CS Multi hazard: CALIFORNIA

        Los Angeles - 16mil population, coastal lowlands, Westcoast USA

1. Earthquakes - San Andreas Fault - network of active faults

-soft sediments lead to rapid shaking 

(been 5 major earthquakes) EG Northridge 1994 (6.7)

               60 deaths $30m property damage, 3m no electricity

response: -commerial buildings have emergency plans | retrofitting | earthquake insurance

                   landuse planning - identifying areas prone to liquifaction

        -residentials have emergency kits

         -educating locals & preparing/improving emergency services 

River flooding - Winter storms (El Nino years) leads to floods

                        - increased floods due to deforested hillsids & surface run off from tarmaced land

           response: Channelising river, large dams with resevoirs 

Coastal flooding - area around long beach is subsiding - therefore heavy storms

                             - Predicted 45cm sea level rise in 2050, by 2100, 100bn worth of property &                                       500k people at risk

Land/mudslides - during winter storms - saturated soil leads to pore water pressure, therefore lubricates slide plans. VERY UNSTABLE as no roots, soft underlying rock.

Wildfires       - mostly from human actions. Jul-Nov hot winds from canyons to LA

                       - surrounding scrubland very flammable  60-130% increase of wildfires by 2085

              response: Californian Law - 10m brush clearance zone to reduce risk of spreading

Drought - 80% of water supply in North California, BUT 80% of water demand in S California

                - Advanced pump stations to supply south, introduced low flush on toilets

                 - introduced fining wasteful water users - Water Rate Structure 

Smog - Photochemical smog from pollution collects in natural shaped basin

              - increase in public transport and clean energy to reduce smog