The 1933 Long Beach Earthquake and the Field Act

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The 1933 Long Beach Earthquake and the Field Act

• Rob Mellors Frank Vernon
• San Diego State UniversityScripps Institute
  of Oceanography, UCSD

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The earthquake

• Long Beach earthquake
• Ms 6.3, March 10, 1933 at 555 PM
• 120 people killed
• 70 schools destroyed 120 damaged
• Construction shortcuts

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Geology

• About 5 miles south of Huntington Beach
• Newport-Inglewood fault
• Right-lateral strike-slip
• Severe damage in Long Beach and Compton
• Previous similar events in 1769, 1812, and 1855.
• Newport-Inglewood extends to San Diego (as the
  Rose Canyon fault).

Newport-Inglewood fault
earthquake
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The Field Act

• Earthquake-resistant design for K-12 schools and
  community colleges
• Passed on April 10, 1933 (1 month!)
• Led by Charles Field
• No Field Act School has failed in an earthquake
• Requires review and inspections of plans and
  construction.

Luther Burbank High School
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Since 1933

• Upgraded to include retrofits.
• Last L.A. pre-Field act schools retrofit in 1974.
• Does not cover non-structural damage.

Compton-Union High School
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Non-structural damage

• Falling ceilings, objects
• Pipes, chimneys, etc

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More information

• Guide and checklist for non-structural
  earthquake hazards in California
  schoolshttp//www.seismic.ca.govCalifornia
  Seismic Safety Commission