The great liability of the engineer compared to…other professions is that his works are out in the open where all can see them. His acts step by step, are in hard substance. He cannot bury his mistakes in the grave like doctors. He cannot argue them into thin air or blame the judge like the lawyers. He cannot, like the politicians, screen his shortcomings by blaming his opponents and hoping that the people will forget.

On the other hand unlike the doctor, his is not a life among the weak. Unlike the soldier, destruction is not his purpose. Unlike the lawyer, quarrels are not his daily bread. To the engineer falls the job of clothing the bare bones of science with life, comfort and hope. No doubt, as years go by, people forget which engineer did it, even if they ever knew…But the engineer himself looks back at the unending stream of goodness which flows from his successes with satisfactions that few professionals may know."

— Herbert Hoover
Inauguration speech 1929.

The Structural Engineers Association of Northern California (SEAONC) is pleased to bring to the citizens of the San Francisco Bay Area--and others--useful tips on how to strengthen their homes, offices, schools, churches and other structures to resist earthquakes. This is part of our gift to the San Francisco Bay Area as we look back and commemorate our past 100 years of history--since the Great 1906 San Francisco Earthquake--and plan for our future.

We have created the Celebrating Earthquake Safety website located at: http://www.CelebratingEQSafety.com
Visit this site often to read relevant and up-to-date information on why earthquakes happen; why some buildings fail during an earthquake while others don't; how structural engineers study earthquakes and develop new buildings codes and standards; and what individuals can do to protect themselves and their environment before, during and after an earthquake.