The county Board of Supervisors directed its staff Tuesday to conduct a thorough review of the county’s preparedness for a major earthquake, and to create a public outreach campaign to provide quake-readiness information to residents and businesses.
Without discussion, the board unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who cited recent studies showing that strain on portions of the San Andreas and San Jacinto fault systems has reached the highest point in at least 1,000 years.
The motion directs the county’s Office of Emergency Management to report back to the board on Sept. 29 with a comprehensive review of the county’s earthquake preparedness. That report, conducted in conjunction with Southland earthquake guru Lucy Jones, is expected to include a review of readiness at major county facilities — including medical centers — and infrastructure, along with preparedness to ensure continued government operations following a major quake.
The report will also identify gaps in need of addressing before a large temblor.
“Science is sending us a clear warning and we have a responsibility to listen,” Barger said in a statement. “No one can predict when the next major earthquake will occur, but we know with certainty that one will happen. Los Angeles County must engage the best scientific expertise available — including Dr. Lucy Jones — so that we’re not simply reacting after a disaster but preparing before lives, homes, and critical infrastructure are impacted.”
Barger said the recent studies of the San Andreas and San Jacinto faults do not mean a quake is imminent, but they highlight the need for the region to be prepared. Her office noted that the last major seismic event to hit the L.A. area was the 1994 Northridge quake, which led to roughly 60 deaths, 9,000 injuries and billions of dollars in damage.
In addition to the assessment of county preparedness, the motion called on the county to develop a public earthquake preparedness initiative that includes an online “Know Your Risk” website providing information for residents, businesses, schools and community groups. It calls for the program to be in place ahead of the annual Great ShakeOut earthquake drill scheduled for Oct. 15.
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