Natural Disasters: Earthquakes Part 1

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California is known for earthquakes that often occur at great magnitudes. Earthquakes have changed not only the environment but have also resulted in the loss of many lives. For example, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 was known for destroying most of San Francisco and its buildings. This earthquake caused the death of sixty people, injured around four thousand, and property damage costing up to around six million dollars. Many recognize this to be a comparable earthquake to the one that occurred in 1906 which was also a very large and devastating earthquake that occurred along the San Andreas fault line. Many bridges were damaged during the earthquake of 1989, where ten needed temporary supports, and another ten were closed off completely because of the damaging effects of the earthquake. Most of the deaths that occurred during this earthquake happened due to the poor foundation of many buildings which resulted in forty-one deaths from the sixty that were reported. This earthquake was so massive, that most of central California could feel the earthquake (Historic Earthquakes). The state of California is overdue for another big earthquake. As a state, we should seek to improve earthquake preparedness through the retrofitting of buildings, better alarm systems and overall awareness through emergency plans. Being prepared will save many lives and prevent massive damage of buildings in the process.
An example of a big earthquake would have to be an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 or higher. These earthquakes usually cause mass destruction and causes a vast amount of injuries and even deaths. Many people might not realize the next big earthquake could happen at any moment. With the right protection, we cou...

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...n Lawyer 44.2 (2012): 465-492. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 May 2014.
Haberman, Clyde. "Promises of Preparedness Followed Devastating Earthquakes. And Yet." The New York Times. The New York Times, 13 Apr. 2014. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
"Historic Earthquakes." Historic Earthquakes. Web. 17 May 2014. earthquakes/states/events/1989_10_18.php>. Nash, J. Madeleine. "A Fault Runs Through It." Time International (Canada Edition) 166.1 (2005): 20-21. Business Source Complete. Web. 16 May 2014.
"Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country—Your Handbook for the San Francisco Bay Region." Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country—Your Handbook for the San Francisco Bay Region. Web. 17 May 2014. .
"Ready To Rumble." Scientific American 304.4 (2011): 76-77. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 May 2014.

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