In the aftermath of back-to-back earthquakes in northern Venezuela, which by Friday had killed more than 500 people and left thousands injured, experts in resilience planning have emphasized the increasing importance of disaster preparedness in earthquake-prone California. Devastating quakes such as the double hit that struck Venezuela on June 24 remind Californians of their own history with the seismic phenomenon, stoking ever-present fears that the “big one” is just on the horizon. The West Coast state has been struck by 15 earthquakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or above since 1769, and weathered a 5.6-magnitude one on the same day as Venezuela’s quakes, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey.
“Along the whole San Andreas Fault, especially in northern and southern California, seismologists certainly remain concerned that a large earthquake can occur,” said Jerome Haffar, distinguished professor at Northeastern and director of the Laboratory for Structural Testing of Resilient and Sustainable Systems. Northeastern experts in resilience studies say preparing for a major tremor means considering vulnerabilities in both the statewide web of interconnected infrastructure and the relationships between neighbors, who are often the first lifeline in the midst of disaster.
