The Big One

I just read this article http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/172816/1/.html predicting that the next big earthquake in San Francisco has a 25% chance of occuring in the next 25 years. The authors of the study say that "As we approach the 100-year anniversary of that event, critical concern is the hazard posed by another such earthquake".

Well, most buildings in the Bay Area are designed to sustain minimal damage (continued occupation) in a 10% in 50 year event, and the more important ones are designed to sustain minimal damage in a 2% in 50 year event. Even the regular buildings are designed for life safety in a 2% in 50 year event, so I think you're pretty safe in a building, at least much safer than outside (falling glass hazards, fault rupture etc).

By the way, I was on the Bay Bridge when that quake in 2004 occured (the one that toppled some tower in the south bay). It was quite a big jolt in the city (I heard it on the radio) but guess what? I didn't feel a thing on the bridge. As I said, you're probably safer on a bridge or in a building than on the streets haha!

Oh, and lest we forget, the 1906 earthquake was actually more of the 1906 fire. More people perished due to the spread of fire than anything else. I'd say the fire protection engineers are the ones who should be on the alert rather than building designers....

The San Andreas Fault slips every single day. It's only a matter of time before the earthquake comes, so its no point being frantic just because the 100-year anniversary is approaching. Just remember your drills.

Here's my top ten tips:
1. Hide under the table if there is one. you dont want the lights or cupboard crashing down on your head.
2. Open all your room doors and unlock them before you hide! you don't want to be stuck in the room if the door gets jammed!
3. If there's no table hide in the doorway, stuff is less likely to fall on your head there.
4. If you are stuck in a corridor, run to the staircase. They are usually safer and u can make a quick exit from the rubble or fire.
5. Stay away from parking structures (don't ask why, just stay away!!!)! If you are stuck in one, hide in the staircase.
6. Don't run out into the streets! You are more likely to be hit by falling windows and stuff especially if you are in the city.
7. Don't run to the beach like those silly people who drove to the beach when there were tremors here! You might get hit by a tsunami! sheesh.....
8. If you could have anything in the world, it would be a hard hat. Just nice to protect your noggin from all those spalling concrete/shattered glass/flowerpots...
9. The safest place to be in during an earthquake is a hospital. Don't ask why. Though it wouldn't have been too nice to be in the Kobe general hospital in '95 (though they all made it out alive...).
10. After you've survived the Big One, don't take it easy just yet, there could still be aftershocks, floods, fires, etc!