A comprehensive earthquake loss assessment for the state of South Carolina using HAZUS was performed considering four different earthquake scenarios: a moment magnitude ( M) 7.3 “1886 Charleston-like” earthquake, M 6.3 and M 5.3 events also from the Charleston seismic source, and an M 5.0 earthquake in Columbia. Primary objectives of this study were (1) to generate credible earthquake losses to provide a baseline for coordination, capability development, training, and strategic planning for the South Carolina Emergency Management Division, and (2) to raise public awareness of the significant earthquake risk in the state. Ground shaking, liquefaction, and earthquake-induced landsliding hazards were characterized using region-specific inputs on seismic source, path, and site effects, and ground motion numerical modeling. Default inventory data on buildings and facilities in HAZUS were either substantially enhanced or replaced. Losses were estimated using a high resolution 2- km×2- km grid rather than the census tract approach used in HAZUS. The results of the loss assessment indicate that a future repeat of the 1886 earthquake would be catastrophic, resulting in possibly 900 deaths, more than 44,000 injuries, and a total economic loss of $20 billion in South Carolina alone. Schools, hospitals, fire stations, ordinary buildings, and bridges will suffer significant damage due to the general lack of seismic design in the state. Lesser damage and losses will be sustained in the other earthquake scenarios although even the smallest event could result in significant losses.
In this study, we present a simple framework for the evaluation of the cost to repair building damage using engineering parameters related to current seismic building codes. Specifically, we envision relationships for building damage repair cost as a function of ground shaking spectral acceleration (Sa at structural period, T), design base shear coefficient (V/W), response modification factor (R), height, and framing system. This framework provides a flexible system for collecting and evaluating building damage from ground shaking, improving the building code, and predicting earthquake damage repair costs to new or existing, or retrofitted buildings, in a wide variety of seismic environments. In the absence of comprehensive statistical earthquake damage data, we resample the ATC-13 damage database to calibrate an initial damage model. We call the model CODA, for Code-Oriented Damage Assessment for Buildings.
The M7.8 San Andreas earthquake scenario for the ShakeOut exercise subjects more than a million wood-framed buildings to loads beyond their elastic capacity. Residential construction from the boom from the 1960's to 1980's relied heavily upon drywall sheathing and stucco for shear walls – more vulnerable than plywood or the gypsum lath and plaster of older buildings. During this same construction boom, many apartment buildings were built with tuck-under parking, and heavy masonry chimneys were prevalent. Based on HAZUS®MH modeling we describe, more than 30,000 (mostly older) wood buildings could be red-tagged or yellow-tagged in the scenario event. More recent wood-frames, engineered using plywood shear walls, should perform well, even under the conditions produced by the San Andreas event considered. Cost-effective retrofit measures exist for some of the weaknesses found in older wood construction, but seismic upgrade of wood-framed buildings with structural wood panels remains expensive and intrusive.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.