BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                       



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                                 THIRD READING


          Bill No:  SCR 51
          Author:   Corbett (D)
          Amended:  As introduced
          Vote:     21

           
          WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE OR FILE 


           SUBJECT  :    Earthquake preparedness:  the Great California  
          ShakeOut

           SOURCE  :     Author


           DIGEST  :    This resolution supports the Earthquake Country  
          Alliances annual Great California ShakeOut and its  
          earthquake education and outreach programs, and endorses  
          this year's October 15, 2009, Great California ShakeOut.

           ANALYSIS  :    This resolution makes the following  
          legislative findings:

          1. California and its residents have historically been  
             susceptible to natural hazards, whether it be  
             earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, floods, winter storms,  
             droughts, landslides, or volcanic eruptions.

          2. It should be the intent of the Legislature to recognize  
             the importance of enhancing California's ability to  
             withstand natural hazards, as well as, the importance of  
             reducing the human suffering, property damage,  
             interruption of public services, and economic losses  
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             caused by those hazards.

          3. Major earthquakes pose a particular, significant, and  
             ongoing threat to the entire state.

          4. It is within the state's responsibility to promote  
             earthquake preparedness with the public and to plan  
             appropriately for earthquake-related disasters.

          5. Recent studies project the economic losses from a 7.8  
             magnitude earthquake on the southern San Andreas Fault  
             and a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on the Hayward Fault to  
             reach as high as $213 billion and $178 billion  
             respectively.

          6. Community resiliency to earthquakes and other disasters  
             depends on the preparedness levels of all stakeholders  
             in the community, including individuals, families,  
             schools, community organizations, faith-based  
             organizations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and  
             government.

          7. By joining the Earthquake Country Alliance, California  
             and its agencies can partner with earthquake information  
             and service providers statewide to educate its residents  
             regarding actions that can be taken to protect life and  
             property, including mitigating structural and  
             nonstructural hazards and participating in earthquake  
             drills.

          8. By participating in the Great California ShakeOut on  
             October 15, 2009, the state has the opportunity to join  
             and support all Californians in strengthening community  
             and regional resiliency to earthquakes.

          This resolution:

          1. Supports earthquake preparedness for all residents of  
             California and encourages all stakeholders in the  
             state's economy to participate in preparedness  
             activities.

          2. Supports the Earthquake Country Alliance's annual Great  
             California ShakeOut and its year-round earthquake  







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             education and outreach programs and acknowledges the  
             importance of preparing in advance for the purposes of  
             building a safer community and reducing the loss of  
             lives and property damage from future destructive  
             earthquakes.

          3. Endorses the Great California ShakeOut, which will be  
             held this year on October 15, 2009, and annually  
             thereafter on the third Thursday of each October.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :    Fiscal Com.:  No

          TSM:mw  7/13/09   Senate Floor Analyses 

                       SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:  NONE RECEIVED

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