A new earthquake forecast model by the U.S. Geological Survey has mixed news for Californians. The new model estimates the state will have fewer moderate-sized earthquakes in the next 30 years than was previously estimated. But the odds of a truly huge temblor of 8.0 or higher on the Richter scale, similar to the quake of 1906, have increased from 4.7 to 7 percent.
Show Highlights
Michael Krasny: Now here's a question from a listener, Kurt, who lives in Oakland, who wants to know -- he says this will help laymen out there decide if earthquake insurance is worthwhile -- he wants each of the panelists to say where do you live and do you have earthquake coverage for your home. Maybe Tim, begin with you.
Tim Dawson: Okay, put us on the spot. I live in San Francisco and we actually I live in what's called a Tenancy In Common. It's basically a condo complex and because of that we have to make these joint decisions so we haven't gotten to the point where we've carried earthquake insurance for the building. That's going to require some decisions as a group. But what we have done even though it's not required by the city right now in our instance, is that we've decided to go ahead with a retrofit of our building. So we're going to be bolting down the foundations, we're going to be strengthening our garages.
MK: Did you get money from Patrick?
TD: No, I didn't. I wish I had.