Is this the next unprepared for US disaster?

[DocDiggs]

San Francisco said unprepared for the 'Big One'

By Jim Christie

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - San Francisco-area households are woefully unprepared for the "Big One," the catastrophic earthquake expected to strike the region one day, according to an American Red Cross survey released on Thursday.

Only 6 percent of residents of the region, which suffered a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in October 1989 and is laced with major faults, have a disaster plan, a kit with basic items and some training to cope with catastrophe, according to the survey by American Red Cross Bay Area.

The finding comes as the region prepares to celebrate the 100th anniversary next week of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which killed about 3,000 people and ranks as one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history.

The American Red Cross is using the anniversary to launch a campaign to urge individuals and households to prepare for natural disasters because, as was the case with Hurricane Katrina last year, government relief agencies are expected to be overwhelmed initially.

"Government is not going to be there in the first 24 hours," Jerry Brown, a former California governor now mayor of Oakland, said at a Red Cross event rolling out the initiative.

The relief group aims to secure commitments by a million San Francisco area residents to have plans, kits and training in the event of a regional emergency.

Damage, displacement and death from the "Big One" could dwarf the suffering in 1906, Mary Lou Zoback, regional coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey, told Reuters.

If the San Andreas Fault running through much of California and off its coast were to rupture violently, 10 million people would be affected, Zoback noted.

Certain areas lightly populated in 1906 but now heavily urbanized would be hit especially hard.

"It's becoming clear from our modeling that there are certain hot spots that will shake longer and harder," Zoback said. "Silicon Valley is one of those hot spots."

Seismologists estimate the 1906 earthquake at about a magnitude 7.8. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates a 62 percent probability of a magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake striking the San Francisco area before 2032.

Risk-modeler AIR Worldwide Corp. estimates the value of homes and commercial property in the "damage footprint" of the 1906 earthquake at more then $1.6 trillion. If an earthquake rivaling the 1906 temblor strikes, property losses across the region would top $300 billion, according to AIR.



http://today.reuters.com/news/articl...id=&cap=&sz=13

[Angelus]

Doc, Think your absolutely right. I watched a programme on Nat Geog about pending disasters, many of which will impact greatly on the US, and in one case in particularly, Yellowstone Volcana, could cause the demise of the human race.

Firstly, San Francisco is not if, it is when. When the big quake comes, some sizemologists predict California could break away from the mainland, becoming an island. This would cause tens of thousands of lives, and would cause financial turmoil for the US economy, many businesses would literally, and metaphorically be wiped off the map.

Number two, there is a huge volcano on the north-west coast of Africa, can't remember exactly where. Again, it isn't if, it's when it blows, it will cause a 'sunammi' many times larger than the one at Aceh, which will build up strength as it crosses the Atlantic. It is predicted that this sunammi could wipe out large sections of the US eastern seaboard, from Florida up to Canada. Again, the loss of life, and the damage to the US economy would be devastating to the world economy, which birlls around the 'dollar'.

The last was Yellowstone. Yellowstone is the largest volcano in the nothern hemisphere, if not the world. When, not if, this blows, It will be thousands of times bigger than Mount St. Helens, and other volcanos that have erupted in history. The bang will be equal to thousands of Hiroshima's, a cloud of dust will circle the atmosphere for decades, much of our planets human and plant life will die.

No one is investing in methods to minimise the impact of natural disasters, e.g., underground shelters that are self sustaining, so that our race can be saved. Many people (governments) won't invest heavily on something that is still to happen, and may not happen in their lifetime.

I agree with your premise, of inaction.

Sorry to be a prophet of doom with the other stuff.

[Hannibal]

Most cities are probably in the same boat. Look at New Orleans with Katrina, and they had 48+ hours of warning. An earthquake would be a no joke disaster with zero warning.

I think the problem is that most people take very little personal responsibility towards these things and expect someone to save them if it got bad.

Another negative here is the leadership in San Fran. I was watching the Alan Combs interview with a member of their city council. They seem to be devoting more of their time towards hating the Military and the Administration than worrying about their own.

No doubt it will be FEMAs fault if an earthquake happens. Sad, truly a beautiful city and area. I was stationed at DLI for Language school and we loved the entire area. Gorgeous.

-Jason

[conlor]

Americans think they're immune to disasters. After all, this is the freest country in the world. We have a lot of advantages and we're always looking for fun and excitement. We don't have time for bad things to happen.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by Hannibal

Most cities are probably in the same boat. Look at New Orleans with Katrina, and they had 48+ hours of warning. An earthquake would be a no joke disaster with zero warning.

I think the problem is that most people take very little personal responsibility towards these things and expect someone to save them if it got bad.

Another negative here is the leadership in San Fran. I was watching the Alan Combs interview with a member of their city council. They seem to be devoting more of their time towards hating the Military and the Administration than worrying about their own.

No doubt it will be FEMAs fault if an earthquake happens. Sad, truly a beautiful city and area. I was stationed at DLI for Language school and we loved the entire area. Gorgeous.

-Jason

You beat me to it. We saw what happened in NO with people used to someone else taking care of them.

The City, County and state should be preparing now. Most of it is their responsibility.

But they can always blame FEMA.

[filthybeast]

Folks you got it all wrong the Next disaster we face is gonna be May 17 2006. Ellen gets into Vegas along with her Hubby and we are gonna Party. The city will never be the same.