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L.A.'s 'Big One'

A mega-quake in America's second most populated city is due. 50-year-old buildings could come crashing down, killing thousands. Los Angeles will come to cinemas to see a blockbuster called San Andreas in which Los Angeles will be wiped out by an apocalyptic earthquake. Most of those in the audience will be wondering how long before it happens for real. The southern section of the San Andreas fault that runs near the city and has not had a huge earthquake of more than magnitude 7.5 since 1680. According to seismologists, an earthquake is more than a century overdue. Are southern Californian residents ready and prepared for a catastrophic earthquake?

"A big earthquake is inevitable," Los Angeles' said Dr Lucy Jones, a US Geological Survey seismologist, told The Telegraph. "Each earthquake that happens increases the probability. We know a lot about earthquakes, we know it will happen. We know everything but the time." Dr Jones is worried. She stays up at night because of the number of old concrete buildings that have not been retrofitted and could collapse into a pancake. The expensive retrofitting process involves reinforcing buildings, for example with steel braces. Weak earthquakes in recent months had me thinking on whether Los Angeles can withstand a major hit. In the first five months of 2014 there were five quakes of more than magnitude 4.0. The first time that has happened since 1994, sending jitters through Los Angeles. "LA was built in the 50s and 60s and all of the buildings from that time have some real problems," she said. Dr Jones herself would never live in one. According to a recent study by the University of California there are 1,451 concrete buildings that have not been retrofitted, including about 50 hotels, 50 churches, and 25 nursing homes. It has been estimated that 5% of these about 75 in total would collapse in a large earthquake. The question is which ones. "We are looking at what would happen in an earthquake and taking it all the way through to evacuation," said Dr Jones. "The problem with Southern California is we have 23 million people. Even if we were able to predict an earthquake in LA and evacuate, how many people would be killed on the freeways trying to get out?"

Since the 1980s many sensors has been installed. Including in a hole drilled a mile down into the San Andreas fault. According to the USGS the aim is to achieve a "better understanding of what happens on and near a fault during the earthquake cycle and to aid in predicting the time and severity of future quakes". "There's a lot of people scratching their heads and trying to come up with a method of prediction. It's a learning process," said Tim McCrink, a senior geologist with the California Geological Survey. The San Andreas is 30 miles away from downtown Los Angeles. Even an 8.0-magnitude quake on it would be expected to kill fewer people. It is estimated that would kill up to 18,000 people, make several million homeless, and cause up to $250 billion in damage. According to Dr Jones it would "hit all of downtown" which is stocked with concrete buildings that haven't been retrofitted. Such a quake on that fault is only likely to occur once every 2,500 years, but no one has any idea when the last one was. The USGS is doing a great effort to try to come up with  warning system. Its now time the residents try to come up with their own evacuation plan.

Allen, Nick. "Los Angeles Awaits Earthquake That Could Be the 'Big One'" The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 19 July 2014. Web. 04 Mar. 2015. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10978030/Los-Angeles-awaits-earthquake-that-could-be-the-Big-One.html>.

I-710 Freight Problems

An average 37,000 to 213,000 vehicles pass through Interstate 710. It is considered the largest infrastructure project in the nation. High levels of air toxins along the 710 have been linked to various health problems. What is the city of Los Angeles doing to reduce emissions and help its citizens?

A story was published by two physicians on KCET about a 12-year-old boy named Jimmy. “He came to see me at a community clinic in southeast Los Angeles after falling at school. While taking his health history, I discovered that he was diagnosed with asthma at age 5. His mother mentioned that Jimmy is unable to play a full game of soccer because of his asthma; and when I listened to his lungs, I noticed poor air movement. Jimmy told me that he suffers frequent asthma attacks, which sometimes causes him to miss school.” According to the Department of Public Health, one in 11 children in Los Angeles County has asthma. African-American children have the highest rates of asthma 25 %. Compared to Hispanic children 8 % and non-Hispanic white children 7 %.

Jimmy lives close to the 710 Freeway, a major transportation corridor for moving goods from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. Air pollution from this freeway is a major contributor to asthma in Southeast Los Angeles; and children are most vulnerable. When Jimmy plays soccer on a field near the freeway, he is forced to inhale the exhaust fumes from the trucks rolling by. Low-income communities similar to where Jimmy lives experience the health impacts of freight. Mostly by breathing diesel exhaust on a daily basis in their own neighborhoods next to highways, ports and rail yards.

A physician took a look at the disease and seeked ways to prevent it. He believed medical professionals needed to work closely with scientists and policymakers to battle pollution. He said, “solutions exist to overhaul today's conventional freight vehicles into a low-carbon transportation system that cleans our air, improves our public health and helps us meet our climate goals.” Los Angeles need to stop worrying about how much money this will cost the economy and start worrying to helping the next generation be as healthy as they can be. Too many times has there been a child diagnosed with asthma. You can't live under these conditions. This needs to stop Los Angeles!

Currently, Californians depend on trucks, trains and ships powered by diesel fuel to deliver  food and merchandise. California's freight is the largest ozone-causing emissions and diesel pollution. Movement of freight is also a major contributor to climate change, including emissions of carbon dioxide and black carbon. According to a report released last year by the Union of Concerned Scientists, states “cleaner freight alternatives would reduce emissions well beyond today's cleanest diesel and natural gas trucks. More efficient engines, advanced emission controls and cleaner fuels can make conventionally powered trucks, trains and ships less polluting.” Existing state policies for freight transportation are insufficient to meet upcoming federal air-quality deadlines. An analysis by state and regional air-quality officials shows that California freight needs about a 90 percent reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions including Los Angeles to reach air-quality standards over the next two decades.

“We urge Gov. Brown, the California Air Resources Board, and other state agencies to take all necessary action to transition to a more efficient freight system, one that relies on the cleanest alternatives...For example, planned upgrades to the 710 Freeway could include a mandatory zero-emission freight corridor for heavy-duty trucks.” - Don Anair. Transforming Los Angeles freight system will provide cleaner air, a safer climate, and improved health for all of its communities. When that happens, everyone will breathe easier.

Aguilar, Felix, MD, and Don Anair. "Addressing Health Concerns Over the 710 Freeway Corridor." KCET. N.p., 19 Feb. 2015. Web. 01 Mar. 2015. <http://www.kcet.org/socal/departures/710-corridor/addressing-health-concerns-over-the-710-freeway-corridor.html>.