Dwelling monetary losses

Journal Article · Sun Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1989 · United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA)

OSTI ID:5471245

Fowkes, E J ^[1]; Lagorio, H J ^[2]; Steinbrugge, K V; Algermissen, S T

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1. West Hills College, Coalinga, CA (USA)
2. Univ. of California, Berkeley (USA)

All one- to four-family dwellings in Coalinga (population, 6,769) were examined after the May 2 earthquake to determine the degree of damage to their exterior and interior finishes, masonry veneers, and other constructional components. At least three sides of these structures were inspected, as well as the interiors of almost 60% of them. This information provided the basis for monetary-loss calculations. Field-inspection methods and computational algorithms were based on those developed in 1969 for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. These methods were first applied on a simplified basis after the 1971 San Fernando, Calif., earthquake, and again slightly modified to suit 1983 Coalinga conditions. Monetary losses to all wood-frame one- to four-family habitational units, excluding mobile homes, were $15,290,000. Completely independent data from financial sources provided similar results. The American Red Cross estimate, which was prepared very shortly after the event, amounted to almost $10,000,000 for all dwellings, regardless of construction type. As expected, newer wood-frame dwellings performed better than older ones. Dwellings with concrete first floors on grade performed much better than those with supported wood floors. The May 2 earthquake provided an opportunity to verify and improve monetary-loss-estimation methodologies used for governmental earthquake-vulnerability studies, as well as to evaluate wood-frame-dwelling probable maximum losses (PML's) used by the insurance industry.

• OSTI ID: 5471245
• Journal Information: United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA), Journal Name: United States Geological Survey, Professional Paper; (USA) Vol. 1487; ISSN XGPPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
580000* -- Geosciences
ALGORITHMS
BUILDING MATERIALS
BUILDINGS
CALCULATION METHODS
CALIFORNIA
CONCRETES
COST
DAMAGE
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTHQUAKES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FORECASTING
FOUNDATIONS
LOSSES
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NORTH AMERICA
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
SEISMIC EFFECTS
SEISMIC EVENTS
SUPPORTS
TESTING
USA
VALIDATION
WOOD