SEAONC and its members are working diligently to reduce the effects of a major seismic event in Northern California, as it is only a matter of time before the next big event impacts our community. As part of this endeavor, SEAONC members keep a close eye on seismic events worldwide, routinely extracting valuable lessons for integration into our own local practices. The world's events provide a vast laboratory in which engineering theories can be calibrated to real world performance. Each earthquake brings new knowledge, ultimately advancing the science and practice of earthquake engineering to better serve our local community.