July 2022, Newsletter
Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.
Quake destruction in Afghanistan highlight inequities in safe housing
Dreadful images of earthquake rubble in Afghanistan stir many emotions. I feel grateful to live in a place where modern building codes ensure the safety of my community — and fortunate we have the resources to pay for those higher standards. Still, I feel very badly that 1,000 lives lost in the June 21 quake could have been spared, had their homes been built to last.
There is similar disparity between the haves and have-nots here in California. The distinction is more nuanced, but earthquake risk affects a disproportionate number of people in our more vulnerable communities because more affordable housing is generally comprised of older buildings built before modern building codes.
Upgrading these structures to withstand earthquakes protects our more affordable housing, and the people who live in it. Surely, we can find the means to ensure all members of our community are protected.
If you think your building is at risk of damage in an earthquake, call 833 978-7664 or visit OptimumSeismic.com to find the right solution for you.
Devastating quake strikes Afghanistan, 1,000 dead
Afghanistan appealed for international help to cope with devastation left by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake. The temblor killed more than 1,000 people and injured many others. Lack of infrastructure and resources hampered rescue efforts.
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Tsunami waves 42 feet high could hit Seattle
A simulation by Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) shows the potential tsunami impact of a 7.5-magnitude earthquake on the Seattle Fault.
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Washington State may pay $1 billion for school retrofits
Washington’s legislature approved $100 million to upgrade schools at risk from earthquakes and tsunamis. Some lawmakers say as much as $1 billion is needed. About 70% of the state’s 4,400 schools are in high-risk earthquake zones, and 700 were built before 1960s.
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$1 billion in hospital retrofit aid requested
Coachella Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia asked the legislature to provide $1 billion to help public hospitals do seismic retrofits. State law, passed after the Northridge Quake of 1994, requires vulnerable hospitals to rebuild or retrofit by Jan. 1, 2030 to remain functional after quakes. Hospitals must do an engineering evaluation by January, 2024.
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FEMA OKs funds for school retrofit in Puerto Rico
FEMA has allocated $150 million to retrofit some 55 Puerto Rico schools at risk of earthquake damage. Built to outdated construction codes they have defects such as short columns and unreinforced masonry walls. (Photo: School destroyed in a 2020 earthquake.)
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California’s balcony law deadline nears
Balconies, decks and elevated walkways present significant liability to apartment owners. A series of collapses, including the 2015 Berkeley collapse i, pictured here, prompted new California laws requiring regular inspections to ensure structural safety. Apartment owners must have complete inspections and submit reports by Jan. 1, 2025.
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Apartment owners pack balcony workshops
Workshops on California’s new balcony laws have been well attended by apartment owners wanting information about required inspections and repairs that must be completed by Jan. 1, 2025. Events were hosted in partnership with the Apartment Association of Greater Los Angeles and Apartment Association of Orange County.
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Historic quake nearly destroyed a civilization
Scientists have identified the largest known earthquake, a 9.5 temblor 3,800 years ago in Chile that propelled car-sized boulders and caused tsunamis throughout the Pacific. It forced villagers to relocate inland in fear of devastating tsunamis. New research shows the coastal area was not repopulated for thousands of years – due to a cultural memory of the devastating event that lasted for many generations.
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