Earthquakes are not a new threat to America’s second most populous city, Los Angeles. Los Angeles has been at the epicenter of seismic risk for a long time. Twenty years ago, an earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale devastated Los Angeles, killing a large number of people.
The solar powered Wi-Fi system will help ensure communication: Since an earthquake could knock out Internet connectivity, Los Angeles is proactively addressing this earthquake vulnerability by proposing solar powered Wi-Fi. The city’s residents will be able to access the Internet if the primary system is disrupted in the event of a quake. People will be able to find important information related to food, water, traffic, or rescue operations. They could also get in touch with police, fire, or medical personnel.
Many buildings lack modern retrofitting: The old buildings in LA that were built in 50s and 60s pose a real challenge. As per a study, there are 1,451 old concrete buildings that have not been retrofitted, and many of them may collapse during an earthquake. As part of its seismic preparedness, the city plans to invest heavily in expensive retrofitting processes, like reinforcing buildings with steel braces.
