Lessons Learned From The 1994 Northridge Earthquake

Southern California has a history of major earthquakes and also has one of the largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The 1994 Northridge Earthquake challenged the industrial facilities and lifetime infrastructure in the northern Los Angeles (LA) area. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) sent a team of engineers to conduct an earthquake damage investigation in the Northridge area, on a project funded jointly by the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (USNRC) and the United States Department of Energy (USDOE). Many of the structures, systems, and components (SSCs) and lifelines that suffered damage are similar to those found in nuclear power plants and in USDOE facilities. Lessons learned from these experiences can have some applicability at commercial nuclear power plants.

This book provides a global view of the social effects of disaster in developed and developing countries. It focuses on the 1994 Northridge Earthquake in the US and other recent disasters to examine vulnerability and post-disaster recovery strategies. The authors also explore the ways state policy can reduce vulnerability in the future.

The lessons learned from the Northridge and previous earthquakes greatly aid efforts by DOE, NRC, and EPRI to mitigate the effects of earthquakes on industrial facilities and lifelines.