Some scientists and economists say the COVID-19 pandemic, a rare, severe and widespread crisis, sparked widespread belief in hindsight that everyone should have seen it coming and been better prepared.
This year has been unprecedent – in our lifetimes, at least. Earlier societies are said to have been hit harder in previous pandemics. The bubonic plague of 1347-51 killed tens of millions including between 30% and 50% of Europe’s population, according to the National Institutes of Health. The Spanish flu of 1918-19 killed sone 50 million people around the world, the NIH estimates.
In the case of COVID -19 were we lulled by advances in modern medicine into thinking this could not happen to us?
Could such a complacent attitude translate to earthquakes? Will it take another catastrophic quake to make us realize we need to be better prepared?
Risks to Orange County
Orange County apartment owners in 2020 have experienced the financial hardship that comes when disaster forces the closure of businesses, which leads to high levels of unemployment.
An earthquake disaster here could result in much of the same – with the added ruin of extensive damage and/or destruction of apartment buildings themselves.
Active earthquake faults in Orange County run along the coast and mountain ranges, hitting places such as Huntington Beach and Yorba Linda. The hillside communities of Laguna Beach, San Clemente and Santiago Canyon are prone to landslides that can be triggered in a major earthquake. Many other areas are subject to liquefaction, which dramatically increases the potential impact of seismic waves on a building.
Important Webinar Series
Although it has been years since our last earthquake disaster, we know the next “Big One” is coming.
Fortunately, there are many around the world – including here in California – who are working to address earthquake resilience issues, challenges and accomplishments.
Optimum Seismic has teamed up with a coalition of leading business organizations and government officials to launch a monthly webinar series, “The Resilience Advantage,” to help educate property owners, businesses and community leaders about threats they face, and steps to take to avoid social and economic disaster. Each episode features a special video on the topic plus a panel of recognized experts addressing risks, building safety, social concerns, and business and economic impacts.
Partners in the series include the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, L.A. County Economic Development Corporation, Los Angeles County Business Federation and U.S. Resiliency Council.
USC researchers estimate the eight-county region of Southern California could suffer property damage of $113 billion in a major earthquake – with additional business-related impacts of $68 billion or more. Recent estimates have put damages caused by a magnitude-7 earthquake on the Puente Hills fault at more than $252 billion, with thousands killed and hundreds of thousands displaced.
Upcoming webinars will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, January 21, and Wednesday, February 17 – with others planned throughout the year. For more information, visit optimumseismic.com/the-resilience-advantage. Recent videos and webinars are also posted there for those who missed any of the series.
Visit optimumseismic.com for more information, or call us at 323-978-7664.
