San Francisco, CA – Overlooking the San Francisco Bay Bridge on the 35th anniversary of one of the most devastating earthquakes to ever strike California, U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, CA-15, announced new legislation that aims to improve the nation’s resiliency during future earthquakes.
As a lifelong Bay Area native who distinctly remembers the shocking 1989 Loma Prieta quake, Mullin introduced the Earthquake Resilience Act as part of his first term in Congress.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), nearly 75 percent of the U.S. could experience a damaging earthquake in the next century and almost half of the population – 150 million people – reside in areas that are at risk.
On average, earthquakes cost the U.S. billions of dollars a year in building damages and associated losses. Earthquakes threaten not only lives and buildings, but also critical services such as power, water, communications, and transportation. These services, also referred to as “lifelines,” must be restored as quickly as possible following a natural disaster to enable other parts of a recovery effort.
The Earthquake Resilience Act (H.R. 9375) would direct federal agencies to conduct America’s first national risk assessment of earthquake resiliency to better understand how communities can prepare. It would also require the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program to develop standards for lifeline infrastructure so these critical systems can be quickly restored during an earthquake or other disasters.
“On the 35th anniversary of Loma Prieta, we are reminded of the devastating impacts of earthquakes. California is earthquake territory, but we’re not alone in facing risks. – While the Bay Area is better prepared than most, this is a national problem that demands national attention. We are more reliant than ever before on lifeline systems to live, work and communicate. A national risk assessment and lifeline infrastructure standards would benefit communities across the nation,” Mullin said. “In a world with increasing risks of natural disasters, we need to prepare now for a more resilient future.”
Mullin gathered with San Franscico Mayor London Breed, National Institute of Building Sciences CEO Dr. George Guszcza, Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman and Adrienne Bechelli, General Manager of the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative, to reflect on the Loma Prieta earthquake and advocate for the bill.
“San Francisco is always working to prepare for its next earthquake because for us it’s not a matter of if, but when,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed. “I want to thank Congressman Mullin for introducing the Earthquake Resilience Act, and our City departments and stakeholders who have been hard at work developing improved standards and requirements. We must remain focused on doing the work ahead to keep San Francisco safer and stronger as we prepare for the next earthquake.”
“The Bay Area Council knows well the risk that major earthquakes pose to our region and our economy.” said Bay Area Council CEO Jim Wunderman, who helped establish ferry transit service in response to the collapse of the Bay Bridge during Loma Prieta. “We’re proud to stand with Congressman Mullin in supporting his Earthquake Resilience Act, which will help us better understand just how well we are for the next major earthquake. Federal guidelines for lifeline infrastructure would help ensure that when the next disaster strikes, we’re better prepared, more resilient and able to bounce back faster.”
“The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) applauds Rep. Mullin’s leadership in introducing the critical Earthquake Resilience Act which improves and accelerates recovery of communities and businesses after an earthquake,” said George K. Guszcza, President and CEO of NIBS. “Through the work of the Building Seismic Safety Council, NIBS has studied, developed, and maintained national seismic design standards for 45 years. Our communities – and their lifelines – must be ready.”
Visit the Earthquake Resilience Act web page to learn more.
Loma Prieta Background & Reporting
At 5:04 p.m. on Oct. 17, 1989, the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta Earthquake struck the Bay Area. It caused 63 deaths, 3,757 injuries and billions of dollars in property damage. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the region since the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906.
Scientists with the USGS are still collecting reports of what it was like for those who experienced the 1989 earthquake, which continue to help inform preparedness efforts and can be submitted at: www.usgs.gov/DYFLP
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