Arup risk management expert co-authors new edition of Peace of Mind In Earthquake Country
Almost 20 years to the day since the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake famously devastated parts of San Francisco and Northern California, Arup risk management expert, Andy Thompson, and co-author, Peter Yanev, are re-launching Peace of Mind in Earthquake Country: How To Save Your Home, Business, and Life.
Published by Chronicle Books, the third edition of the best-selling 1974 volume reflects the latest advances in earthquake science, engineering, and financial management techniques and distills the essentials people should know about earthquake risk management for their home or business.
According to Andy, an experienced earthquake engineer who leads Arup’s risk management practice in the Americas, “There is an entire generation of people who have never experienced a major earthquake, and others that have forgotten the destruction and lessons of moderate earthquakes like Loma Prieta or the 1994 Northridge, Los Angeles earthquake.”
Andy and Peter, who together have more than sixty years of combined experience and have investigated more than 100 earthquakes around the world, wanted Peace of Mind in Earthquake Country to demystify the confusing technical aspects of earthquakes and present a do-it-yourself approach to home and business preparedness.
“The book aims to demonstrate how an individual can assess their risk, make the right financial decisions to control that risk, as well as what they need to fix to remain safe during an earthquake event,” Andy said.
The updated edition also contains informative graphs and diagrams and photos, maps of existing and suspected fault lines, lessons learned from past earthquakes, and the probabilities of future earthquakes. There are also chapters devoted to earthquake risk management and insurance.
Andy added, “After the Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes, Californians strengthened commercial buildings, schools and infrastructure but not necessarily dangerous homes and multi-family buildings. Soft-story buildings killed many people in both 1989 and 1994 yet thousands of these buildings have not been strengthened.
“Furthermore, the public does not understand that building codes are intended to protect people - not their investments. In a very strong earthquake, buildings - including new buildings - are designed to remain standing but with serious damage. Some will have to be torn down. Owners need to be aware of their financial exposure and options in the event of a strong earthquake,” Andy said.
With the 20th anniversary of Loma Prieta and the current spate of large and moderate earthquakes in South East Asia and the Northern California Sierras, the launch of this third edition is a timely reminder for those living in earthquake country to get prepared.
“There is a 99.7% chance that a major earthquake – magnitude 6.7 or greater – will hit California sometime in the next 30 years. This book is aimed at helping everyone to prepare for the inevitable,” Andy adds.
- Visit http://www.theearthquakebook.com for more information and to order online.