout? If built before the mid-1970s, it could benefit from an upgrade of both.
Many building owners in these circumstances are taking advantage of the financial benefits of renovating their building’s interior spaces along with their seismic retrofit project.
The […]
Many Californians live in earthquake denial. We laugh them off, ignore their ever-present threat to our lives and livelihoods. After all, some reason, we’ve lived through earthquakes before. Why should the next one be different?
The stark reality is that protecting ourselves from earthquakes should be on all of our minds. […]
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 […]
