Some California Hospitals Have Not Yet Met Earthquake Preparation Requirements
About 12% of California hospitals that received the lowest seismic performance rating have not yet upgraded their buildings to comply with a 20-year-old law that requires hospitals to remain operational in the event of an earthquake, according to data from the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. Some of those hospitals face a Jan. 1, 2015, deadline, while others have until 2020 to make the required upgrades. Lawmakers are considering a bill (AB 2557) that would grant hospitals a short extension.
- "How Will Your Hospital Fare in the Next Earthquake?" (Aliferis, "State of Health," KQED, 8/30).