Background
Since the start of the twentieth century, American citizens in thirty-nine states have experienced earthquakes and lacked preparedness due to the unpredictability of earthquakes. The United States is fortunate that no major event has been recorded since 1994. California is the state in the country most likely to experience earthquakes, particularly in Southern California.
Despite the unpredictability of this natural calamity, humans have made a less concerted effort to prevent deaths or injuries. People often lack sufficient information on what to do in the event of an emergency and how to react. This is important because earthquakes only cause harm or death when objects fall on them. Understanding this will help them avoid items that can fall on them, especially in areas where they are vulnerable.
An earthquake occurs when the Earth’s surface experiences tremors or shakes, releasing energy that results in seismic waves. The extent of the destruction and harm caused by earthquakes is determined by the local geology, magnitude, intensity period, and risk-management measures available.
The body of this paper provides a detailed explanation of the history of earthquakes in California, their negative impact on people’s lives, the likelihood of future occurrences, and risk-management strategies. From 1998 to 2017, it is estimated that about seven hundred thousand people worldwide died due to the events, and more than one hundred twenty-five million others were impacted during this duration.
History of Earthquakes in California
As suggested earlier, the United States is not new to earthquakes. For instance, the New Madrid event in 1811 is recorded as among the largest in the country’s history. The occurrence, which had its epicenter in Missouri, was experienced in areas one thousand miles away. In addition, four minor quakes in the middle of December 2009 were noticed in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kentucky (Ben-Zion & Zaliapin, 2019).
These four did not significantly impact the people compared to the previous one, since the highest magnitude reached was 3.1. Between the twentieth century and now, such events have been witnessed about thirty-nine times. In 2008, minor events affected Nevada and Illinois. It is recorded that since 1994, the country’s mainland has not experienced an earthquake of 6.7 magnitude or higher (Zhan, 2020). This is good news as it gives hope that only mild quakes will happen.
However, California remains at a higher risk than any other place in the U.S. of experiencing an earthquake in the near future. A study reveals that over the next thirty years, there is a ninety-nine percent chance of an earthquake similar to the 1994 Northridge event occurring in the state. The Northridge and the 1989 Loma Prieta occurrences are regarded as some of the costliest events in the nation’s history (Brodsky, 2019).
This is according to the data provided after the insured losses. In 2011, the former cost approximately twenty billion dollars, which placed it first on the rankings, whereas the Loma Prieta recorded about two billion dollars. The San Francisco event of the early 1900s is second on the list, having recorded four billion dollars (Rundle et al., 2022). Despite almost three decades after the Northridge event, only one in eight residents in California have their businesses or homes insured for calamity-caused property loss.
Negative Impact on People’s Lives
Tsunamis, landslides, fires, and fault ruptures mainly cause destruction from earthquakes. The violent shaking of the ground results in property losses and injuries. The collapse of roads, buildings, and infrastructure in California led to eight of the ten costliest events in the past century (Nanjo, 2020). The United States Geological Survey reports a high likelihood that an earthquake of 6.7 magnitude or higher will impact the San Francisco Bay Area within the next thirty years (Chen et al., 2020).
Southern areas of the state are sixty percent likely to experience an event of that capacity in the same timeframe. The main earthquake danger is the rupture of the Earth’s surface, which can occur due to horizontal or vertical movement on either side of a fault (Chen et al., 2020). Ground displacement, which can affect large land areas, can cause significant harm to structures, pipelines, railways, and roads.
An earthquake can trigger mudslides and landslides, especially in areas with waterlogged soil. The latter may lead to falling rocks and debris that collide with trees, people, buildings, vehicles, and animals. In addition to harming individuals by either causing death or injuries, it can disrupt utility lines or block roads, which affects how people live. Furthermore, shaking caused by an earthquake can turn loose soil into a liquid, a process known as liquefaction (Cheng & Ben-Zion, 2019). This can weaken the foundations of buildings and supports of bridges and pipelines, resulting in their dissolution or collapse.
