October 2021, Newsletter
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
New L.A. museum showcases building resilience
Los Angeles’ new Academy Museum is proud of its earthquake resilience. Eight massive base isolators line the modern domed structure, showing the world it is ready for seismic forces that may come its way. Designed to sustain up to 30 inches of differential displacement, the isolators can absorb nearly 3 feet of ground movement before anyone inside would start to feel anything. Visit OptimumSeismic.com to learn more about structural measures used today to make buildings safer.
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California Earthquake Threats Focus of Resilience Advantage
California’s earthquake threats stretch north from San Diego to Eureka and from the Pacific to our eastern border. In between, Los Angeles, San Francisco and many smaller communities await the Big One. Knowing the risks facing all Californians can enable us to become better prepared and more resilient before the next major quake strikes.
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Washington schools start new year with ‘F’ on quake safety
Tens of thousands of public school students in Washington state returned to classes this month in school buildings judged to be at risk of collapse in a strong earthquake. A new report to the state Legislature prepared by state geologists and a structural engineering firm gave the lowest possible seismic safety rating to more than 90 percent of the school buildings assessed in a selective statewide survey.
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Orange County lawmakers call for strict building oversight
Here, in the heart of earthquake country, there is no law requiring routine inspections of older building. Some Orange County lawmakers think that should change. “The Surfside building collapse was an incredible tragedy, one which must never happen again,” said Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine.
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Eerie blue lights reported following Acapulco earthquake
Mexicans are sharing spectacular videos of bursts of blue lights streaking across the skies after a strong 7.0 earthquake rocked the city of Acapulco. Physicist Troy Shinbrot said the lights are fairly common, caused by friction of rock near the earth’s crust.
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New fault map may hamper San Diego development
Maps released last month of earthquake-prone areas in the city of San Diego may dramatically affect where new structures can be built. The California Geological Survey developed the map to identify where governments must require geological and engineering studies prior to construction.
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Can animals sense earthquakes before they strike?
Minutes before an earthquake shook Melbourne last month, several reported noticing their pets acting strangely. Can animals predict earthquakes? Experts say no, but they may serve as a living “early-warning” system — reacting to vibrations too faint for humans to detect.
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Have You Checked Your Building’s Structural Safety?
Making buildings, businesses and multifamily housing structurally safe is a critical job today.
Don’t risk your older building’s failure by neglecting to periodically check its structural safety. Relatively minor problems with your building’s original design and materials can be magnified with the passage of time. Weather, soil conditions and many other factors can combine to weaken older structures.
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Melbourne buildings vulnerable to ‘significant damage’
Buildings in Melbourne – particularly structures with masonry and reinforced concrete – may be vulnerable to “significant damage” even with low seismic activity, according to scientists who have assessed the impacts of the 22 September tremor. Mark Quigley, an associate professor of earthquake science at the University of Melbourne, says: “Parts of Melbourne have extreme vulnerability to relatively low intensities of ground shaking.”
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Australian newscast interrupted by jolt of 5.8 magnitude quake
Australian Broadcast Corporation journalists Michael Rowland and Tony Armstrong react in their TV studio, after a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near Melbourne.
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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