In 2019, California saw a dramatic rise in homelessness, with over 21,300 additional people living without shelter—a 16.4% increase, surpassing the combined total of all other states, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. By January 2020, this number had climbed another 7%, bringing the total homeless […]
Before 1980, wood-framed, soft-story apartment buildings became a staple of Southern California’s rapid development. These structures featured open ground floors for parking with residential units above, prioritizing land use over safety.
These structures have since been shown to be among a community’s most deadly. Perched as if on stilts with their […]
Many Californians live in denial about earthquakes, laughing off their threat to our lives and livelihoods. After all, we’ve survived them before—why should the next one be different? The stark reality is that earthquake preparedness should be a priority for everyone. We need to ask ourselves: Are we prepared at […]
The devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria served as a wake-up call for many Californians who once felt confident in their knowledge of seismic activity. With over 50,000 lives lost in those quakes, Californians now wonder: could a similar disaster strike closer to home?
Experts provide a straightforward answer: yes, it’s […]
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 […]
How many unsafe, soft-story apartment units are there in Orange County?
That question and similar ones about other counties in California led Optimum Seismic, Inc. and the U.S. Resiliency Council to team up with Esri, a leading mapping company, to combine resources to develop maps showing where thousands of potential soft […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Asking “what’s the worst thing that could happen” is the best way for apartment owners to begin preparing to prevent costly earthquake losses that could lead to bankruptcy.
Imagine you wake up tomorrow to terrible shaking. Within hours you learn the apartment buildings you worked for throughout your life have partially […]
