2003 San Simeon earthquake
 The earthquake caused significant damage to Pan Jewelers upon collapse of the Acorn Building | |
 ShakeMap made by the United States Geological Survey for the earthquake | |
  Los Angeles San Simeon Paso Robles  | |
| UTC time | 2003-12-22 19:15:56 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 7215050 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | December 22, 2003 |
| Local time | 11:15 |
| Magnitude | 6.6 Mw[1][2] |
| Depth | 10 mi (16 km) [2] |
| Epicenter | 35°37′N 121°04′W / 35.62°N 121.07°W [2] |
| Type | Blind thrust |
| Areas affected | Central Coast (California) United States |
| Total damage | $250–300 million [2][3] |
| Max. intensity | MMI VIII (Severe) |
| Casualties | 2 killed 40 injured [2] |
The 2003 San Simeon earthquake struck at 11:15
The most violent ground movement was within 50 miles of the epicenter, though the earthquake was felt as far away as Los Angeles. With a moment magnitude of 6.6, it was the most destructive earthquake to hit the United States since the Northridge quake of 1994.
Damage
The area around the epicenter being sparsely populated, the most severe damage was in
Two sulfur
There was a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the relatives of the 2 women killed in the earthquake against Mary Mastagni, and several trusts which owned the Acorn Building. The jury found Mastagni negligent in the care and maintenance of the Acorn Building, due to not retrofitting the building, in violation of city ordinances. The jury awarded nearly $2 million to the plaintiffs. [4]
Outside of Paso Robles the damage was less severe, with unreinforced masonry buildings taking minor to moderate damage. Buildings even 40 miles from the epicenter in San Luis Obispo suffered minor damage such as ceiling tiles falling. Brick veneers were also disproportionately affected. In addition, water tanks in Paso Robles, Templeton and Los Osos were damaged. Residential buildings, predominantly one- to two-story wood-frame structures, weathered the quake with little or no damage. The building that housed Atascadero's City Hall was damaged and vacated shortly after the quake. After extensive repairs, it reopened in August 2013. Some wineries, especially those near the epicenter along State Route 46, reported damage such as barrels toppling and bursting. The Mission San Miguel Arcángel had $15 million worth of damage. The earthquake also caused extensive damage to George H. Flamson Middle School. The main building was damaged and had to be demolished in 2004. A new building reflecting the original 1924 building was opened for use in August 2010. In Templeton, Bethel Lutheran Church (ELCA), sustained major damage to its 110+ year old building and the apse had to be rebuilt.
Aftermath
Following the event, California enacted A.B. 2533, amending the California Business and Professions Code § 8875.8, requiring that certain unreinforced masonry buildings that have not been seismically retrofitted have posted notice of the potential earthquake hazard.[5][6] The law was called Jenna's Bill, after Jennifer Myrick, who died in the quake.[7]
Faulting
The area where the quake struck displays a complex faulting geometry, between the active Oceanic Fault and the older Nacimiento Fault, along with possible interaction from the Hosgri and San Simeon segments of the mainly offshore San Gregorio-San Simeon-Hosgri fault zone.[8]
See also
- List of earthquakes in 2003
- List of earthquakes in California
- List of earthquakes in the United States
Notes
- ^ ISC (2014), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), Version 1.05, International Seismological Centre
- ^ a b c d e USGS (September 4, 2009), PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey, archived from the original on 2020-03-13
- ^ ISBN 978-0784407479.
- ^ Strickland, Tonya; Cornejo, Annmarie (25 June 2010). "Appeal lost in quake deaths". San Luis Obispo Tribune. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ California A.B. 2533, chaptered version, Sept. 21, 2004.
- ^ California A.B. 2533, Analysis, August 2421, 2004.
- ^ Wilkens, John (2005-01-30). "Hitting a brick wall: Parents turn grief into action, but 'Jenna's Bill' to post quake risk has yet to take hold". San Diego Tribune. Archived from the original on 2012-03-28. Retrieved 2010-06-29.
- doi:10.1785/0120070088, archived from the originalon July 20, 2012
Sources
External links
- San Simeon, California – Earthquake Engineering Research Institute
- The International Seismological Centre has a bibliography and/or authoritative data for this event.