BILL NUMBER: SCR 51INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Corbett JUNE 29, 2009 Relative to earthquakes. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SCR 51, as introduced, Corbett. Earthquake preparedness: the Great California ShakeOut. This measure would support earthquake preparedness and encourage participation in preparedness activities. This measure would also support the Earthquake Country Alliance's annual Great California ShakeOut and its earthquake education and outreach programs and would endorse this year's October 15, 2009, Great California ShakeOut. Fiscal committee: no. WHEREAS, California and its residents have historically been susceptible to natural hazards, whether it be earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, floods, winter storms, droughts, landslides, or volcanic eruptions; and WHEREAS, It should be the intent of the Legislature to recognize the importance of enhancing California's ability to withstand natural hazards, as well as, the importance of reducing the human suffering, property damage, interruption of public services, and economic losses caused by those hazards; and WHEREAS, Major earthquakes pose a particular, significant, and ongoing threat to the entire state; and WHEREAS, It is within the state's responsibility to promote earthquake preparedness with the public and to plan appropriately for earthquake-related disasters; and WHEREAS, From time to time, both houses of the Legislature have formed select committees to study earthquake and disaster preparedness; and WHEREAS, Recent studies project the economic losses from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on the southern San Andreas fault and a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on the Hayward fault to reach as high as two hundred thirteen billion dollars ($213,000,000,000) and one hundred seventy-eight billion dollars ($178,000,000,000) respectively; and WHEREAS, Community resiliency to earthquakes and other disasters depends on the preparedness levels of all stakeholders in the community, including individuals, families, schools, community organizations, faith-based organizations, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government; and WHEREAS, By joining the Earthquake Country Alliance, California and its agencies can partner with earthquake information and service providers statewide to educate its residents regarding actions that can be taken to protect life and property, including mitigating structural and nonstructural hazards and participating in earthquake drills; and WHEREAS, By participating in the Great California ShakeOut on October 15, 2009, the state has the opportunity to join and support all Californians in strengthening community and regional resiliency to earthquakes; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby supports earthquake preparedness for all residents of California and encourages all stakeholders in the state's economy to participate in preparedness activities; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby supports the Earthquake Country Alliance's annual Great California ShakeOut and its year-round earthquake education and outreach programs and acknowledges the importance of preparing in advance for the purposes of building a safer community and reducing the loss of lives and property damage from future destructive earthquakes; and be it further Resolved, That the Legislature hereby endorses the Great California ShakeOut, which will be held this year on October 15, 2009, and annually thereafter on the third Thursday of each October; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.