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USGS CMG InfoBank: Earthquake Preparation

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Comment: 18:57 - 20:22 (01:25)

Source: Annenberg/CPB Resources - Earth Revealed - 1. Down to Earth

Keywords: "earthquake preparation", "earthquake prediction", earthquake, "Gary Ernst", "earthquake resistant", "building code"

Our transcription: While earthquake prediction is a significant goal for geologists, most stress that earthquake preparation is even more important.

First of all, we must try to shore up existing structures and make them more earthquake resistant.

There is no such thing as an earthquake-proof structure, not at least an economically built one, but we can make things earthquake resistant, so that loss of life is minimal, maybe zero loss of life.

That can be done now and should be.

It's very expensive, but we must re-strengthen old buildings, old structures.

Furthermore, we have laws on the books that prevent building new structures in earthquake-prone areas where the dangers are excessive.

Those laws should be maintained and perhaps even strengthened.

We have also building codes that require modern buildings to be built sufficient to withstand intense ground shaking.

Continued research into building structures of all sorts and their resistivity to earthquakes must go forward.

That's something we can do now.

We don't need to know when the next earthquake is coming to know it's important to build buildings that stay up and don't lose windows and facing material in the event of an earthquake.

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