AMERICANALMANAC (Charles McAdams) - New USGS earthquake model puts 159 million Americans in expanded danger zones
Nearly half the U.S. population now lives in areas exposed to building-damaging earthquake shaking, a sharp jump from prior federal estimates that raises hard questions about infrastructure readiness nationwide. A new study built on the latest U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Model found that roughly 159.2 million Americans reside in zones exposed to "very […] The post New USGS earthquake model puts 159 million Americans in expanded danger zones appeared first on American Almanac .
Nearly half the U.S. population now lives in areas exposed to building-damaging earthquake shaking, a sharp jump from prior federal estimates that raises hard questions about infrastructure readiness nationwide. A new study built on the latest U.S. Geological Survey National Seismic Hazard Model found that roughly 159.2 million Americans reside in zones exposed to "very strong" earthquake shaking, the kind that can crack walls, buckle frames, and knock buildings off foundations. The previous version of the USGS model placed that number at 111.8 million, meaning the updated science added more than 47 million people to the highest-risk category in a single revision. The numbers do not stop at population. Researchers calculated that 47.3…Open