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California is the highest earthquake-risk area in the contiguous United States. Several large, well-known active faults run through the state: San Andreas, Hayward, and Newport-Inglewood, for example. They have been the cause of destructive earthquakes in the past and will be the source of future destructive shocks. Recent earthquakes have emphasized that there are also many faults about which experts know little or nothing, which can produce destructive shocks.

Since the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake (8.3 on the Richter Scale), California has not had a major destructive quake with a magnitude greater than 8.0. Such earthquakes can therefore be characterized as low-probability, high-loss events. However, damaging earthquakes with magnitudes greater than 6.5 occur in California on the average of every four years.

Today we have a good understanding of earthquakes, their effects, and their damage potential. We are still unable to predict when the next earthquake will occur. Earthquake effects on homes and buildings, however, are predictable.

In recent earthquakes, the same kinds of damage that affected homes in 1906 occurred. This damage can be prevented.

EQE International investigators have found that damage in earthquakes is most severe in two types of structures: those erected before the use of earthquake building codes (circa 1950) and those poorly designed and/or constructed.

Engineers now have the knowledge and skills to evaluate the risks to all types of buildings. We can also design and strengthen buildings to withstand the strongest earthquake.

Like buckling your seat belt, you have a choice. You can live and work in earthquake country and have peace of mind. If you take a few precautions, you can be quite safe.

A damage sampling

1906 SAN FRANCISCO, 8.3 Richter Scale Damage to homes built before earthquake codes.	1983 COALINGA, 6.7 Richter Scale Damage to older homes built before earthquake codes.
1971 SAN FERNANDO, 6.6 Richter Scale Damage to newer homes improperly designed or constructed.	1984 MORGAN HILL, 6.2 Richter Scale Damage to homes built before earthquake codes.
1989 LOMA PRIETA, 7.1 Richter Scale Damage to homes built before earthquake codes.	1994 NORTHRIDGE, 6.7 Richter Scale Damage to modern houses.