HomeMy WebLinkAbout19-13 RESOLUTION 19-13
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF
LOS ALTOS HILLS SUPPORTING SENATE BILL 135—EARTHQUAKE EARLY
WARNING SYSTEM IN CALIFORNIA
WHEREAS, according to the United States Geological Survey, California is one of the most
seismically active states, second only to Alaska; and
WHEREAS, California has experienced dozens of disastrous earthquakes that have caused
fatalities, serious injuries, and significant economic loss; and
WHEREAS, ninety percent of the world's earthquakes and over eighty percent of the world's
largest earthquakes occur along the Circum-Pacific Belt, also known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.
The Pacific Ring of Fire includes the very active San Andreas Fault Zone in California; and
WHEREAS, the Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF) released in 2008
predicted a 99.7 percent likelihood of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in California in the
next 30 years; and
WHEREAS, a 2013 study published by the Caltech and the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth
Science and Technology discovered that a statewide California earthquake involving both the
Los Angeles and San Francisco metropolitan areas may be possible; and
WHEREAS, Japan, Taiwan, Mexico, Turkey, Romania, Italy and China either have or are
working on earthquake early warning systems that are capable of saving lives and helping to
mitigate loss; and
WHEREAS, California Emergency Management Agency, Caltech, California Geological
Survey, University of California at Berkeley, United Stated Geological Survey, and others have
been conducting earthquake early warning research and development in California and together
they operate the California Integrated Seismic Network, which has a demonstration earthquake
early warning capability; and
WHEREAS, by building the California Integrated Seismic Network and processing data from an
array of sensors throughout the state, a fully developed earthquake early warning system would
effectively detect the strength and progression of earthquakes and alert the public within seconds,
up to 60 seconds, before potentially damaging ground shaking is felt; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Los Altos Hills must do all it can to better prepare for future
earthquakes and that an earthquake early warning system should disseminate earthquake
information in support of public safety, emergency response and loss mitigation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the Town of Los Altos
Hills hereby supports Senate Bill 1525 (Padilla) that would create an earthquake early warning
system in.California.
Resolution 19-13 Page 1
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The above and foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the Town of
Los Altos Hills at a regular meeting held on the 21St day of March, 2013 by the following vote:
AYES: Waldeck, Corrigan, Harpootlian, Larsen
NOES: None
ABSTAIN: None
ABSENT: Radford
BY: ..
Gary Waldeck, Mayor
- ATTEST:
/
Deborah Padovan, City Clerk
Resolution 19-13 Page 2