Apart from landslides and liquefaction, earthquakes cause tsunamis, particularly those generated within the floors of water bodies. A large tsunami that travels from the ocean floor to the Earth’s surface can pose significant dangers to human health, property, and infrastructure (Fielding et al., 2020). It is essential to recognize that the long-lasting impact of the tsunami’s destruction can be felt well beyond the shoreline. Additionally, it has been documented that earthquakes can lead to fires. According to statistics, such hazards are among the most common. They begin when an electrical or gas line is dislodged due to the Earth’s shaking. The gas released is the primary cause of the fire.
Possibility of Happening in the Future
Experts in disaster management warn that a large earthquake may happen within the next thirty years. Scientists have established a hypothetical scenario to prepare people for a jolt along the Hayward fault line, a place they describe as an inevitable victim of the next large California earthquake (Fielding et al., 2020). The last one to occur at that spot was in 1868, when an earthquake of approximately magnitude 6.8 shook the area (Fielding et al., 2020).
Given California’s proximity to experiencing an earthquake soon, the United States Geological Survey has predicted a high likelihood that a major earthquake will strike the state within the same timeframe (Fielding et al., 2020). In addition, there is a seventy-five percent chance that another tremor will impact some parts of Los Angeles. Since the Bay Area has a large population, such an occurrence would most likely result in the deaths of many and likely cause approximately one hundred million dollars in damages (Montgomery-Brown et al., 2019).
Due to this, it is essential to be ready and prepared. Although it is impossible to predict exactly when an earthquake will occur, studying the history of earthquakes in an area is crucial. For instance, by examining previous occurrences in California, it is easier to predict that a large earthquake may occur in the near future (Goltz et al., 2020). By reviewing the data, it is possible to identify patterns or trends.
An example is when earthquakes have been observed in the last hundred years to cause not only harm to human health but also damage to their facilities and infrastructure. Research shows quakes are prevalent in the western United States because this region is an active margin and lies along the major tectonic plate boundaries (Goltz et al., 2020). On the East Coast, they are less prominent since the faults are less active.
The Skyline’s campus is situated along the San Andreas Fault line, an eight-hundred-mile stretch that runs off the coast from the northern areas of California down to San Diego. It is estimated that students inside are instructed to remain in one place, drop to the ground, cover their heads, and wait. Tables and desks are recommended objects for the station, whereas the district’s public safety department cautions against placing them near doors (Kato & Ben-Zion, 2021). People in potential harm or vulnerable areas are encouraged to learn more about the quakes.
An earthquake is one of the few natural disasters that cannot directly harm a person, except in cases where an object falls on them or a building collapses. Checking for items with a great chance of doing the same is essential. Additionally, turning off the gas is crucial after a large quake. All homes are empowered to acquire an emergency kit in the event of a disaster (Luginbuhl et al., 2018). It should contain a three-day food supply and water for all the household members. Additionally, it is essential to consider packing any medications one may be taking (McLennan et al., 2020). Other items, such as credit cards, can openers, flashlights, and radios, are vital.
Risk Management
The tremors caused by a major earthquake can shake and shift everything in a person’s house. Research shows that most of the injuries from the 1994 Northridge quake resulted from heavy furniture and other objects falling on individuals. To effectively prepare for the next possible event, it is important to assess the safety of one’s home. The safety review of a house only ranks high on the preparation checklist when the safety kit is arranged and ready, and essential supplies are gathered (Beatty et al., 2019). Residents in vulnerable areas, such as Los Angeles, are encouraged to adopt preparedness.
Personal Preparation Guidelines
Earthquakes are sudden and rapid tremors caused by shifting rocks beneath the surface. They strike without warning, which means they can occur at any time, day or night. Preparing is vital to avoid damage to property and injury to a person or family members (Beatty et al., 2019). Everyone should take the initiative to do so for the safety of their families and to recover from damaging and destructive events.
Since information is considered powerful, individuals need to educate themselves on the issue of earthquakes. For instance, in 2019, two quakes affected Southern California. These were the largest in about two decades since 1994 (Beatty et al., 2019). Since earthquakes are unpredictable, parents and guardians need to teach their kids tips on remaining safe when they occur.
Geological and Structural Dangers
All people from California face earthquake risks due to the location of their residences. With almost 16,000 identified faults and more than five active faults, it is safe to say that California is prone to earthquakes (Bayless & Abrahamson, 2019). The majority of people live within thirty miles of an active danger zone.
