Amazon.com Review
Robert Yeats, a retired professor of geosciences at Oregon State University, knows that earthquakes, small or large, aren't news in California. What is news is how badly prepared most Californians are for the eventuality; scientists there have developed the world's most comprehensive program of disaster management, forecasting, and quake-resistant construction codes, Yeats suggests, but ordinary people have done little to improve their odds of survival. Yeats traces the state's earthquake history of hundreds of years, recounting many episodes of mayhem and destruction. He examines the evolution of building codes, prediction methods, and the role of governmental agencies in civil defense. Most helpful of all, he offers Californians easily followed pointers on preparing for the inevitable, such as making an "earthquake kit" of food, tools, and supplies and developing a neighborhood plan for mutual assistance.
Yeats writes, "Ultimately, the book's value may be measured after the next large earthquake, when we ask ourselves, 'Were we ready?'" He's correct. No other book covers quite as much ground, and anyone who lives in earthquake country, and not just in the Golden State, will find this primer useful. --Gregory McNamee
From the Publisher
Over the past century California has moved from denying the hazards posed by earthquakes--they were bad for business--to adopting building codes and protective legislation that are today the most advanced in the world. In "Living with Earthquakes," Robert Yeats, a leading expert on earthquake geology, describes California's revolutionary efforts to grapple with the earthquake threat. His book is a general reader's guide to California earthquakes, combining current research with practical safety information.
Beginning with a brief introduction to the geological setting of earthquakes, Yeats leads readers through a lively and lucid narrative that:
--describes the major faults that threaten Northern and Southern California and Nevada,
--explores topics ranging from earthquake forecasting and catastrophe insurance (the California Earthquake Authority is the largest residential insurer in the world) to the risks of tsunamis and soil liquefaction,
--reviews the current level of earthquake preparedness and disaster response, including the role of government, scientists, and public in creating awareness and policy,
--suggests actions that citizens can take to protect their families and homes.
"Living with Earthquakes" provides a detailed account of California's violent geologic past and a concise history of the state's innovative approaches to earthquake awareness and preparation. It also serves as a how-to manual for life in earthquake country. Most importantly, however, it's a call to action. Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but the California experience provides a model for how society can learn to live with earthquakes--and survive them.
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by Susan Elizabeth Hough
by Robert S. Yeats
