USRC Releases White Paper with Seismic Safety Legislation
Growing concern over the threat of a major earthquake in California has sparked a statewide movement for resiliency and pending legislation that calls for the identification of buildings most vulnerable to seismic damage and collapse.
Scientists say that stress along the San Andreas fault has been building with little relief since the mid-1800s. The next "Big One" – which could come at any moment – could be of a magnitude of 7.5 or more. The force of that quake could result in twice the damage of Hurricane Katrina and be up to 45 times more destructive than the Northridge earthquake, they say.