Page 10 - Yucaipa Valley Water District

The U.S. Geological Survey and other agencies have confirmed USC’s numbers, estimating that a temblor
of that size would kill more than 1,800 people, injure 50,000 and cause $200 billion in damage with long-
vi
lasting social and economic impacts. Those residual impacts – as witnessed from past hurricanes,
earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural disasters – test the resiliency of individuals, families,
businesses, neighborhoods, lending institutions, and local, state, even federal governments.

“When you have a big disaster, you lose a lot of money,” Jones told the Pasadena Star News. “There are
things that are broken and wealth that is lost. But also the economic activity of the region stops. All of
those businesses without water, without power and without transportation are no longer producing
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goods and the economic wealth that had been part of that business.”
The great San Francisco earthquake
viii
of 1906 , estimated at 7.8 on the
Richter scale, killed about 3,000 and
displaced as many as 300,000
people who were left homeless
from the destruction. Thousands
fled the city. Even more set up
camps and shantytowns, where they
lived for years during the city’s
arduous reconstruction.

Today, because of improved
building regulations and safer
infrastructure, the damage caused
from earthquakes is much less than
what it was in the past. The United
The San Francisco quake of 1906 left 300,000 people homeless. California has more States Geological Services estimates
than a 99 percent chance of another major quake happening in the next 30 years.
Credit: USGS that more than $30 billion has been
invested in the Bay Area alone to
retrofit buildings, replace bridges and other infrastructure to make it more resilient against
ix
earthquakes.

But we also have not experienced an earthquake of the same or greater magnitude as that infamous San
Francisco tragedy. Our most recent major seismic disasters – in Loma Prieta and Northridge – measured
6.9 and 6.7 respectively. Given the exponential nature of the ascending Richter scale and seismologists’
predictions that we are long overdue for an earthquake of epic proportions that rivals or exceeds the
force of the San Francisco quake, an increasing number of cities are taking notice and hastening to
action to be prepared.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “California has more than a 99 percent chance of having a
magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake within the next 30 years.” The likelihood of an earthquake greater
x
than magnitude 7.5 occurring is 46 percent over the next 30 years.”

PROJECTED LOSS BY REGION

Recognizing this threat, the California Seismic Safety Commission noted that several laws have been
enacted to protect public buildings and infrastructure in the event of an earthquake. “Notably absent

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Yucaipa Valley Water District - March 8, 2018 - Page 10 of 40