Kim, it's been a long time since I was in the pre-architecture program at the U, but I seem to recall that in addition to failed structures themselves, much of the damage here would be the result of all the construction built on ancient sand and gravel bars surrounding the valleys. I recall one professor who claimed that most of the bench structures will simply slide-off the side of the mountain when the "big one" hits and all that clay, sand, and buried talus turns to jello. All those million-dollar houses will become buried in a pile of rubble at the bottom of the benches. Can you comment on that, as a professional architect? On 3/18/11, Kim Hyatt <kimharch@cut.net> wrote:
Incidentally, I am currently working on a rehabilitation, including a seismic upgrade, on a stone and adobe house in Ephraim. The Japan quake has me thinking more about these issues even more than usual. If you live in an unreinforced masonry home, make sure your will is in order.