Earthquake Losses to Single-Family Dwellings: California Experience. Chapter A

摘要

Most of the present methods for quantifying earthquake monetary losses toCalifornia wood-frame dwellings are based on summarized information on the 1933 Long Beach earthquake and on the partially analyzed 1971 San Fernando earthquake. The study examines two key factors in earthquake monetary loss estimation applied to California dwelling earthquake insurance: (1) probable maximum loss (PML), and (2) loss over deductible. The term PML, as used in California insurance practice, is defined in detail in the appendix. Dwelling-loss data was acquired from field inspections and also, for three earthquakes, from insurance companies' paid-claims information. The authors analyzed the weaknesses and strengths of each approach to loss estimation. All data sources for each earthquake are independent of each other.