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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
[Illustration: fema symbol federal emergency management agency]
I. Executive Summary of Findings, Issues, and Actions 1
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
1. Copies of Correspondence Between President Carter and Governor Brown 37
2. Current California and Federal Earthquake Response Planning 43
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, ISSUES, AND ACTIONS
After viewing the destruction wrought by the eruption of Mt. St. Helens in Washington State in May 1980, President Carter became concerned about the impacts of a similar event of low probability but high damage potential, namely a catastrophic earthquake in California, and the state of readiness to cope with the impacts of such an event.
As a result of the President's concern, an _ad hoc_ committee of the National Security Council was formed to conduct a government review of the consequences of, and preparation for such an event. In addition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Committee included representatives from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the United States Geological Survey of the Department of the Interior, the Department of Defense, the Department of Transportation, and the National Communications System, at the Federal level; State of California agencies and California local governments at the State and local levels; and consultants from the private sector. During the summer of 1980, the participants in this review prepared working papers on relevant issues and problem areas for the consideration of the _ad hoc_ committee. Pertinent facts, conclusions and recommendations were reviewed with the Governor of the State of California. The President reviewed the _ad hoc_ committee's findings and approved the recommendations for Federal action. This report summarizes the results of the assessment and notes these actions.