California Defends Quake Readiness With $125 Million, as Experts Warn Damage Could Still Hit $1 Trillion
Updated
Updated · Daily Signal · Aug 20
California Defends Quake Readiness With $125 Million, as Experts Warn Damage Could Still Hit $1 Trillion
3 articles · Updated · Daily Signal · Aug 20
Summary
$125 million in earthquake early-warning spending anchors California's case that it is ready to respond to a major quake, alongside retrofits, bridge work, upgraded communications and added rescue staffing.
Experts say that preparation will not prevent severe losses because California has 700 active faults, including more than 300 in Southern California capable of magnitude 6 or larger quakes, and damage depends heavily on where shaking hits.
Los Angeles faces a separate weak point in its water system: more than 30% of its 6,800 miles of distribution mainlines are over 80 years old, raising the risk that quake damage could cut firefighting water when fires break out.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake could cause about $1 trillion in destruction, and officials acknowledge that transportation, utilities, communications and housing could all fail at once across a broad region.