How has there not been any major structural damage or deaths from this earthquake?

[Twinkle Toes]

Our local paper is reporting damage in Mexicali, where the quake was centered and in Calexico, on the US side of the border.


Aftershocks continue to shake Southern California | mydesert.com | The Desert Sun

[bloom]

Originally Posted by thepinksquid

It was a larger magnitude, however it was deeper than the other two--thus less of a ground impact. I think, anyway--someone correct me if I'm wrong.

I don't think this Mexicali one was deeper.

[RLewisH]

Because things are fairly well built here.

[Oerdin]

Originally Posted by destroycreate

I find it strange and miraculous that this quake, bigger than both Loma Prieta/Northridge, hasn't caused major damage of any sort or killed anybody? No freeway overpass collapses, etc? It was right near Mexicali! 7.2 is HUGE...

The reality is California has some of the world's strictest building codes and after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake those building standards were made even tougher with existing buildings required to be earthquake retrofitted up to the new stricter standards. During the Northridge quake those retrofits had not yet been completed and Greater LA was lagging behind on the retrofit schedule due to financial constraints so the Northridge quake hit an area which had not yet been upgraded to the newer standards. All of those earthquake retrofits had to be legally completed by Jan 1st, 2000 though so now they're finished.

Our libertarian friends should think about that for a second. Those "evil" government regulations they whine constantly about are the main reason there was virtually no damage or injuries in California but massive damage and 300,000 deaths in Haiti & China even though the Cali quake was larger then either the Haiti or China quakes. Gee, maybe we actually have government regulations for a reason and they do some good?

[Chelito23]

I agree that if it wasn't for big government's opressive breathing down our necks with strict building codes and requirements, damage could have been much worse, especially in the Imperial Valley.

I think that even when a major quake, like an 8 on the San Andreas hits, most buildings will make it through the quake. They are designed to withstand the shaking but not to fail. That is what is needed. Have you seen the damage from the Imperial Valley on the live you tube videos? The brand new track houses look identical as before the quake. Everything was shaken up, that's it. No real sturctural damage on anything relatively new.

If this same quake ocurred in a country with minimal construction codes, this would have been catastrophic.

This is a time when people should reflect and say, well, this is one of the good things the government DID help us on.