Many Calif. Courthouses Seismically Unsafe, Study Finds

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA - A state study has found that more than 140 courthouses across California are seismically unsafe raising the risk of a substantial loss of life in case of a major earthquake.

The study, which is raising alarm among court officials, also found that fixing only the worst dozen courthouses would cost more than $300 million.

In a major earthquake, 145 courthouses could face "substantial" structural damage, "extensive" non-structural damage and "substantial" risk to the life, according to the study, which was presented in San Francisco Wednesday to a committee with the Judicial Council, which sets policy for California courts.

The most-troubled facility in Riverside County, at the high-risk level, is the Hemet Courthouse, with an 8.2 seismic rating. The worst in San Bernardino County, at the same level, was the Victorville Courthouse, which received a 4.3 rating.

– By City News Service / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone