Ever worry about LA Earthquake risk? (San Diego, San Francisco: power lines, home, transfer)

[PaddyMac]

Originally Posted by Jakehorror

Honestly, I'm much more afraid of all these damn Tornado's we have been getting. The town 15 miles south of me just got leveled a few weeks ago by a twister. 1000's out of power, all the factories destroyed, it's a mess there. EVERY area has something to worry about.

Before Northridge is was possible to get decent earthquark insurance, but the state insurance is pretty lame now. So although you may survive, your pocketbook might not if you have a house to rebuild.

If anyone is looking for the a low-disaster area, check out Albuquerque and New Mexico. They don't get earthquakes, hurricanes, or tornadoes. Worse weather event might be a little flooding or occasional snow, or dry lightning that could start a forest fire.

[Charles]

Standard single story (and to a lesser extent two story) wood frame ranch type houses (which are extremely common in Southern California) are virtually indestructible in an earthquake. They have many load bearing walls and a low center of gravity. The only thing that takes these type homes down is a fire (which could start from an earthquake.)

[matt345]

LA's traffic problem is constantly blamed on sprawl and the single family homes that were built instead of high rise apartment buildings. While I feel that a more dense LA with a more extensive transit system is very desirable, I have to wonder, what if LA had been built completely Manhattan-style? Wouldn't that just be asking for a massive disaster the next time a big earthquake hits?

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by matt345

LA's traffic problem is constantly blamed on sprawl and the single family homes that were built instead of high rise apartment buildings. While I feel that a more dense LA with a more extensive transit system is very desirable, I have to wonder, what if LA had been built completely Manhattan-style? Wouldn't that just be asking for a massive disaster the next time a big earthquake hits?

Well, San Francisco is very dense with many high-rises, and that city sits directly over the San Andreas fault. Southern CA, from Ventura to San Diego, is beginning to see more and more high-rise condos. Personally, I wouldn't want to be in one during an earthquake.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

Originally Posted by cre8

Well, San Francisco is very dense with many high-rises, and that city sits directly over the San Andreas fault. Southern CA, from Ventura to San Diego, is beginning to see more and more high-rise condos. Personally, I wouldn't want to be in one during an earthquake.

That is one of the main reasons I am hesistant to purchase one of those new Downtown Lofts. I'll wait until after the next big earthquake when people are scared out of their wits and move back to whatever mid west town they came from. Prices would be much better then.

[Winston Smith]

Originally Posted by DaBeez

That is one of the main reasons I am hesistant to purchase one of those new Downtown Lofts. I'll wait until after the next big earthquake when people are scared out of their wits and move back to whatever mid west town they came from. Prices would be much better then.

LOL! Yeah, I remember after the '94 Northridge quake hearing a radio interview with a guy who lived in one of the towers in Marina Del Rey. I can only imagine the shaking in a high-rise condo there, where it's all built on fill -- major amplification/liquefaction. The guy said he was so scared out of his wits that he would return as fast as possible to Chicago. My guess is he wasn't alone in that reverse migration on the eastbound I-40.

[JackSparrow]

Actually, modern high rises have pretty good earthquake neutralizing hardware underneath them. I'd take my chances in any REALLY modern building or and REALLY REALLY old building over a 1980's built property.

I work in a building built in 1930. It's weathered all the big ones.

I LIVE in a building that was built in 1989 I think, and has been "retrofitted" to the new standards.

I feel safer at work.

[PaddyMac]

FYI - If you ever feel a shake or a "bump" then you can get feedback on where and when almost immediate online at this website:

Recent Earthquakes in California and Nevada - Index Map

Remember that just because it felt like a gentle roll to you, may just mean it was a major earthquake a long way away from you (the longer and more dispersed the wave, the further away it is from the epicenter). A little "bump" usually means a small settling nearby.

Also, the high frequencies of the quake travel faster than the low frequencies, so sometimes you'll feel a little rattle right before the big jolt.

During the Northridge quake we were living in Calabasas; I'd no idea how fast and violent the waves could be when you were close to the epicenter of a strong quake. Think of how you might bop up and down at a rock concert - then imagine you videotaped it and sped it up five times ... then try to imagine how your body would feel if that were really happening...

Up until Northridge, I thought earthquakes were kinda fun, but they got my full respect after that...! But on a day-to-day basis, I must admit you just don't think about them. Just be prepared. And get in the habit of leaving a flashlight, some clothes and sneakers within reach of your bed in case it happens during the night.

[atina33]

Sure seems like "earthquake weather" to me today.http://pics3.city-data.com/forum/ima...ilies/wink.gif

[greggd]

I prefer earthquakes to any other type of natural disaster. Floods, Tornados, and Hurricanes are a mess. At least with an earthquake you can stand outside if your concerned for your safety. Things just fall over and you can pick them up.

During the Northridge quake I layed in bed comfortably knowing that those x braces and tension cables I insisted on, to the point of yelling, were doing their job quite nicely.

Earthquakes are blown way out of proportion by mid west, east coast news media and bitter relatives who stayed behind many years ago.