People need to learn and comprehend such information about their areas. They can achieve this by visiting the CEA risk map for each county. The information will aid them in surviving a quake (Bayless & Abrahamson, 2019). Tremors cause mudslides, landslides, liquefaction, and surface rupture of the soil. Understanding the geologic hazards in the community and structural dangers to one’s home is vital.
Settlement with Insurers
After an earthquake and damage have occurred, insurance adjusters often attempt to encourage victims to settle quickly. They understand that these individuals are at a vulnerable point in their lives and are shocked to lose their property (Beatty et al., 2019). Some try to fool people into thinking the harm existed before the event. However, it is essential to remember that establishing the damage needs a proper assessment, and the victim deserves a complete and fair recovery.
The policy requires the property owner to cooperate with reasonable requests from the insurer; however, it is improper to provide a sworn statement without verifying the extent of the claim, coverage, and rights. Part of the preparation process is understanding the importance of having legal representation before taking action, as this can help individuals recover the maximum policy benefits (Beatty et al., 2019). Within a short time, individuals should maintain a record of all purchases to replace damaged items and get receipts for any costs incurred due to alternative lodging and boarding.
References
Bayless, J., & Abrahamson, N. A. (2019). Summary of the BA18 ground‐motion model for Fourier amplitude spectra for crustal earthquakes in California. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 109(5), 88–105. Web.
Beatty, T. K., Shimshack, J. P., & Volpe, R. J. (2019). Disaster preparedness and disaster response: Evidence from sales of emergency supplies before and after hurricanes. Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, 6(4), 633–668. Web.
Ben-Zion, Y., & Zaliapin, I. (2019). Spatial variations of rock damage production by earthquakes in southern California. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 512, 184-193. Web.
Brodsky, E. E. (2019). The importance of studying small earthquakes. Science, 364(6442), 736-737. Web.
Chen, K., Avouac, J. P., Aati, S., Milliner, C., Zheng, F., & Shi, C. (2020). Cascading and pulse-like ruptures during the 2019 Ridgecrest earthquakes in the Eastern California Shear Zone. Nature Communications, 11(1), 1-8. Web.
Cheng, Y., & Ben‐Zion, Y. (2019). Transient brittle‐ductile transition depth induced by moderate-to-large earthquakes in southern and Baja California. Geophysical Research Letters, 46(20), 109–117. Web.
Fielding, E. J., Liu, Z., Stephenson, O. L., Zhong, M., Liang, C., Moore, A., & Simons, M. (2020). Surface deformation related to the 2019 Mw 7.1 and 6.4 Ridgecrest earthquakes in California from GPS, SAR interferometry, and SAR pixel offsets. Seismological Research Letters, 91(4), 35–46. Web.
Goltz, J. D., Park, H., Quitoriano, V., & Wald, D. J. (2020). Human behavioural response in the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquakes: Assessing immediate actions based on data from “Did You Feel It?”. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 110(4), 1589–1602. Web.
Kato, A., & Ben-Zion, Y. (2021). The generation of large earthquakes. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 2(1), 26-39. Web.
Luginbuhl, M., Rundle, J. B., Hawkins, A., & Turcotte, D. L. (2018). Nowcasting earthquakes: a comparison of induced earthquakes in Oklahoma and at the Geysers, California. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 175(1), 49–65. Web.
McLennan, J., Marques, M. D., & Every, D. (2020). Conceptualizing and measuring psychological preparedness for disaster: The Psychological Preparedness for Disaster Threat Scale. Natural Hazards, 101(1), 297–307. Web.
Montgomery‐Brown, E. K., Shelly, D. R., & Hsieh, P. A. (2019). Snowmelt‐triggered earthquake swarms at the margin of Long Valley Caldera, California.Geophysical Research Letters, 46(7), 3698–3705. Web.
Nanjo, K. Z. (2020). Were changes in stress state responsible for the 2019 Ridgecrest, California, earthquakes?Nature Communications, 11(1), 1–10. Web.
Rundle, J. B., Donnellan, A., Fox, G., & Crutchfield, J. P. (2022). Nowcasting earthquakes by visualizing the earthquake cycle with machine learning: A comparison of two methods. Surveys in Geophysics, 43(2), 483–501. Web.
Zhan, Z. (2020). Mechanisms and implications of deep earthquakes. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, pp. 48, 147–174. Web.