Earthquake fear (Los Angeles, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks: 2014, homeowners insurance, how much)

[liberal8]

Hi,
I am considering relocating to Ventura county from east coast, but looking at earthquake activity/faults map is just plain scary - the county is one of the most active seismic zones in CA in the US and pretty much every city is built on top of some fault! Besides they all predict another big one is coming.
How scary it is for folks living there? Did you get used to it? Anybody survived the Northridge quake?

[nightlysparrow]

Originally Posted by liberal8

Hi,
I am considering relocating to Ventura county from east coast, but looking at earthquake activity/faults map is just plain scary - the county is one of the most active seismic zones in CA in the US and pretty much every city is built on top of some fault! Besides they all predict another big one is coming.
How scary it is for folks living there? Did you get used to it? Anybody survived the Northridge quake?

Not sure which of the zillions of fault maps you are looking at, but Ventura County is not very "active." The west county is considered more vulnerable that the east county. But check the Bay Area if you want to see fault risk. In the Northridge quake, I did lose a flowerpot on the patio.

Older article, but not in geologic time:
Quake Studies Bode Well for East County : Seismology: New investigations show that Conejo Valley has no major active faults and that most of Thousand Oaks lies above bedrock. - Los Angeles Times

However, if you fear earthquakes that much, suggest staying where you are, where there's only hurricanes, blizzards, tornados, floods, etc.

[liberal8]

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

Not sure which of the zillions of fault maps you are looking at, but Ventura County is not very "active."
Older article, but not in geologic time:
Quake Studies Bode Well for East County : Seismology: New investigations show that Conejo Valley has no major active faults and that most of Thousand Oaks lies above bedrock. - Los Angeles Times

It is an old article, new studies show there's active dangerous fault right under Ventura city:

Ventura earthquake fault more dangerous than previously thought, geologists say » Ventura County Star

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

However, if you fear earthquakes that much, suggest staying where you are, where there's only hurricanes, blizzards, tornados, floods, etc

All these events are predictable and escapable, unlike earthquakes...

[nightlysparrow]

Deaths Northridge Earthquake: 57 (16 of those were in a single building)
Deaths Hurricane Sandy: 285

California is not for disaster wimps. We have 'em all, somewhere in the state.

[liberal8]

Originally Posted by nightlysparrow

Deaths Northridge Earthquake: 57 (16 of those were in a single building)
Deaths Hurricane Sandy: 285

California is not for disaster wimps. We have 'em all, somewhere in the state.

Actually Sandy death toll was 73 for US only.
Thanks for the information which is mostly useless, but now I know you are a very brave person who doesn't fear to get killed by a falling roof or highway - hey at least you live in warm climate.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Most people do not get hurt because of the earthquake. It is the stuff that fell down that hurts the most. You jump out of bed and get cut on some broken glass that fell to the ground. If you want to live here the best thing to do is visit your local hardware store, Home Depot and get the items you need to mount your stuff to the wall. Book cases should be secured, other tall furnishings should be secured. Pictures, mirrors, or other items hung on a wall need to be secured. Drawers and cabinets should have latches or other devices added to them to keep them from opening.

The garage is another thing that you need to make sure is secure. One guy had stuff fall onto his late model BMW that caused a lot of damage. Damage that could have been avoided if the items in the garages had been secured better.

We always have flash lights near by. The tools to shut off the gas are in a handy place. We keep lots of drinking water at our home and in our cars. Also a 72 hour kit at home. Our kids school keeps them for each child as well. I wouldn't buy a 72 hour kit because one size does not fit all. I know what I like to eat and I know how much water I will need for 3 days. Most kits are not built that way. Don't for get the prescriptions if you need them. At the home we keep at least a one month supply of items ready to go, just in case. In addition cash is king and we keep it in our 72 hour kits, our cars, and at our home.

[DinsdalePirahna]

We are due (we seem to have a real good shaker every 20 years or so. Last one was in Northridge in 1994.
Even then its nothing to really worry about. Damage is usually very localized.

We have a bunch of Blithering Idiots on our news channels here. The make the littlest drizzle come of like Superstorm Sandy, so you can imagine what they do with earthquakes and fires...

Just stay prepared and you will be fine.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

There are beds of non fossilized clam shells up on top of Sulfur Mountain. Plate Tectonics. A thing of beauty.

[sponger42]

Originally Posted by liberal8

Hi,
I am considering relocating to Ventura county from east coast, but looking at earthquake activity/faults map is just plain scary - the county is one of the most active seismic zones in CA in the US and pretty much every city is built on top of some fault! Besides they all predict another big one is coming.
How scary it is for folks living there? Did you get used to it? Anybody survived the Northridge quake?

Not scary at all. The tough call is whether to double your homeowners insurance against an event that is pretty unlikely. Ventura doesn't have many highrises, most construction is wood frame, which is pretty robust when it comes to shaking. The freeway isn't elevated, and there are so few overpasses and bridges (the county is pretty flat with pretty mountains in the distance) that I probably spend less than 5 minutes of my day on or under any elevated structure.

Earthquakes--especially those of a magnitude predicted, and experienced here in the past--are pretty localized. Certainly moreso than hurricanes, tsunami, or blizzards. Even should "the big one" ever hit, it's likely to be along a more major fault than those that run under Ventura.

Furthermore, earthquakes are now predictable. California improving its seismic sensor network to deliver public alerts a few minutes before major earthquakes hit. Japan already has such a public alert system in place, and Taiwan uses one to stop it's high-speed rail when an incoming quake is detected. Even though it will take a few years (possibly decades) to complete the system, it is likely to be ready before the next "big one" hits somewhere in CA. With even a few minutes' warning, there will be plenty of time to get out of any structure before the temblor hits.

Anyway, if you're really doing an honest assessment of danger to you in your everyday life, driving on those narrow, crumbling, icy, New England roads is much more deadly than any threat from California earthquakes.

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

Originally Posted by sponger42

Furthermore, earthquakes are now predictable. California improving its seismic sensor network to deliver public alerts a few minutes before major earthquakes hit. Japan already has such a public alert system in place, and Taiwan uses one to stop it's high-speed rail when an incoming quake is detected. Even though it will take a few years (possibly decades) to complete the system, it is likely to be ready before the next "big one" hits somewhere in CA. With even a few minutes' warning, there will be plenty of time to get out of any structure before the temblor hits.

Anyway, if you're really doing an honest assessment of danger to you in your everyday life, driving on those narrow, crumbling, icy, New England roads is much more deadly than any threat from California earthquakes.

Currently we are building a new hospital right behind the current hospital. It is the first of its kind to be built in the United States. The Japanese have been using a similar building style for many years. Back a few years ago when they had an earthquake in Japan buildings like the one we are currently constructing survived the earthquake. Because it is a new style of construction, with 2,230 or so 40 feet deep pillars cored at 23 feet below ground level, Our basement foundation is 23 feet below ground level. This is to tie the building to the ground, making a sure foundation. Ventura and Oxnard have a ground content that can become like jello during an earthquake. This new style (new to California) of constuction helps eliviate the effects of an earthquake. The new building can take an earthquake larger than any the Ventura area will ever have.

So that we could get the permit to build the state wanted a seismic sensor test location incorporated into the design of the building. One sensor is 100 feet below the basement. Another is just below the concrete at 40 feet down. Another is at the 10 feet mark. The building will also have over 300 sensors all over the 325,000 square foot structure. The state also had us put in another site on virgin land a block away from the new building, testing at 100, 40, and 10 feet levels. Information goes directly to the state on what is happening in the area around the hospital.