BILL ANALYSIS
AJR 1
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 6, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON INSURANCE
Joe Coto, Chair
AJR 1 (Blakeslee) - As Amended: April 23, 2009
SUBJECT : Earthquake damage: mitigation planning.
SUMMARY : Supports the expedient development of mitigation
efforts in California by federal and local governmental
entities, in cooperation with private enterprises and
individuals, to protect against earthquake damage that could
result in a loss of life and a dramatic lowering of the state's
economic status and vibrancy. Specifically, this resolution:
1)States that the U.S. Geological Survey has predicted an
earthquake with a magnitude 6.7 or greater in California
within the next 30 years;
2)States that the Hayward Fault near San Francisco is predicted
to certainly rupture again with greater force than the 1989
Loma Prieta Earthquake;
3)States that on October 15, 2009, the Great California ShakeOut
organized (sic) a drill where millions of people in homes,
schools, businesses, government offices, and public places all
over Southern California practiced what to do during an
earthquake;
4)States that the results of the Great California ShakeOut Drill
showed that a large earthquake in Southern California would
cost approximately $213 billion, including business
interruption, and could result in the death of approximately
1,800 people;
5)States that the last major earthquake on the Hayward Fault was
140 years ago, and the last five earthquakes on this fault
have come, on average, 140 years apart;
6)States that recent reports have confirmed that mitigation
techniques can greatly improve the structural stability of a
building and dramatically improve the safety of its occupants;
7)States that mitigation against earthquake damage is
dramatically more cost-effective than repairing buildings
AJR 1
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after a great earthquake, and economic loss from halted
businesses and interrupted services can also be avoided by
retrofitting buildings before an earthquake strikes; and
8)States that the astronomical costs of repair that occur after
a devastating national disaster often fall on the government.
EXISTING LAW :
Establishes state offices and bodies to study and help the state
prevent destruction in the event of a major earthquake. These
include the Seismic Safety Commission and the California
Earthquake Authority.
FISCAL EFFECT : None.
COMMENTS :
1)Background. The Working Group on the California Earthquake
Probabilities, a multi-disciplinary group of scientists and
engineers from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Southern
California Earthquake Center, forecasts a 99% chance of
magnitude 6.7 or greater earthquake striking California within
the next 30 years. According to the author, if the epicenter
of the earthquake is in a highly populated area such as Los
Angeles, the damage could result in the death of 1,800 people
and $213 billion in property losses.
2)Minor amendments to resolution recommended. The resolution
states that on October 15, 2009 a specific drill was organized
(page 1, lines 7 - 8). Since that date has not yet been
reached, it is recommended that the date be corrected. The
resolution states that the Legislature strongly supports the
expedient development of mitigation efforts across California
by "federal and local governmental entities." It is
recommended that "state agencies" be added (page 2, lines 25 -
26) to this charge.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None received.
Opposition
AJR 1
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None received.
Analysis Prepared by : Manny Hernandez / INS. / (916) 319-2086