President Obama declares Napa, California earthquake a ‘major disaster’

United States President Barack Obama declared Thursday the Aug. 24 California earthquake — which is estimated to have caused at least $2 billion in economic losses and killed at least one — was a “major disaster,” meaning federal aid is available.

Aon plc’s Impact Forecasting unit reported earlier that total economic losses “were expected to minimally reach” US$2 billion.

The South Napa Earthquake, which measured 6 on the Richter scale, was centred on the shore of San Pablo Bay, between the Hayward-Rodgers and Concord-Green Valley fault systems about 50 kilometres north of San Francisco, the U.S. Geological Service (USGS) reported earlier. It was the strongest earthquake to hit the San Francisco Bay area since the October, 1989 Loma Prieta disaster, in which 63 died (42 of whom were trapped under a collapsed elevated highway).

Published reports indicate one woman recently died due to a head injury resulting from the Aug. 24 quake.

Obama Thursday “ordered federal aid to supplement state, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the area affected by an earthquake during the period of August 24 to September 7, 2014,” the White House stated in a press release.

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“Federal funding is available to state, tribal, and eligible local governments and certain private nonprofit organizations on a cost-sharing basis for emergency work and the repair or replacement of facilities damaged by the earthquake in the counties of Napa and Solano,” the White House added. “Federal funding is also available on a cost-sharing basis for hazard mitigation measures statewide.”

Impact Forecasting had estimated quake insurance penetration in Napa County was 5.3%.

Risk Management Systems Inc. said earlier that the “majority of severely damaged unreinforced masonry structures” were in downtown Napa though most businesses re-opened within a week of the quake. RMS estimated Sept. 2 that insured losses would not exceed $250 million.

The U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency “said that damage surveys are continuing in other areas, and more counties and additional forms of assistance may be designated after the assessments are fully completed,” the White House said Sept. 11.

The United States Geological Service has said the 1989 Loma Prieta quake caused up to $10 billion in losses.

United States President Obama declared the Napa, California earthquake a major disaster. Photo courtesy of The White House.