ShakeOut 2025: Preparing People and Protecting Buildings

OPTIMUM SEISMIC, INC.

October 2025 NEWSLETTER

ShakeOut 2025: Preparing People and Protecting Buildings

Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal,
Optimum Seismic, Inc.

Mark your calendars for International ShakeOut Day on Thursday, October 16. At 10:16 a.m., millions of people across California and worldwide will practice the lifesaving action of “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” during an earthquake drill. Whether at work, school, or home, this annual event is a great reminder of the importance of earthquake preparedness. While October 16 is the official date, you can register and hold your ShakeOut drill at any time of the year, even virtually with multiple locations.

At Optimum Seismic, we believe earthquake safety goes beyond practicing drills. While ShakeOut prepares individuals to respond in the moment, seismic retrofitting protects buildings, businesses, and communities for the long term. Retrofitting strengthens vulnerable structures, reduces the risk of catastrophic damage, and minimizes costly repairs and disruptions. Together, practicing earthquake safety and investing in seismic retrofits are essential steps in building resilience for when, not if, the next earthquake strikes.

Can one of L.A.’s tallest towers survive a huge quake? L.A. County won’t tell the public what its report found

Scientists have identified a previously unknown seismic phenomenon that was likely responsible for Europe’s largest recorded earthquake that struck Lisbon in 1755, killing tens of thousands.

Researchers led by the University of Lisbon found that a piece of tectonic plate sinking in an area of the Atlantic Ocean under the Iberian Peninsula was responsible for this 8.6 magnitude megaquake.
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Powerful earthquake in central Philippines kills at least 69

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake in the central Philippines on Tuesday killed at least 69 people and injured another 147, according to the Office of Civil Defense and the Philippines’ National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center. The shaking damaged numerous businesses and has left towns without power and communication.
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Could your Portland-area school crumble in an earthquake? 10 takeaways

In the face of a looming Cascadia earthquake, an Oregonian/OregonLive investigation into the structural integrity of Portland-area schools revealed that years after initial warnings, many students attend class in buildings vulnerable to collapse during a major seismic event. Here are 10 takeaways from The Oregonian/OregonLive’s four-part series on school seismic safety in the Portland area.
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Retrofits Reduce Tenant Impacts, Preserve Rental Income

Apartment owners faced with any major renovation, repair or alteration of their building are often concerned with the impacts construction could have on their tenants and whether the work will require added expenses.

These extra costs can include paying for additional precautions to minimize impacts, establishing alternative parking when assigned spaces are unavailable, and, in very unusual cases, covering the costs for tenants to move to other living quarters until construction is done.
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Ali Sahabi & Senator Laura Richardson Connect at BizFed Freshman Policy Event

This year’s BizFed Freshman Policymakers Reception at the Grammy Museum brought together 79 newly elected officials from across Los Angeles County, along with business and community leaders, for an evening of connection, collaboration, and celebration. Optimum Seismic’s Ali Sahabi joined California State Senator Laura Richardson and other civic leaders in supporting BizFed’s mission to strengthen the partnership between business and government while fostering a stronger and more resilient Southern California.
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Earthquake Retrofitting Company in Southern California

The Optimum Seismic team has been one of the leading engineering and construction companies dealing with earthquake retrofits and renovations in California since 1984. We are available to help with analysis or construction of your project.
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