A Methodology for Assessing the Risk of Hazardous Materials Release Following Earthquakes--A Demonstration Study for the Los Angeles Area

HOPE SELIGSON, RONALD EGUCHI and KATHLEEN J. TIERNEY

Proceedings of the 4th U.S. Japan Workshop on Earthquake Disaster Prevention for Lifeline Systems (Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 1992): 437-450





Abstract:

A methodology for estimating the risk of earthquakeinduced hazardous materials releases was developed f or the National Science Foundation and the National Center f or 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 NewportInglewood fault, and a Magnitude 5.9 simulation of the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake.

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