REFERENCES

EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
TIPS
BEFORE AN EARTHQUAKE
- Have an Emergency Plan
- Keep Emergency Provisions
- Know How to Turn Off Gas
and Water
DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
- Drop Down, Take Cover, Hold
On.
- Stay Inside Until Shaking
Stops
- Stay Away from Swaying
Furniture
- Stay Away from Windows
- If in Bed, Cover Head With
Pillow
- If Outside, Drop to Ground
Away from Hazards
- If in Car, Stop and Stay in Car

Articles
"Earthquake Safety Tips, Earthquake
Preparation, Earthquake Readiness - National Geographic." National Geographic.
Web. 26 Feb. 2016.
"Emergency Management Department." The City of Los Angeles : : LA
Emergencies & Threats. Web. 26 Feb.
2016.
"San Luis Obispo County, California."
Natural Hazard Maps. Web. 26 Feb.
2016.
"Department of Emergency Management." Our Hazards. Web. 26 Feb. 2016.
Images
"California." Google Maps. Web.
Hung, Kenny. Los Angeles Cityscape.
2012. Los Angeles.
Nistu, Pia. San Francisco Golden Gate.
2012. Pichost, San Francisco.
Storset, Lelf A. Cerro San Luis, San Luis
Obispo, California. 2007. San Luis
Obispo.

HAZARD PROJECT
CREATED BY:
JESSICA GARIBAY
ASHLEY MOORE
LAUREN REIBLE
PAUL TRUONG

California Coast
Field Trip

Field Trip Stops

Start: Pasadena City College
1st Stop: Los Angeles
2nd Stop: San Luis Obispo
3rd Stop: San Francisco
End: Pasadena City College
Included: Map, Hazards, Pictures,
Earthquake Safety Tips, References

STOP #1 : LOS ANGELES

Earthquakes

STOP #2: SAN LUIS OBISPO

Wild Fires

STOP #3: SAN FRANCISCO

Tsunami

Although earthquakes occur over all of

California, they are especially potent in
Southern California near the Los Angeles
area where more than 10, 000 earthquakes
occur each year.

Even though the risk for a tsunami is relatively low in San Francisco, the risk is still
very real because of the city being so close
to the water as well as the high earthquake
risk.

These earthquakes are so frequent because

Los Angeles lies directly on the San Andreas fault where two tectonic plates meet
causing a strike-slip fault.

Tsunamis are caused by earthquakes causing a shift in oceanic plated and moving the
water in a violent unpredictable manner,
underwater landslides occurring close the
coast or by storms across the ocean causing
irregular wave patterns and intensities in
the hydrosphere.

Earthquakes cannot be prevented, but

preparation and education are key to keeping safe. This includes having emergency
supplies, reinforcing contents and physical
homes themselves, as well as learning
safety positions.
Fires

Structure and residential fires have always

been a major part of life in the Los Angeles
area. Even though they are usually small
and man made at first, the real threat is
how fast these fires spread.
Because Los Angeles experiences very high
speed dry winds, this fuels and spread fires
across larger areas. These fires are more
potent during the summer when there are
higher amounts of dried out tree branches
and leaves.
Fires are one of the only major hazards
that can be prevented, predicted, and contained. Everyone can do their part by removing dry debris, not keeping campfires
or fire pits burning unattended, also being
aware of their surroundings and calling 911
when a fire is seen or smelled.

Although fires are not very common in San

Luis Obispo, they pose a major threat as a
natural disaster because of the climate as
well as the type of land. Wildfires are very
dangerous and spread very quickly, they
usually cause millions of dollars in damage
before being successfully contained.
San Luis Obispo is known for a very dry ,
especially in the summer months making
wildfires more of a threat. Also during the
summer, most of the land and plant life
dries out very quickly making large
amounts of fuel for any small fire.

Wildfires can be prevented or even contained if found in the early stages. Everyone can help by preventing man made fires
in dried out areas. Firebreaks, or buffers
within vegetation, should also be placed
and maintained in highly flammable areas.
Flooding

Having a history of wet winters and overflowing channels, flooding poses a real risk
in San Luis Obispo.

The large amount of bodies of water including lakes, creeks, and channels, pose a
large risk of overflowing during wet winter
seasons. Being off the coast as well as having bodies of water inland cause a vigorous
water cycle as well as heavy rain.

Structures the lay in the lower areas of

these dams and channels need to be prepared with homes on higher elevations.
The size of channels should also be increases so the water capacity will not overflow even with heavy rains.

Homes and structures lining the coast

should be either moved inland or onto a
higher man made ground. Tsunamis are
unpredictable and happen very quickly,
preparation of people and structures is key
for survival.
Earthquakes

San Francisco has a large history of violent

earthquakes within the last 100 years. Usually multiple large earthquakes will happen
over a span of time, which is called a cluster.

San Francisco lies on a very active part of

the San Andreas Fault. Most cities that lie
on this fault in California feel the effects of
the seismic shifts between the tectonic
plates.

Because earthquakes occur as such high

magnitudes in the Bay area, preparation is
key. All structures should be reinforced to
reduce damage as well as overhead hazards
eliminated to lower risks of overhead debris falling.