A Methodology For Assessing The Risk Of Hazardous Materials Release Following Earthquakes - A Demonstration Study For The Los Angeles Area
Date
1992
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Abstract
A methodology for estimating the risk of earthquake induced
hazardous materials releases was developed for
the National Science Foundation and the National Center
for Earthquake Engineering Research. Seismic hazard
analyses, fragility modeling for facilities handling
hazardous materials and data on airborne materials
releases were used in the development of the methodology.
The risk was estimated in terms of population within the
study area exposed to hazardous materials as a result of
a postulated earthquake event. The procedure was
developed to be used as a tool by communities interested
in regional hazard management.
In order to demonstrate the methodology, Los Angeles
County was selected as a study area. Population data was
integrated into the methodology to predict the population
exposure to hazardous materials releases for three
earthquake scenarios: a Magnitude 8+ event on the San
Andreas fault, a Magnitude 7 event on the Newport-
Inglewood fault, and a Magnitude 5.9 simulation of the
1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake.
Description
Keywords
Hazardous Materials, Earthquakes, Los Angeles, Chemical Modeling Facilities, Plume Modeling, Facility Vulnerability, Computer Modeling