New Earthquake Warning System Proposed
Kinda neat, but I don't think this proposed earthquake warning system will do much good. It might cause more problems than it helps.
A proponent says, "When you put the $80 million figure side-by-side with the billions upon billions of damage that we suffer after every big earthquake, I think the investment is a no-brainer," Padilla said.
I beg to differ. That vast majority of earthquake damage will still occur. They're talking a 60 to 90 second warning. Even if it gave you an hours warning buildings would still come down. Sure, some workers might be able to stop what they're doing. Maybe a few cars or trains could slow down. I'm not sure that's worth $80 million.
What it would probably do is drive a lot of us in earthquake country nuts. I know my heart already starts beating fast in even a small earthquake, mostly cause I'm wondering if it's gonna end up being the big one. Imagine if you were alerted to earthquakes you couldn't even feel at the time.
Many of us would end up even worse nervous wrecks about earthquakes than we already are. I'm not sure we need that.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 8:05 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Enact seismic building regulations like they have in Japan. The need for an early warning system will be minimal because our buildings will be damn safe. They say the safest place during an earthquake in Japan is in a high rise building.
"Henchman Of Justice" says,
Ya Anonymous, spend more money when the nation is in major debt, raise the costs of construction (so taxes are higher for the government) and, in reality, just as Fred explains, mega damage will still occur. It is like the 9-11 Twin Towers that were designed to withstand airplanes and high winds - yep, we saw those results didn't we? It is like re-building in natural disaster prone areas like New Orleans, New Jersey, Arcata bottoms, etc... so that destruction leads to more debt, more in high costs and more in higher tax collections based upon many economic factors that are only a detriment to "non-governmental functions".
This kinda boondoggle would be worse than the Tsunami Warning System, even though a few lives may be saved, not structures.
Government employees and officals conspire to bring down America at the expense of the 99.9% and to the benfit of those in power and elite levels of society! - HOJ
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