Following Sunday night's 6.1 earthquake in Northern California, there have been widespread reports of damage,
most notably in the wine region of Napa Valley:
No one was killed in the 6.0-magnitude earthquake that jostled residents awake early Sunday.
The Queen of the Valley Medical Center said it has treated "approximately 208" patients since the earthquake struck. Of those, 17 were admitted to the hospital, and one is still in critical condition.
The majority of patients sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
Emphasis on the no one was killed part. In early August 2014, a 6.1 earthquake in Southwestern China
killed nearly 600 and injured close to 2,500 more.
Why the difference? Government regulation and stricter building codes throughout the U.S., particularly in Northern California.
From the U.S. Geological Survey:
The majority of deaths and injuries from earthquakes are caused by the damage or collapse of buildings and other structures. These losses can be reduced through documenting and understanding how structures respond to earthquakes. Gaining such knowledge requires a long-term commitment because large devastating earthquakes occur at irregular and often long intervals. Recording instruments must be in place and waiting, ready to capture the response to the next temblor whenever it occurs. The new information acquired by these instruments can then be used to better design earthquake-resistant structures. In this way, earth scientists and engineers help reduce loss of life and property in future earthquakes.
For as much as Republicans clamor for fewer regulations and less government oversight, I think we can all agree this is one area where the government absolutely does it right.
Vox put together a fantastically informative video outlining just how different the regulations affect the outcome of a major earthquake. Jump below the fold to see the video.