The 6.5-Mw earthquake that struck off the shore of northern California on Saturday created widespread blackouts in several coastal communities. Although the quake left behind a trail of frazzled nerves, broken dishes, and cracked walls, it caused only minor structural damages and no major health injuries.
In a press conference, Calif. State Assemblyman Wesley Chesbro pointed out that the area was fortunate to avoid a major catastrophe, saying, “On the whole, I think we dodged a bullet. It could have been far, far worse.”
In fact, a collective sigh of relief seemed to sweep through the region in the wake of the seismic event, as officials released preliminary damage estimates. Within Humboldt County, Eureka, sustained the brunt of quake’s impact, and thousands grappled with power outages. The city’s fire chief cited 119 reports of damage, as well as a cursory assessment suggesting $12.5 million in damage to public and private dwellings.
Guy Carpenter’s Instrat® unit posted a CAT-i report on its Cat Central site about the quake, which struck about 27 miles west of Ferndale, Calif. At least 14 aftershocks have rattled the region since the main quake. According to Guy Carpenter, most losses are limited primarily to cracked floors and walls, shattered windows, toppled store shelves, and some bent railings on bridges.
An event such as this one reminds all claim professionals of the importance of accurate earthquake damage assessments. For a primer on preparing for the next “big one,” read this informative article, which recently appeared in the November, 2009 issue of Claims Magazine.