Reducing Earthquake Losses Throughout the United States

Pay a Little Now, or a Lot Later

Odds are 2-in-3 that at least one disastrous earthquake will strike the San Francisco Bay Area before 2020. Faced with this threat, corporations and government agencies have stepped up efforts that will reduce future losses by billions of dollars.

When the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area, it revealed the vulnerability of a major metropolitan area to the damage and death that can result from a major earthquake. Unfortunately, Loma Prieta did not reduce the chances for future large earthquakes and even more devastation in the Bay Area. In 1990 the U.S. Geological Survey issued a report presenting geologic evidence for one or more destructive earthquakes to occur before the year 2020. This report served as a call to action for companies and government agencies to intensify efforts to reduce future losses. As shown in the following examples, considerable effort and millions of dollars are being spent now to save lives and billions later.

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CALTRANS' strengthening of the intersection of two major Bay Area freeways- I-280 overpass of U.S. 101 in San Francisco.

ACTIONS BY UTILITIES

Utilities are spending hundreds of millions of dollars each year to safeguard critical "lifeline" transportation, power, water, and communication systems.

California Department of Transportation (CALTRANS)

Strengthening San Francisco Bay bridges, including approaches and toll plazas
Strengthening elevated freeway sections and overpasses throughout the area

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD)

Proposed a $189 million seismic improvement program
Held public meetings to explain the program to ratepayers
Expects to save $1.2 billion in a future earthquake

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)

Implementing a company-wide seismic safety plan to help ensure that power and gas systems function after an earthquake.
Spending $100 million each year to protect lives and reduce the risk of service disruption to customers
Replacing100 miles of old, vulnerable gas pipe each year
Replacing vulnerable transformers, circuit breakers, and other at-risk components of the electric system
Replacing or strengthening substation buildings and other system structures

Pacific Bell Telephone (PacBell)

Strengthening data centers and buildings that house equipment supporting emergency telecommunications services
Installing backup power generators

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This U.S. Geological Survey pamphlet alerted Bay Area residents to the 2-in-3 chance for a major earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area and assisted them in preparing for future shocks. More than 3 million copies in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Braille editions have been distributed.

ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Local governments are using hundreds of millions of dollars of general obligation bonds, approved by 2/3 of voters, to strengthen critical public facilities and to train employees and citizens to respond effectively to earthquakes.

Berkeley

Training in disaster response for neighborhoods
Training in search and rescue, disaster first aid, and fire suppression
Passed a $55 million bond issue, including funds for a new independent emergency water system to protect vulnerable business district and residences from fires
Salt water pumping stations near San Francisco Bay
Grid of water pipes and hydrants in West Berkeley
75,000-gallon cisterns
Formed citizens oversight committee to assess city's efforts

Oakland

Passed $50 million bond issue
New emergency response center
Emergency shelter areas at schools
Search-and-rescue capability

San Francisco

Upgrade of extensive emergency water system built after the 1906 earthquake
Shaking-activated shutoff valves to isolate vulnerable sections of pipe
Computer control of system operation from several command posts
Strengthen vulnerable major public buildings, such as the City Hall, Opera House, Civic Auditorium, and Veterans Building
Passed $350 million bond issue to finance the strengthening of vulnerable, privately owned unreinforced masonry structures (URMs)
Vulnerable commercial-use URMs tagged "hazardous" at public entrance
Geologic conditions are used to set scheduling priorities for strengthening

San Leandro

Passed $18 million bond issue to strengthen fire and police stations and public buildings
Established radio station to provide earthquake-preparedness information
Assists residents to strengthen homes
Detailed, easy-to-understand instructions
Loan of necessary tools
Free, rapid inspection by city
Certification to homeowners that home has been strengthened to city standards

Sunnyvale

Conducts "Sunnyvale Neighborhoods Actively Prepare" (SNAP) program
Prepares neighborhoods of 35-50 homes to be self-sufficient for 72 hours
Identifies captains and provides extensive training to neighborhoods

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Homeowners in San Leandro strengthening their residences-installing expansion bolt to secure wood frame to concrete foundation (left) and nailing plywood to reinforce cripple wall (right).

ACTIONS BY CORPORATIONS

Corporations are protecting their employees and facilities from earthquakes and taking steps to minimize the disruption of their business operations.

Genentech

Strengthening all structures now to be operational within one week after an earthquake
Preparing earthquake response plan
Backup data and documents off-site
Stock disaster-response command center to sustain all employees for 72 hours
Maintain own search-and-rescue team
Train on-site with the South San Francisco Fire Department and fund companion training for South San Francisco Fire Department personnel

Hewlett-Packard

Evaluated and strengthened all structures to assure life safety of employees
Assessing susceptibility of structures to damage and business disruption

IBM

Evaluated and strengthened all owned and leased buildings
Started monthly inspection of facilities to assure furniture and internal fixtures are adequately braced

Chevron

Established disaster-response communication plan for employees and their families
Located radio transceivers at 14 sites in the Bay Area
Reinforcing refineries
Strengthening of potentially vulnerable structures
Strengthening of main crude supply line at Richmond refinery
Established building-specific inspection plans for office buildings
Documented pre-earthquake condition of critical structural elements
Developed post-earthquake inspection plans for those same structural elements
Developed plans with city inspectors so Chevron can "red tag" or "green tag" their own buildings

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Steel bracing (red beams) added to strengthen a Hewlett-Packard concrete-frame fuilding in Santa Clara, CA.

Through improved understanding of past earthquakes, earth scientists have refined estimates of the high likelihood for an imminent destructive earthquake in the Bay Area. As shown by the preceding examples, this information has motivated many communities and corporations to prepare. By planning for emergencies, by training people in what actions to take, and by strengthening facilities with improved seismic resistance, we can better survive earthquakes. The cost of these preparations, which will reduce losses during the next big earthquake, is a small fraction of what would be spent without them.

William H. Bakun

For more information contact:
Earthquake Information Hotline (415) 329-4085
U.S. Geological Survey, MS 977
345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025
USGS Menlo Park Earthquakes Home Page

U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet-169-95 1995

Web page by Will Prescott - 1996 April 9

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