Seismic retrofits: It's what you don't know that can hurt you

December 2018 Newsletter.

Ali Sahabi Drop, cover and hold on. If you remember anything about earthquakes, make it this. I found reports of last week’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Anchorage alarming due to the countless descriptions I read of people panicking and running out of buildings into the street. That brought to mind the tragic story of two workers who died rushing out of an unreinforced masonry building during the Paso Robles earthquake of 2003, resulting in a $2 million verdict against the building owner for not taking action to retrofit a structure he knew was vulnerable to damage or collapse. Thankfully, there is now growing interest in making our cities more resilient against natural disaster. It’s a mindset that dramatically improved the outcome of Alaska’s most recent quake. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about your retrofit needs and how to best protect your assets.

Ali Sahabi, GEC
Principal, Optimum Seismic, Inc.

Resilience Effort Pays Off for Alaska, Following 7.0 Quake

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House Passes Bill to Enhance Earthquake Safety

A bill co-authored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein is poised to be signed into law to enhance a broad number of earthquake safety features, including early warning, monitoring and research.
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NASA Mars Study to Reveal Insight into Earth’s Tectonics

NASA’s InSight space probe recently touched down on Mars for a two-year mission to monitor seismic activity and transmit data that will help scientists better understand the plate tectonics of our Earth.
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California Approves Rate Reduction for Policy Owners

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones just approved a rate reduction for California Earthquake Authority earthquake policyholders that will “bring millions of dollars in premium savings for tens of thousands in the state.”
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Big Quake Could Leave Seattle Area Without Water

A new seismic analysis shows that Seattle area residents could be without water for one to two months after a major quake. Every neighborhood would lose tap water for drinking, showering, flushing – and firefighting. “We’re looking at very significant impacts,” one analyst said.
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Scientists: 2016 Quake Drew New Zealand Islands Closer

Scientists determined that New Zealand’s 7.8-magnitude earthquake in 2016 caused the north and south islands to move closer to each other. The rare quake ruptured on at least 25 fault lines, causing significant land movement.
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