Friday, April 21, 2006
One hundred year ago on 18.04.1906, San Franciscans were jotted awake by the most horrible destructive earthquake in U.S. history. The quake and its aftershock did not destroy the fires wave that swept the city did.
By the time smoke was cleared, hundreds and thousands of people - nobody knows for sure - were they died and most were homeless.
A repeat of that 7.9-magnitude quake, if incase struck today, would cause 1,800 to 3,400 deaths, damage more than 90,000 buildings, displace as many as 250,000 households and cause $150 billion in damage, according to a study.
"We already witnessed the effect of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from last year's hurricanes," said Bill Ellsworth, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey. "It would have huge social and economic effects on the entire country."
The study, "When the Big One Strikes Again," was prepared for the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference, which was opens yesterday in San Francisco. It's expected to draw more than 2,500 scientists, engineers, government officials and emergency response professionals
Estimated result of the death toll from the 1906 quake and fires range from 478 to 6,000. In addition, 28,000 buildings were destroyed, 225,000 residents were left homeless and property damage was about $8.2 billion in today's dollars
Hoping to be better prepared in case of a repeat, San Francisco's Office of Emergency Services & Homeland Security has developed a database, set to go online this month that identifies potential shelters in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, down to how many toilets, showers and generators each hold.
Thousands of volunteers have been recruited to help injured people. Hydrants marked by blue drops can supply drinking water.
By the time smoke was cleared, hundreds and thousands of people - nobody knows for sure - were they died and most were homeless.
A repeat of that 7.9-magnitude quake, if incase struck today, would cause 1,800 to 3,400 deaths, damage more than 90,000 buildings, displace as many as 250,000 households and cause $150 billion in damage, according to a study.
"We already witnessed the effect of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people from last year's hurricanes," said Bill Ellsworth, a geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey. "It would have huge social and economic effects on the entire country."
The study, "When the Big One Strikes Again," was prepared for the 100th Anniversary Earthquake Conference, which was opens yesterday in San Francisco. It's expected to draw more than 2,500 scientists, engineers, government officials and emergency response professionals
Estimated result of the death toll from the 1906 quake and fires range from 478 to 6,000. In addition, 28,000 buildings were destroyed, 225,000 residents were left homeless and property damage was about $8.2 billion in today's dollars
Hoping to be better prepared in case of a repeat, San Francisco's Office of Emergency Services & Homeland Security has developed a database, set to go online this month that identifies potential shelters in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose, down to how many toilets, showers and generators each hold.
Thousands of volunteers have been recruited to help injured people. Hydrants marked by blue drops can supply drinking water.
posted by wilson @ 4:22 AM
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