Earthquakes
can be one
of the
most
devastating
natural
disasters.
In
September,
2000, FEMA
released a
study
estimating
annual
earthquake
losses in
the United
States to
be $4.4
billion,
with
California,
Oregon and
Washington
accounting
for $3.3
billion.
The
largest
earthquake
in the
United
States was
the 1964
Alaska
Earthquake,
8.4 on the
Richter
Scale,
caused
$311
million in
damage (in
1964
dollars)
and killed
115
people.
Nationwide,
39 states
are at
high risk
for a
devastating
earthquake.
Earthquake
mitigation,
ranging
from
improved
building
codes to
homeowner
education
to
upgrading
bridges
and other
lifelines,
has had
tremendous
success in
reducing
earthquake
damage.
One
effective
earthquake
mitigation
is
improved
building
codes and
standards.
As a
result of
the
Northridge
Earthquake
of 1994,
in
southern
California,
for
example,
the
greatest
physical
loss was
sustained
by older
buildings
- over
112,000
were
damaged.
However,
according
to a 2000
report on
hazard
mitigation,
those
structures
built
after 1976
performed
significantly
better
than those
built
prior to
1976.
By far the
most
serious
earthquake
damage is
structural,
which can
be hidden
or
apparent,
and can be
cosmetic
or can
compromise
the
structural
integrity
of the
building.
Non-structural
building
damage
might
include
impacts to
sprinklers,
pipes,
suspended
ceilings,
etc.
This
Handbook
The
Earthquake
Hazard
Mitigation
Handbook
for Public
Facilities
(Handbook)
is
intended
to aid
local
jurisdictions
in
identifying
a variety
of
feasible
mitigation
measures
that can
be
implemented.
The
Handbook
includes
projects
that could
either
eligible
or
ineligible
for
disaster
recovery
funding
under the
Public
Assistance
Program.
Frequently,
due to the
urgency to
repair the
facility
following
a
disaster,
long-term
mitigation
opportunities
cannot be
utilized.
This
Handbook
provides
local
jurisdictions
with
mitigation
ideas,
many of
which have
demonstrated
success
and
timeliness.
These
mitigation
measures
should be
used as a
source of
ideas for
potential
mitigation
projects,
regardless
of whether
or not the
facility
will be
eligible
for
disaster
recovery
funding.
Organization
of
mitigation
measures
in this
Handbook:
Damages to
public
facilities
sustained
in an
earthquake
can vary
greatly
depending
upon the
various
failures
or damages
that
occur.
This
Handbook
is
organized
first by
type of
facility,
then by
damages
that are
commonly
sustained
by that
facility.
Each
category
of damage
lists a
selection
of
mitigation
ideas to
consider.
The
general
effectiveness,
limitations,
and
considerations
of each
mitigation
measure
are also
identified.
Engineering,
design,
and
permitting
requirements:
The
Handbook
does not
detail
site-specific
requirements,
as the
engineering
analysis,
design,
and
permitting
of each
project
will vary
widely.
Mitigation
of
structural
elements
most often
will
require a
professional
engineer
who can
provide a
detailed
analysis
of the
structure's
seismic
behavior
to
determine
the
appropriate
actions.
Regulations
&
Considerations:
The
following
considerations
have been
symbolized
for their
reference
in each
mitigation
measure,
and are
defined in
Appendix
A,
"Regulations
and
Considerations."
National
Environmental
Policy
Act
National
Historic
Preservation
Act
Maintenance
Required
to
Maintain
Effectiveness
Project
May
be
Cost-Prohibitive
Professional
Engineer
Required
for
Design
Structure's
Aesthetics
Could
be
Impacted
Mitigation
Keywords:
The
"Glossary
and
Keyword
Index,"
found at
Appendix
B,
provides a
glossary
of terms
used in
the
Handbook
and
identifies
mitigation
keywords,
which are
italicized
and bolded
in the
text. A
keyword is
a
mitigation
element
used in
two or
more
mitigation
measures
in the
Handbook,
and is
intended
to help
the reader
become
familiar
with the
mitigation
element by
understanding
its use in
a
different
measure.
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