OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.
July 2026 NEWSLETTER
Lessons from Venezuela: Why Earthquake Preparedness Matters
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
The recent earthquakes in Venezuela are a stark reminder of the importance of earthquake preparedness. Engineers had long warned that older buildings, particularly those with soft-story conditions, outdated designs, and inadequate seismic reinforcement, were at a high risk of collapse during a major earthquake. Tragically, those warnings became reality, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life.
For California property owners, the lesson is clear. Seismic retrofitting is one of the most effective ways to strengthen vulnerable buildings, protect residents, and reduce the risk of catastrophic damage. Preparing today can help save lives, preserve housing, and build stronger, more resilient communities before the next earthquake strikes.
Four-legged heroes: international dog squad helps save lives after Venezuela earthquakes
Sniffing and burrowing his way through the rubble of Venezuela’s devastating earthquakes, Tsunami the mixed-breed border collie was out on one last job before retirement.
Recognizable by his heterochromia – with one eye brown and the other blue – he has helped locate several people trapped beneath the debris over the past 10 days.
Chinatown clinic begins much-needed seismic retrofit
A multimillion-dollar seismic upgrade to one of Chinatown’s oldest health-care institutions, the Chinatown Public Health Center, began Tuesday.
The center, previously known as Health Center Number Four, is a community health clinic that has offered primary care for adults and children at its current Mason Street location since 1971.
Expert explains why some buildings collapse during earthquakes
How do engineers design buildings capable of withstanding earthquakes?
It depends on the height of the buildings. It’s not the just the strength. You have to make sure that the building is able to sway because during the earthquake, basically the ground is shaking. It has to have enough ductility [the physical property that allows it to survive stress such as stretching or pulling without fracturing.
A Brewery Setting The Standard For Earthquake Resilience
Few would consider a brewery as a source of earthquake resilience lessons, but Anheuser-Busch has substantial experience in this area. After its Van Nuys brewery sustained significant damage in the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, the company invested $11 million to retrofit the site’s structures for future seismic events—a decision that proved wise when the Northridge quake struck in 1994.
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Making Our Cities Safer Project Highlights July 2026
