Is the West Coast Prepared for the Next Big Earthquake?
Experts predict the West Coast should be prepared for the next big earthquake to hit very soon, as early as tomorrow! Are you ready?
Mid-December of 2022, USA Today released the article, ‘It could happen tomorrow’: Experts know disaster upon disaster looms for West Coast in which, “Scientists say a massive quake could strike the San Francisco Bay Area at any moment. And when it does, the city can expect to be slammed with a force equal to hundreds of atomic bombs.” Are we doing all is necessary to prepare?
On December 20, 2022, at 2:34 a.m., a magnitude 6.4 earthquake occurred near Ferndale, a small community about 210 miles northwest of San Francisco. This quake left 70,000 people without power, damaged infrastructure, and many without water, not to mention injuries and a couple of fatalities.
The devastation the big one will cause in highly dense areas is inconceivable.
The SEAOC, Structural Engineers Association of California, assists with various resources for earthquake preparation and response. This event serves as another opportunity to remind ourselves and the public to be prepared for natural disasters and hazards.
In addition, SEAOC collaborates and discusses the potential for aftershocks and the possibility of increased magnitude events. Aftershocks may further damage or cause the collapse of buildings or structures that were compromised during the main shock and can occur at any time up to hours, weeks, and even years after the initial event.
Prepare for “the big one” with commercial seismic retrofits and structural assessments. Saunders Seismic is here to help protect buildings across the West Coast. Contact us today!