August 2021 Newsletter
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
Alaskan Megaquake would have decimated California metropolitan areas
The ‘Big One’ that we talk about in California struck last week — luckily in the remote parts of the Alaskan Peninsula where buildings and roads are virtually non-existent. Had the force of this 8.2 monster been unleashed in one of California’s metropolitan areas, the damage could have been apocalyptic. The last quake this large struck the United States in 1965, when an 8.7 hit the Aleutian Islands. That was a year after an incredible 9.2 temblor rocked the region — the second-largest quake ever recorded in the world. Like Alaska, California sits on the volatile Ring of Fire, where the collision of tectonic plates creates volcanoes and earthquakes. This reality means the ‘Big One’ can strike here. It’s a matter of when. To learn more about earthquake threats, visit OptimumSeismic.com.
Biggest U.S. quake in 50 years strikes remote Alaskan
A ferocious 8.2 magnitude quake ripped through the remote Aleutian islands of Alaska on July 28, jolting the shore and sending landslides crashing down steep coastal mountains. With few, if any structures nearby, damage was minimal.
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Resilience Advantage Takes A Break in August
The Resilience Advantage webinar series will take a break in August and return in September.
Catch up on webinar episodes you may have missed here.
CERT program links neighbors for help after emergencies
A program that trains neighbors to help neighbors after disasters got its start in Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Citizens Emergency Response Teams provide education and training on basic disaster response skills, including first aid, search and rescue, and fire safety. Read more
Mystery Earthquake Just a Sonic Boom
Last month, people living between West Covina, Long Beach and Santa Monica reported what they thought was earthquake shaking.
However, the July 9 event was a sonic boom, originating in San Dimas, according to the United States Geological Survey.
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Hospitals push back on earthquake resilience plan
A plan to make California hospitals more resilient against earthquakes is being challenged by the California Hospital Association, which asked Gov. Newsom to extend the deadline seven years, to 2037, and reduce requirements.
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Missouri quake insurance rates increase sharply
The number of homeowners with earthquake insurance in Missouri has dropped to historic lows, after costs for premiums rose by 760%, with many insurers offering coverage with deductibles at 25% the value of the insured home. “We are very concerned,” the state’s insurance director said.
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Financial incentives can help owners make buildings safe
It’s been a difficult year for rental income property owners with up to 20% of Southern California tenants behind on rent. How would much worse would it be for these owners if a major quake struck? Resources need to be put in place to help make buildings safer, without breaking the bank.
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UCSD structures at ‘severe’ risk of earthquake damage
U.C. San Diego, one of the world’s top research centers for earthquake safety, has several buildings at serious or severe risk to life, according to a seismic safety survey done of several UC campuses in 2020. These vulnerable structures include student housing, theaters, cafes and laboratories.
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Upcoming Events
Several Earthquake Retrofit sessions for apartment owners and monthly Resilience Advantage webinars are scheduled by Optimum Seismic to help protect our communities. Check the Optimum Seismic website for details.
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