I’m looking at today’s paper (March 23) and the story ‘On Shaky
Ground.’ They were commenting on the 84-year-old drug store that
survived the Loma Prieta Earthquake without a scratch.
“I’m looking at today’s paper (March 23) and the story ‘On Shaky Ground.’ They were commenting on the 84-year-old drug store that survived the Loma Prieta Earthquake without a scratch. I would like an earthquake person to speak further on why a building like the drug store is still just fine while the other store at 7451 Monterey St. did not do too well.”
Red Phone: Dear Shaken Up, Your wish is our command. There are several factors that come into play when buildings encounter an earthquake.
The type of building and the structural soundness of a building help determine how well it holds up, said Peggy Hellweg, a research seismologist at University of California, Berkeley. Buildings that are top- heavy tend to not do well in quakes, she said. Sometimes corner buildings survive better because they have two strong supporting walls, and sometimes buildings in the middle do better because they are supported by the surrounding buildings, she said.
While the location can play a part, the type of building material used is a bigger factor, said Greg Durocher, of the U.S. Geological Survey.
“Buildings may have a similar exterior appearance, but may behave differently in large earthquakes due to their orientation, height, internal construction, etc.,” he said. “The type of brick-laying design can also play a significant role.”
For more, you may want to check out “Practical Lessons from the Loma Prieta Earthquake” that the National Academies Press makes available to view for free.
Dog jumping over fence
“I live in the Parkview Apartments and love it there. But in front of our apartment is a long fence that belongs to the people who live on Lilly Avenue. My front door looks out to their back yard. I have a problem with the pit bull dog that tries to jump over the fence and who barks all night long. Is there anything that can be done?”
Red Phone: Dear Doggone Tired, The first step in a case like this might be to approach your neighbor in a non-confrontational manner and express your concerns to him or her. There is a chance that your neighbor may not be aware that the dog is causing you grief. If that doesn’t work or your neighbor is unreceptive, you can call police at 846-0350 and they can cite the owner if they notice that the dog is causing a disturbance.
