PASADENA : Earthquake Peril Report Prompts Flood of Calls
A record 1,000 callers called the state’s Earthquake Safety Hot Line on Tuesday following the release of a report that upped the chances for a major earthquake in Southern California.
Five extra people staffed the line to handle the calls from residents who wanted to find out more about Monday’s projection by a panel of California’s earthquake scientists that there is a 5% to 12% chance that a quake of magnitude 7 or greater will hit the area each year and a 47% change of it occurring within five years.
The hot line’s previous record of 695 calls was set Aug. 5, the first day of operation. Since then, the line had handled more than 7,000 calls.
Many callers asked for a copy of the scientists’ report, said Stef Donev, the hot line’s public information officer.
Copies, at $18 each, are available through the California Division of Mines and Geology, P.O. Box 2980, Sacramento, Calif., 95812.
The hot line is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, at (800) 286-SAFE.
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