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Earthquakes

RAND research related to earthquakes, and the tsunamis that sometimes result from deep-water temblors, focuses primarily on mitigating their effects and improving emergency preparedness and response.

News Release

News Release

Seismic Safety Upgrades May Cost California Hospitals Billions, Increase Number of Hospitals in Financial Distress

After the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, in which 11 hospitals were damaged and eight were evacuated, California adopted SB1953, which aims to improve hospital resilience to seismic events. The law requires hospitals to reduce their buildings' risk of collapse by 2020 and to remain operational after an earthquake by 2030. California hospitals would need to make substantial investments to meet 2030 state seismic safety standards.

Mar 28, 2019
Report

Seismic Safety Upgrades May Cost California Hospitals Billions

California hospitals are required by law to reduce their buildings' risk of collapse by 2020 and to remain operational after an earthquake by 2030. Hospitals have to pay for the upgrades, which could cost between $34 billion and $143 billion statewide. One third of California hospitals are already in some form of financial distress.

Mar 28, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Geo-targeting Performance of Wireless Emergency Alerts in Imminent Threat Scenarios: Volume 1: Tornado Warnings

This study examines how Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) can be used to warn the public in three potentially deadly scenarios: --A large destructive earthquake; --A Tsunami ; and --A terrorist detonation of nuclear weapon in an urban area.

Oct 5, 2016
Journal Article

Journal Article

Exploring the Effect of the Diffusion of Geo-Targeted Emergency Alerts: The Application of Agent-Based Modeling to Understanding the Spread of Messages from the Wireless Emergency Alerts System

This report examines the effect of the diffusion of geo-targeted emergency alerts.

Nov 23, 2015
Commentary

Another Nepal Earthquake Makes Disaster Relief Planning Even More Important

Leadership, coordination, communication, and involvement of local stakeholders are critical to an informed response to natural disasters. Improved disaster management in Nepal could help limit the suffering of impacted communities and help secure a more successful recovery in the long run.

May 13, 2015
Commentary

Nepal Earthquake Response Shows Need for Better International Planning

The U.S. provided supplies after the earthquake in Nepal, but they piled up at points of delivery because Nepalese customs authorities insisted that standard inspections be followed, even in an emergency situation. These kinds of bureaucratic challenges can be more easily overcome if they are identified and addressed before crises arise.

May 7, 2015
Multimedia

RAND Experts Discuss Nepal and Preparing for Natural Disasters

RAND researchers Jonah Blank and Anita Chandra, as well as Margaret Traub, head of Global Initiatives, International Medical Corps, participated in a media conference call on Tuesday, May 5th, to discuss the recent earthquake in Nepal and the many facets of preparing for natural disasters and dealing with the outcome.

May 5, 2015
Testimony

Catastrophic Risk in California: Are Homeowners and Communities Prepared?

Predictions about the inevitability of a major earthquake in California is generating concern about how to pay for rebuilding after a catastrophic event. Insurance alone isn’t the answer, but exploring ways for insurance premiums to better reflect loss could help homeowners prepare for "the big one.”

Aug 6, 2014
Report

The U.S. Military Response to the 2010 Haiti Earthquake

Luck, serendipity, and longtime relationships fostered success in Haiti relief efforts, though actual performance is impossible to measure because metrics and plans were not in place before the earthquake hit. U.S. Department of Defense policy on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief needs to be updated.

Oct 29, 2013
Report

Report

Bridging the Gap: Prototype Tools to Support Local Disaster Preparedness Planning and Collaboration

RAND researchers developed an initial prototype tool to help determine capabilities and resources a locality will likely require during a disaster. The report also describes two social networking tools for local coordination of disaster preparedness.

Oct 12, 2012
Journal Article

Journal Article

Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and Terrorism: Do Natural Disasters Incite Terror?

A novel and important issue in contemporary security policy is the impact of natural disasters on terrorism. Natural disasters can strain a society and its government, creating vulnerabilities which terrorist groups might exploit.

Nov 30, 2011
News Release

News Release

Proposed Federal Role in Catastrophe Insurance Would Increase Earthquake Coverage

A proposal for the federal government to support state-run catastrophe-insurance programs would increase the number of people buying earthquake coverage in California and modestly lower both uninsured losses and government assistance following a major quake.

Nov 3, 2010
Report

Proposed Federal Role in Catastrophe Insurance Would Increase Earthquake Coverage

A proposal for the federal government to support state-run catastrophe-insurance programs would increase the number of people buying earthquake coverage in California and modestly lower both uninsured losses and government assistance following a major quake.

Sep 28, 2010
Journal Article

Journal Article

Reflections on the Initial Multinational Response to the Earthquake in Haiti

Expert panel discussion of the emergency response in Haiti concluded that rigorous, objective after-action reports are needed both to improve ongoing operations in Haiti and to enhance future responses to large-scale population emergencies.

May 31, 2010
Report

Report

Bridging the Gap: Developing a Tool to Support Local Civilian and Military Disaster Preparedness

This report describes the current policy context for domestic all-hazards risk-informed capabilities-based planning by local military and civilian authorities and provides a framework for a local planning support tool for their use.

Apr 12, 2010
Commentary

Commentary

A Month After the Earthquake: Opportunities Slipping Away

Previous efforts by the international community to stabilize Haiti have met with little or only short-term success. This time, following the earthquake, the U.S. response could actually leverage the response and recovery opportunities into a broader international plan, write Agnes Gereben Schaefer and Anita Chandra.

Feb 24, 2010
News Release

News Release

Report Finds Nearly Half of California Hospitals Unprepared to Meet Deadlines for Seismic Safety

January 18, 2007 News Release: Report Finds Nearly Half of California Hospitals Unprepared to Meet Deadlines for Seismic Safety

Jan 18, 2007
Journal Article

Journal Article

Nearly Half of CA Hospitals Unprepared to Meet Deadlines for Seismic Safety

Thirteen years after the devastating Northridge earthquake, a new analysis shows that almost half of California hospitals will not meet seismic safety standards by a 2013 state deadline.

Dec 31, 2005
Journal Article

Journal Article

Estimating the Compliance Costs for California SB1953

Per requirements of California state law hospitals are considering large construction programs to increase the seismic strength of their facilities.

Dec 31, 2001
Report

Report

A critical look at earthquake preparations in the Los Angeles Basin

In an effort to promote effective earthquake planning and preparedness, and especially to foster an understanding of the need for a well-coordinated master plan, this paper reviews the current state of seismic and geologic knowledge about earthquakes...

Dec 31, 1989

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RAND Topic:
Earthquakes

Topic Synonyms:
Quake;
Seismic Event;
Tremor

Research conducted by

RAND Social and Economic Well-Being