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The magnitude 5.2 Napa-Yountville earthquake in September 2000 caused $50-$100 million of damage. When a magnitude 7.1 earthquake occurs on the Hayward fault, we expect over 150,000 housing units to be made uninhabitable, over 350,000 people to be forced from their homes, and over 110,000 people to require public shelter.  

Contractors, builders and city,county building inspectors can help reduce these numbers by ensuring that Bay Area homes are appropriately retrofitted.  

A workshop entitled Earthquake Retrofit of Wood-Frame Homes will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2000 at the Napa County Landmarks Building in Napa, and again on Saturday, January 20, 2001 at the MetroCenter Auditorium in Oakland. 

The full-day course includes training in earthquake basics, housing damage statistics, proper shear wall and cripple wall construction, connections, foundations, nonstructural items, safety issues, and minimizing liability exposure. 

After each workshop, from 6 pm-8 pm, ABAG will offer help to homeowners on initiating the retrofit process.  

The workshop is supported in part with funding from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG).  

The East Bay training is also supported by Berkeley’s Office of Emergency Services and Project Impact, and Oakland’s Project SAFE. Cost for the workshop is $125 including a 220 page workbook and meals; discounts can be obtained through www.abag.ca.gov/abag/events/retrofit, the ABAG Web site.  

For information, call Michael Smith at ABAG, 510-464-7948.