FEMA Case Study Library
Collections
- COVID-19 Best Practice Case Studies
- Interagency Recovery Coordination Case Studies
- Mitigation Best Practices
- Preparedness Grants Case Studies
- Assistance to Firefighters Grant Case Studies
- Loss Avoidance Studies
- Risk MAP Best Practices
- Cooperating Technical Partners Program Success Stories
Search All Case Studies
Building Code Lessons From the 1994 Northridge Earthquake
At 4:30 a.m. on January 17, 1994, the M6.7 Northridge struck in the San Fernando Valley, roughly 20 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Although the duration was only 10 to 20 seconds, the ground motions included a reading of 1.82g, the highest ever recorded in an urban area in North America, and the MMI was IX (violent). The earthquake resulted in around 60 fatalities, and damage estimates were as high as $50 billion.
Building Code Lessons From the 1971 San Fernando Earthquake
At 6 a.m. on Feb. 9, 1971, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck outside Los Angeles in the foothills above the San Fernando Valley. An estimated half a billion dollars in damages and 65 deaths were attributable to the earthquake. Most of the deaths occurred in two nearby hospital complexes, Olive View and Veterans, both of which suffered significant damage.
Murray, Utah School District Seismic Retrofits
Around 2010, the Murray School District decided to mitigate against future earthquakes and other natural disasters by undertaking a multiyear retrofit program that brought all its campuses up to current earthquake safety standards.
Fix The Bricks! Fortifying Salt Lake City, Utah – Past, Present and Future
The Wasatch Fault poses one of the most catastrophic natural threat scenarios in the United States. Despite the lack of high magnitude earthquakes in recent history, the Wasatch Front has a 43% chance of experiencing a 6.75 or greater magnitude earthquake in the next 50 years. The City of Salt Lake has partnered with the state to fund life-safety level retrofits to unreinforced masonry (URM) homes through the “Fix the Bricks” program, increasing the likelihood of an occupant’s ability to survive a damaging earthquake.
Oregon's Plan for Mitigating Earthquakes
OREGON - The Cascadia Subduction Zone Fault is a long sloping fault located off the West coast of the United States which stretches from mid-Vancouver to Northern California. As a result of its enormous size, this fault is capable of producing devastating earthquakes.
Home Earthquake Retrofit Program
SEATTLE, WA - The Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) is a very proactive community group located in the City of Seattle. For many years the organization has sponsored programs and activities that have built a strong sense of community.
Non-Structural Mitigation Cost Effective Way of Preventing Damage
OLYMPIA, WA - On February 28, 2001, Mrs. Mallinger was at home when she felt shaking and realized that there was an earthquake. During the two phases of the earthquake, books, glassware, CDs, pottery and some pictures fell.
New Era in Earthquake Monitoring Project TriNet
CALIFORNIA - Following the Northridge earthquake in 1994, FEMA provided funding to the California Institute of Technology, the California Division of Mines and Geology, and the USGS to upgrade earthquake monitoring in southern California.
Light Fixtures, Earthquakes, and School Children
LOS ANGELES, CA - The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is second in size only to the New York City School District. At present, the District is composed of over 900 schools, serving over 800,000 students, and employing 57,000 full-time and 24,000 parttime staff.
Improving the Performance of Steel Moment Frame Connections
WASHINGTON, DC - One of the critical lessons from the 1994 Northridge earthquake was the unacceptable performance of steel moment-resisting frame construction. In response to that performance, FEMA established the FEMA/SAC Steel Moment Resisting Frames Project.