AN ASSESSMENT OF THE
CONSEQUENCES AND
PREPARATIONS FOR A
CATASTROPHIC CALIFORNIA
EARTHQUAKE:
FINDINGS AND ACTIONS TAKEN

PREPARED BY
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
FROM ANALYSES CARRIED OUT BY THE
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
ad hoc COMMITTEE ON ASSESSMENT OF
CONSEQUENCES AND PREPARATIONS FOR
A MAJOR CALIFORNIA EARTHQUAKE

federal emergency
management agency

Washington, D.C. 20472
November 1980

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
CHAPTER:
I.[Executive Summary of Findings, Issues, and Actions]1
II.[Geologic Earthquake Scenarios]15
III.[Assessment of Losses for Selected Potential California Earthquakes]21
IV.[An Assessment of the Current State of Readiness Capability of Federal, State, and Local Governments for Earthquake Response]27
V.[An Assessment of the Social Impacts]35
ANNEX:
1.[Copies of Correspondence Between President Carter and Governor Brown]37
2.[Current California and Federal Earthquake Response Planning]43
3.[California Assembly Bill No. 2202]53
[ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS]57