Los Angeles Rocks Seismic Standards

Los Angeles, California, is close to having the first-ever (in the U.S.) seismic standards for constructing cell towers, according to Reuters. County leaders gave preliminary approval on Friday of regulations that will ensure residents will be able to communication following a major earthquake. The rules still need to be approved by the Los Angeles City Council, which could occur as early as this week. “In the event of an earthquake or major disaster, the ability for our first responders to communicate, and for everyday Angelenos to call for help or reach out to our friends, family and loved ones, is critical in our ability to respond to and recover from traumatic events,” City Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who sponsored the measure, said in a written statement. (Reuters) These regulations will stipulate that new cell towers are built to the same standards as public safety facilities that can withstand earthquakes. This will not apply to cell towers already constructed.